Communism: The Effects On North Korea

Communism: The Effects on North Korea “North Korea is one of the most secretive countries on earth. It’s regarded as an intelligence black hole” (“Inside North Korea”). North Korea, a communist dictatorship, is known to be very secretive, but also is one of the cruelest countries on earth to its people. “Communism is a political, social, and economic system in which the government is based on a collective society with land, property, and economic activities controlled by the state” (Lansford 9). The North Korean government does not like to show the world what really happens inside their country. “A U.S.-based rights group has estimated that there are up to 200,000 political prisoners in North Korea” (“North Korea Profile”). Many of the
North Korea’s first communist leader was Kim Il Sung. He, along with the Russian government, founded the country and put communism in place as the North Korean form of government. Kim Il Sung set “Juche” as North Korea’s economic system (“Communism: North Korea”). “Juche” is a form of self-reliance. It is a mixture of xenophobic nationalism (unreasonably fearful of or hating anyone or anything foreign or strange), central planning and economic independence. Using this self-reliant economy, Kim Il Sung ruled until he died in 1994. After his death, his son, Kim Jong Il, ruled with identical tactics as his father. Even though North Korea tried to produce all their needs domestically, Kim Jong Il loved importing meals, goods, and clothes from other countries around the world (“Communism: North Korea”). Kim Jong Il was an absolute dictator who was worshipped in a personality cult that was more extreme than any other in any country (“Inside North Korea). A historian on North Korea, Michael Breen, says, “Kim Jong Il was the son of god in North Korea. He was the state. The notion of questioning his ability to rule never entered into things” (“Inside North Korea”). In 2011, Kim Jong Il died and all the power was given to his youngest son Kim Jong Un. After he died, Kim Jong Il was given the title “eternal general secretary” of the party and “eternal
Their government’s ways of ruling with a communist leash has led to extreme conditions affecting the citizens there. If anyone is reported of talking or even thinking against the regime, they will most likely die or end up living the rest of their life in prison (“Inside North Korea”). Because the North Korean government has taken a huge toll on its citizens, many countries around the world wish to change their form of government. If these countries along with the citizens of North Korea wait until communism’s leash begins to die out, then they can help each other to finish off the devastating consequences the communist government of North Korea has had for