Political Situation in North Korea free essay sample

Initially the state of North Korea was created as a result of the Cold War conflict between communism and capitalism. l In August 1945, two young aides at the State Department divided the Korean peninsula in half along the 38th parallel. The Russians occupied the area north of the line and the United States occupied the area to its south. 2 It was, and in one way remains, a classic Cold War state, driven by the demands of the long-standing conflict with the Republic of Korea and the United States and its allies. It also emerged in the heyday of Stalinism, which as is widely known influenced North Koreas decision to give priority to heavy industry in its economic program. Nevertheless North Korea was a country forged in warfare: by a civil struggle fought at the beginning of the regime and by a vicious fratricidal war fought while the system was still in infancy. All these influences combined to produce a hardened leadership that knew how to hold onto power. But North Korea also evolved as a rare synthesis between foreign models and native influences; the political system was deeply rooted in native soil, drawing on Koreas of unitary xistence on a small peninsula surrounded by greater powers. 3 Whether in response to United States initiatives or because most Koreans despised the trusteeship agreement that had been negotiated at the end of 1945, separate institutions began to emerge in North Korea in early 1946. In February 1946, an Interim Peoples Committee led by Kim II Sung became the first central government. In August 1946, a powerful political party, the North Korean Workers Party, dominated politics as a result of a merger with the Korean Communist Party; in the fall the rudiments of a northern army appeared. Central agencies nationalized ajor industries that previously had been mostly owned by the Japanese and began a two-year economic program based on the Soviet model of central planning and priority tor neavvy industry. On Saturday, 24 June 1950, Democratic Peoples Republic of Koreas forces invaded the Republic of Korea. The United States, acting with a mandate from the I-IN, took the lead in defending the ROK. The Chinese entered into the fghting, and the wars inconclusive end led to a return to the status quo at the 38th parallel. An armistice, signed in July 1953, was followed 2 months later by the signing of a mutual defense reaty between the United States and the ROK. 4 After spectacular failing in the Korean War to conquer the us-backed Republic of Korea in the southern portion by force, North Korea, under its founder President Kim II-sung, implemented a policy of ostensible diplomatic and economic self-reliance as a check against foreign outside influence. In general the DPRK demonized the US as the ultimate threat to its social system through state-funded propaganda, and molded political, economic, as well as military policies around the core ideological objective of eventual unification of Korea under Pyongyangs control. Kim II-sungs son, Kim Jong-il, was officially nominated as his fathers successor in 1980, taking into consideration a growing political and managerial role until the elder Kims death in 1994. Kim Jong-un was unveiled as his fathers successor in the public eye in September 2010. After Kim Jong-Ils death in December 2011, the regime began to undertake actions to transfer power to Kim Jong-un and Kim has now assumed many his fathers former titles, responsibilities and duties. 5 GEOGRAPHICAL CONDITIONS The Korean Peninsula protrudes southward from the Asian mainland separating he Yellow Sea (West Sea) to the west from the East Sea (Sea of Japan) to the east. 6 Koreas geographic position serves as a natural bridge between the Asian continent and the Japanese islands. The coastline is highly indented with approximately 3,500 islands, mostly located off the south and west coasts. A major aspect of the North Korean political system is totalitarianism. North Korea has a centralized government under the control of the communist Korean Workers Party with a Supreme Leader Kim Jong I-Jn. All of politics, officials, representative governments belong to KWP. Minor parties: Chondoist Chongu Party, Social Democratic Party are under KWP control. The Workers Party of Korea coordinate closely with the executive council. 8 The legislative council of North Korea is officially known as the Supreme Peoples Assembly. It has 687 members, every single one of them is elected for a term of five years. Last election was in March 2 meeting lasts a few days. 9 They meet only twice each year and each North Koreas Judiciary is subject to the SPA and the President. Supreme Court (or Central Court) consisting of a Chief Justice and two Peoples Assessors (in some case three Judges). The SPAs standing committee also nominate Judges to the highest court for 4-year terms. A functioning modern Judicial system, fair to all Koreans, practically does not exist in North Korea. 10 The politics of North Korea is determined by the official state philosophy Juche. Kim II-sung elaborated the Juche Idea into a set of principles that the North Korea government uses to Justify its policy decisions. According to him, the Juche Idea is based on the belief that man is the master of everything and decides everything. Kim II-sung understood it as a political independence, economic self-sustenance and elf-reliance in defence. The Juche outlook requires absolute loyalty to the revolutionary party and leader. According to Juche communism is the highest form of creative mass movement. It is a universal philosophy with an influence on politics, industry, agriculture, military, literature, art and sport.