The Totalitarian Regime of North Korea

Paper Summary:

This paper takes a look at the totalitarian regime of North Korea, discussing where it is headed. According to the paper, North Korea is an eroding totalitarian regime that has existed for approximately four decades. The paper discusses how North Korea is being held together by the corrupt but insightful leader Kim Jong-Il who is the successor to the founder of the regime and Kim's father, Kim Sung-Il, who died in 1994.

From the Paper:

"Yet the last fact may make him seem odd, but everything the leader does is planned out well. On the world stage he uses everything he has to his advantage. To Kim Jong-Il losing face to foreign powers abroad is losing power at home. Given his hand, he is a brilliant poker player one might say, (Scobell 13). He does whatever it takes to keep a strong grip on the power he wields. The prestige of his name must be upheld. This involves many things. He hides his visits to other countries, as it is an Asian custom and belief that the subordinate nation makes the visits abroad. He has delegates come to the capital city of Pyongyang where one sees a facade of what the nation really is, an extension of his ego and poker face. Visitors come and see a busy industrial and cultural center that exists nowhere else in North Korea. In fact, some suspect the full time job of some employees is to ride the subway all day to aid such a modern appearance. The image is false of course as most of the nation lives in poverty, (Scobell 11)."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Foley, Mark. "National Security Debate." America Press Oct. 2006. 10-21-06 <http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdf?vid=12&hid=115&sid=cc04dd3b-036e-431d-9fb8-2de1960e0973%40sessionmgr106>
• "North Korea: A Political History." BBC News 9, June 2000. 10-21-06 <http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/783966.stm>
• "North Korea: Regime Change is not the answer." Washington Newsletter. October. 2003. 10-21-06 <http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=1&did=612843611&SrchMode=1&sid=1&Fmt=3&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1161746881&clientId=2724>
• Scobell, Andrew. Kim Jong Il and North Korea: The Leader and the System 2006 March. 10-21-06 <http://www.strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/pdffiles/pub644.pdf#search=%22how%20does%20kim%20jongil%20keep%20life%20in%20north%20korea%20secret%22>
• U.S. Department of State. 2006. 5 Sept. 2003. 10-21-06<http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2792.htm>.

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