Sources:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-pacific-15258878
http://www.history.com/topics/north-korea-history
https://www.brookings.edu/testimonies/political-classification-and-social-structure-in-north-korea/
http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/29/world/asia/north-korea-fast-facts/index.html
https://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/articles/13573/one-family-rule-north-korea-s-hereditary-authoritarianism
http://www.encyclopedia.com/history/modern-europe/russian-soviet-and-cis-history/cult-personality
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/for-north-koreas-kims-its-never-too-soon-to-start-brainwashing/2015/01/15/a23871c6-9a67-11e4-86a3-1b56f64925f6_story.html?utm_term=.82ae9b7e5515
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_People%27s_Army
Authoritarianism in North Korea
Hereditary Authoritarianism: The Kim Regime
North Korean politics have been dominated by one family since its emergence as a country in 1948
The Evolution of the Kim Regime
Loyalty
Cult of Personality
Political examinations
3 Classes
Core
Wavering
Hostile
Personality Cult
Tool for enforcing dominance
Personal record
State sponsored exaltation of a leader
Employs:
Propaganda
State control of media
In North Korea:
Began with Kim Il Sung
Image Credit: https://cdn1.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/styles/980x551/public/images/methode/2016/07/28/0dfb26ea-5495-11e6-98ca-49b1c9e3ed10_1280x720.jpg?itok=XWBRX9x1
Indoctrination starts in kindergarten
State run media
Portraits of the leaders are found in public spaces and citizens wear pins of Kim Il Sung over their heart
Kim Jong Il
Kim Jong Un
Kim Il Sung
Kim Il Sung
Communist
Under his rule the state :
Kim Jong Il
Kim Jong Un
By succeeding his father, establishes the hereditary authoritarian regime
Created the KPA from his anti-Japanese guerrilla army
Current commander
Policy: Songun Chong'chi (military first)
Under his rule:
Consolidated power
Under his rule:
Executed his uncle and other political rivals
Collectivized agricultural land
Continued nuclear testing and research
Establishes the KPA as the political and economic force.
Widened inequality
Assumed control of the economy
Famine due to: economic mismanagement, bad agricultural policies and flooding
Required aid from South Korea
Took ownership of all private property
Responsible for establishing North Korea as a Nuclear power
Created and protected a veil of secrecy
Built a strong military backed by the Soviet Union
Image Credit: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d4/Kim_Jong-Un_Photorealistic-Sketch.jpg
Image Credit: https://kfausa-org-zippykid.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/kim-jong-il.jpg
Image Credit: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d9/Kim_Il_Sung_portrait_Grand_People%27s_Study_House_cropped.jpg
Samantha McDonald
13
