It is apparent that North Korea was officially declared the Democratic Peoples Republic after Japan ceased to take control of the country in 1945 (Lee 103). Pyongyang became the Capital of North Korea and the largest city in the country since then. This took place after Japan was defeated in World War II, a factor that left Korea dividend into two parts, namely the North and South (Kang 1). Besides, after the Second World War, North Korea was left in the hands of the Soviet Civil Authority, who established a domestic regime in the country to rule on behalf of the Unite Nations Organization.
Consequently, the Democratic People Republic of North Korea was established in 1948 (Lee 103). This was after the Soviet Union withdrew its authority to rule North Korea to reunite it with South Korea. However, the failure of the Soviet to reunite Korea led to the firm establishment of the republic.
It is evident that North Korea’s government is highly politicized and much regimented. In this case, it is an autocratic mode of governance. This can be supported by the idea that very little is known about the capital city, Pyongyang, especially by people living outside it (Kang 1). Although Pyongyang is regarded as a capital of revolution, people have no idea of the daily existence within the city.
For instance, the economy of the country has increasingly diminished hence making it hard to maintain the normal life of people in the country. Needless to say, since the establishment of North Korea, there emerged constant disputes with the neighboring country on the south. This eventually sparked war in 1950 between North and South Korea (Lee 103). Regardless of several interventions by The United States, it developed into full-scale civil war.
More powers, including China, intervened to create a balance between the warring nations. It was not until 1953 when the war was brought to an end and claimed millions of civilian’s lives. It is notable that though the war was eventually ended, the tension between the two countries remained high until they signed a North-south Joint declaration in the year 2000. This declaration was meant to seek a peaceful reunion. In line with this, leaders of the two countries held a summit in 2007 to reaffirm the principle of reunion and non-aggression (Lee 103).
Nevertheless, since the establishment of North Korea and the war skirmishes, it has not been a smooth sail for the country. For instance, frequent disputes have relatively affected the peaceful operations within the country. In this case, the government of North Korea has been susceptible to assassination attempts against their counterpart in the South. For instance, they attempted to attack South Korea in 1968 and 1974.
Moreover, the Rangoon bombing in 1983 is one of the attacks that have slowly affected the progress of North Korea. This can be deduced from the fact that in 2002, US President George W. Bush referred to North Korea as the “axis of evil” (Lee 103). Although both the South and North Korea have furnished their diplomatic relations, the latter has remained an “out-post of tyranny” (Kang 1). In 2010, the country fired rounds of artillery on islands in South Korea and the damage caused could not be estimated. However, the leaders claimed that the action was just a physical strike against provocations from the south.
In summing up, there have been views by scholars that North Korean government is one of the most aversive and reclusive modes of governance whose economy has been adversely affected because the country emphasizes more on military might than development. Nevertheless, the country is highly industrialized with a state-owned economy. It has also begun embracing private capitalism as opposed to communal ownership of resources.
Works Cited
Kang, Woong Jin. “North Korea’s Militant Nationalism and People’s Everyday Lives: Past and Present.” Journal of Historical Sociology 25.1 (2012):1-30. Print.
Lee, Sun Dong. “Causes of North Korean belligerence.” Australian Journal of International Affairs 66.2 (2012): 103-107. Print.