The Narrow Prospect of North Korea

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The Narrow Prospect of North Korea

The fate of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, one of the few remaining communist countries, lies in the hands of rulers who have abused their power, limiting the freedoms of the people and creating a single-minded administration. Although it carries the potential to be as prosperous as South Korea, North Korea is unfortunately constrained because the Communist party has heavily focused on its military and nuclear power, while ignoring other vital aspects such as its economic prosperity and the interests of its people. Since the Cold War, the Soviet Union has influenced North Korea which has trapped it in a political situation that affirms its notorious reputation of abuse, restrictions, and precarious risks. Kim II Sung, who ruled from 1948 until his death in 1994, his son Kim Jong-II, who inherited supreme power, and the Communist Korean Worker’s Party (KWP) have been the decision makers of the entire country, holding the responsibility of determining its prospect. Therefore, as a result of North Korea’s political alignment with the Soviet Union, communism in North Korea perpetuates famine, facilitates militarization, and threatens neighboring countries.

The surrender of Japan in World War II in August 1845 led to the immediate division of Korea in which the United States administered the south and USSR controlled north of the 38th parallel after the Korean War (Korea North). This has resulted in the establishment of two separate nations with significantly different economic and social systems. However, the most significant discrepancy is their political systems as the United States exercises a democratic-style governmental control while the Soviet Union implements a Comm...

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... not last in the long-term and will eventually fall just as the Soviet Union did in 1991, following its footsteps once again to a doom.

Works Cited

"Communism." Issues: Understanding Controversy and Society. ABC-CLIO, 2010. Web. 21 Apr. 2010. .

Lerner, K. Lee. "North Korean Nuclear Weapons Programs." Encyclopedia of Espionage, Intelligence, and Security. Ed. K. Lee Lerner and Brenda Wilmoth Lerner. Vol. 2. Detroit: Gale, 2004. 346-350. Global Issues In Context. Web. 21 Apr. 2010.

Lanʹkov, A. N. North of the DMZ: Essays on Daily Life in North Korea. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland &, 2007. Print.

Miller, Debra A. North Korea. San Diego: Greenhaven, 2004. Print.

"Korea, North." Countries of the World and Their Leaders Yearbook 2008. 2008 ed. Vol. 1. Detroit: Gale, 2007. 1061-1074. Global Issues In Context. Web. 21 Apr. 2010.

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