North Korean Threat Essay
North Korea is an outcast state. At least, this is what the entire world is accustomed to. The world is frightened by North Korean ambitions, nuclear program and tests of its latest weapons, especially missiles that may hit not only the traditional enemy of North Korea, South Korea, but also allies of South Korea, such as Japan. Moreover, the nuclear program of North Korea aims at the creation of the nuclear arsenal and missile technologies that North Korea can use against any country, including the US, which North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, proclaims to be one of the major enemies of North Korean people. The lack of information about the actual level of the development of technologies and permanent threats from the part of the leader of North Korea frighten the world and enhance the isolation of North Korea from the world community.
At the same time, to understand the actual situation in North Korea and the level of threat from the part of North Korea, it is necessary to view North Korea from two different perspectives: internal and external. On the one hand, there is the internal perspective which implies the current political and socioeconomic situation in North Korea. The nation is ruled by the dictator, who holds all the power in the country in his hands. He has the only leader, while any threats or attempts to challenge his authority result in repressions, which include such options as the imprisonment or death penalty for those, who dare to challenge the authority of the leader. Repressions against political opponents comprise a norm of the political life of North Korea. The population of the country lives in desperate poverty. In such a situation, the only way for the dictator to holds his power is to create the image of the enemy which he protects the nation from. South Korea was the traditional enemy of North Korea but this enemy was apparently not enough to make the population of North Korea frightened to death. Instead, the ruling party headed by Kim Jong-un maintains the ideology of juxtaposing North Korea and the rest of the world. The dominant ideology shapes the public opinion and conveys the message that North Korea is a sort of island which is besieged by powerful enemies, including the leading nations of the world, such as the US and Japan. The ruling party attempts to convince the population that enemies will exterminate the population of North Korea and it is only the ‘wise’ leadership of Kim Jong-un that can protect the nation, but to be able to protect themselves Koreans should consolidate their efforts and stay patient. they should build up arsenal of weapon, including nuclear weapon to be able to confront the external threat which is artificially created rather than real since no nation seems to be ready to launch the large scale military offensive on North Korea at the moment because there is no reasons for such offensive, such offensive is too costly, and there are many other reasons. As a result, the leader of North Korea is worshiped by the population as the only protector of the nation. In such a way, the nation is frightened to death, while the national leader feels quite comfortable and secure.
On the other hand, there is the external perspective on North Korea. The militarization of North Korea, the development of the nuclear program, the constant preparation to the war, while no nation declares or intends to declare the war on South Korea at the moment, make the world think of the emerging threat from the part of North Korea, which may use its military arsenal against nations which the North Korean leader can use anytime, when his power is under a threat. Hence, North Korea becomes an outcast because of its policies and internal political and socioeconomic situation.
