North Korea’s Current Sociopolitical Situation and Its Some Implications

Abstract

North Korea’s Current Sociopolitical Situation and Its Some Implications*

Gyunyeol Park**

Abstract: This study aims to examine the recent socio-political situation of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK, North Korea) and propose some ways to help it become a normal state in the international community. North Korea is a dual existence that has to make peace while confronting the Republic of Korea (South Korea) militarily. Peace on the Korean Peninsula cannot be expected unless North Korea continues to carry out military provocations on the Korean Peninsula and gives up its anti-peaceful maneuvers. Liberal countries, including the Republic of Korea, are concerned about North Korea’s terrorism. South Korea and its free allies expect North Korea to change from a rogue state to a normal state. The situation in North Korea is dire. However, this difficult reality was brought on by North Korea itself. Even from now on, if North Korea manages its state normally and promotes policies that meet the standards of the international community, it will always be able to become an international partner. South Korea welcomes North Korea’s positive efforts. North Korea should make such efforts, but people around the world, including South Korea, should not think of North Korea’s provocative behavior as its own violence, but should think about what is the reason for raising it while provoking it. That is the perception based on rational reasoning about North Korea.

Key Words: the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK, North Korea), the Republic of Korea (South Korea) socio-political situation, normal state, rogue state, Korean Peninsula, anti-peaceful maneuvers

□ Received: Dec. 21, 2022, Revised: Dec. 30, 2022, Accepted: Dec. 30, 2022 ＊ This paper was made through developing the author’s past short column. Park, Gyun Yeol, “Understanding North Korea’s Sociopolitical Structure”, Global NK Zoom & Connect, East Asia Institute, November, 2022. ** Professor, Gyeongsang National Univ., Email: pgy556@daum.net