Brief History
Since world war two, the Korean peninsula has been partitioned into two occupation zones, divided at the 38th parallel. The US took control of the south, whereas the USSR controlled the north. North Korea is now a one-man dictatorship due to Kim Jong-il. North Korea was first established on May 1, 1948 with Kim II Sung as president. After an invasion on South Korea and a seize of Seoul, Kim II Sung died on July 8th, 1994. Four years later, in September, North Korea launched a missile test over Japan, claiming it was just a scientific satellite, making North Korea's nuclear intentions unclear. Korea allowed the US to conduct inspections in exchange for increased food aid and an introduction of potato production. In the fall of 1999, North Korea experienced a severe famine, killing an estimated 2-3 million due to only 10% of the rice fields available for work. Malnutrition then continued to plague North Korea in 2000. Thousands attempted to flee to China or South Korea but only few were successful. Those who weren't, were captured for torture and/or execution. North Korea has grown to have one of the world's most secretive societies, being accused of violating human rights, inhumane conditions in prison camps, summary executions and denial of freedom of expression and movement. Recently, suspicions have heightened, and Kim Jong-il is taking a dictatorship over North Korea.
Current State of Affairs
The North Korean government has formally rejected the nuclear test moratorium it had been placed under by the United Nations Security Council. A prior deal between the U.S. and North Korea to exchange food aid to the communist country in return for the nuclear test moratorium is now off the table indefinitely. North Korea has traditionally enjoyed the support of its powerful neighbor China, but in recent years Chinese leaders appear to have become increasingly frustrated and embarrassed by Pyongyang's intransigence over its nuclear program and its resolute isolationism in all other areas.
Regime and State Change
I think that there could be regime and state change if there was a change of leaders. It seems no one likes how North Korea is being ruled so if the main problem was taken out of the equation, control would change drastically. The people of North Korea are desperate for a change in both their state and regime and if given the opportunity of a change of power, the people would take it immediately. If Kim Jong-Il was removed, torture, execution, and fear would also leave which would bring change in itself. To see North Korea with fearless citizens and children with homes, that would be a change in the state itself.
Sources
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/fighting_words/2010/02/a_nation_of_racist_dwarfs.html http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/secret-state-of-north-korea/ http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/secret-state-of-north-korea/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kim_Jong-il http://ukshadowlight.wordpress.com/2012/04/17/i-just-read-th-3/ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-15256929
Since world war two, the Korean peninsula has been partitioned into two occupation zones, divided at the 38th parallel. The US took control of the south, whereas the USSR controlled the north. North Korea is now a one-man dictatorship due to Kim Jong-il. North Korea was first established on May 1, 1948 with Kim II Sung as president. After an invasion on South Korea and a seize of Seoul, Kim II Sung died on July 8th, 1994. Four years later, in September, North Korea launched a missile test over Japan, claiming it was just a scientific satellite, making North Korea's nuclear intentions unclear. Korea allowed the US to conduct inspections in exchange for increased food aid and an introduction of potato production. In the fall of 1999, North Korea experienced a severe famine, killing an estimated 2-3 million due to only 10% of the rice fields available for work. Malnutrition then continued to plague North Korea in 2000. Thousands attempted to flee to China or South Korea but only few were successful. Those who weren't, were captured for torture and/or execution. North Korea has grown to have one of the world's most secretive societies, being accused of violating human rights, inhumane conditions in prison camps, summary executions and denial of freedom of expression and movement. Recently, suspicions have heightened, and Kim Jong-il is taking a dictatorship over North Korea.
Current State of Affairs
The North Korean government has formally rejected the nuclear test moratorium it had been placed under by the United Nations Security Council. A prior deal between the U.S. and North Korea to exchange food aid to the communist country in return for the nuclear test moratorium is now off the table indefinitely. North Korea has traditionally enjoyed the support of its powerful neighbor China, but in recent years Chinese leaders appear to have become increasingly frustrated and embarrassed by Pyongyang's intransigence over its nuclear program and its resolute isolationism in all other areas.
Regime and State Change
I think that there could be regime and state change if there was a change of leaders. It seems no one likes how North Korea is being ruled so if the main problem was taken out of the equation, control would change drastically. The people of North Korea are desperate for a change in both their state and regime and if given the opportunity of a change of power, the people would take it immediately. If Kim Jong-Il was removed, torture, execution, and fear would also leave which would bring change in itself. To see North Korea with fearless citizens and children with homes, that would be a change in the state itself.
Sources
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/fighting_words/2010/02/a_nation_of_racist_dwarfs.html http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/secret-state-of-north-korea/ http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/secret-state-of-north-korea/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kim_Jong-il http://ukshadowlight.wordpress.com/2012/04/17/i-just-read-th-3/ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-15256929
No comments:
Post a Comment