Songun Policy: Core Idea, Methods and Results of the Policy

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) is the most heavily militarized country in world and its strategy is a reason of instability in both the East Asian region and the international system. This paper aims to evaluate the domestic military-first policy of North Korea and its influence on foreign affairs. In the first part the author analyze the development of North Korea after Korean War (1950-1953) and Juche ideology. In addition, it investigates factors that may have affected policy to be more aggressive towards other countries and to promote isolationism. This paper also looks closer into the understanding of the current policy and behavior of the government towards the other countries. A Juche ideology has been created not only in order to unite people and encourage the North Koreans to work as masters of revolution and construction, but to legitimate the power of the new government, to strengthen Kim Il-sung’s position in the worker’s party of Korea. Finally, the paper outlines the current strategy and its results for DPRK and the international community. It might contribute to finding new ways of removing tension on the Korean peninsula.