№084: Insanity or Part of a Plan? Prospects for Changes to North Korean Domestic and Foreign Policy
№084: Insanity or Part of a Plan? Prospects for Changes to North Korean Domestic and Foreign Policy

Author(s): Nicolas Levi
Subject(s): International relations/trade, Security and defense, Military policy
Published by: PISM Polski Instytut Spraw Międzynarodowych
Keywords: Kim Dzong Un; North Korea; Asia; domestic policy; East Asia; economic policy; economy; foreign policy; Security
Summary/Abstract: Ever since previous North Korean leader Kim Jong-il passed away in December 2011, concerns about the new North Korean regime have been growing. Although the international community has worried mainly about the country’s foreign policy, especially nuclear and missile threats, recent news about a purge in the North Korean leadership has brought to the fore the question of the regime’s internal stability. Kim Jong-un has been steadily building a new system of governance, giving more power to the Korean Workers' Party apparatus at the expense of the armed forces. He has also shown interest in boosting North Korea’s economy. In foreign and security policy, however, in the short term, North Korea is likely to continue on its previous uncompromising course.

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