{"id":8213,"date":"2023-11-05T02:00:14","date_gmt":"2023-11-05T01:00:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.northkoreainfo.com\/?p=8213"},"modified":"2023-11-05T02:00:14","modified_gmt":"2023-11-05T01:00:14","slug":"why-is-north-korea-so-hostile","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.northkoreainfo.com\/why-is-north-korea-so-hostile\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Is North Korea So Hostile"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), commonly called North Korea, has been hostile for decades—long before the nuclear missile program that the United States, South Korea, and China are trying to contain. It’s perennial belligerence has been on full display with recent threats against South Korea, the United States, and Japan, as well as its various military exercises. But why is North Korea so hostile?<\/p>\n

To begin to understand the motives behind North Korea’s behavior, one must look to its checkered past. The Korean peninsula was divided into North and South following World War II, after the Soviet Union occupied the north and U.S. forces in the south. By 1950, North Korea had declared itself to be the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, while the south declared itself the Republic of Korea. The DPRK’s relationship with its southern neighbor, and its allies, has been hostile since its formation.<\/p>\n

The DPRK’s human rights record is deeply concerning. North Korea is one of the most oppressive and isolated countries in the world. The North Korean government maintains an extreme level of control over its citizens, brutally punishing anyone suspected of criticising the regime. This has created a climate of fear and mistrust, causing many citizens to adopt a “foreign policy of nuclear weapons.” The DPRK’s nuclear ambitions, current or potential, are motivated by a sense of insecurity, as the country seeks to defend itself from perceived foreign threats and maintain its self-determination.<\/p>\n

The international community also has a role to play in understanding why North Korea is so hostile. For decades, the DPRK has felt threatened by the actions of neighboring countries and the UN Security Council—including numerous economic and travel sanctions. North Korea worries that these sanctions could be a prelude to an all-out military attack.“From the North Korean perspective, any country that seeks to pressure or isolate it is considered an enemy and must be deterred,” says Dr. John Park, a North Korea analyst and former advisor to the US government.<\/p>\n