Brief History of North Korea and the Dynastic Succession
Kim Jong Il (left) and his son, Kim Jong Un.
The Kims in Pop Culture
Many average citizens in the west may think of North Korea in reference to pop culture's construction of the nation and its leaders. For example, the film Team America: World Police shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Il as a comedic, rame, self-obsessed and ronery rittel man. The TV show 30 Rock has the comedian Margaret Cho dressed up as Kim Jong Il while she satirizes his persona. When Kim Jong Un assumed leadership, internet "memes" came out which made fun of the leader's weight and the fact he is of a younger generation. Also, the youtube channel CollegeHumor, a channel that makes comedic videos, has a cartoon series called "The Adventures of Kim Jong Un." In it, the leader is characterized as a super hero who conquers all sorts of trouble, most likely making fun of North Korean propaganda of the ruler. The popular parody channel, BarelyPolitical, has made a parody of the catchy song "Gangnam Style" sung by South Korean KPop star Psy. The parody is called "Kim Jong Style" and features Kim Jong Un as a silly oppressive leader with "style". All of these examples seem to play on the irony between the prosperous image North Korea wishes to display and the regime's contrary oppressive reputation. Essentially, the leaders of North Korea are one of the most parodied and satirized world leaders in the last decade. In reality, many westerners also understand that, due to the widespread love and adoration for the Dear Leader, many North Koreans who oppose the regime and its leader are not treated well and are under threat of being placed in work camps. Perhaps in contrast to the savior-like image North Koreans attribute to their leader, the outside world continues to laugh at what is seen as an intended utopia. Although many are aware of human rights violations by North Korea, specifically from the Human Rights Watch's World Report, others are unaware of the nation's history. In fact, most of the generations who are watching parody videos about the leaders were not alive during the Korean War, and seeing how the Korean War is less popular in American history books, they may not know much else about the country.
Many average citizens in the west may think of North Korea in reference to pop culture's construction of the nation and its leaders. For example, the film Team America: World Police shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Il as a comedic, rame, self-obsessed and ronery rittel man. The TV show 30 Rock has the comedian Margaret Cho dressed up as Kim Jong Il while she satirizes his persona. When Kim Jong Un assumed leadership, internet "memes" came out which made fun of the leader's weight and the fact he is of a younger generation. Also, the youtube channel CollegeHumor, a channel that makes comedic videos, has a cartoon series called "The Adventures of Kim Jong Un." In it, the leader is characterized as a super hero who conquers all sorts of trouble, most likely making fun of North Korean propaganda of the ruler. The popular parody channel, BarelyPolitical, has made a parody of the catchy song "Gangnam Style" sung by South Korean KPop star Psy. The parody is called "Kim Jong Style" and features Kim Jong Un as a silly oppressive leader with "style". All of these examples seem to play on the irony between the prosperous image North Korea wishes to display and the regime's contrary oppressive reputation. Essentially, the leaders of North Korea are one of the most parodied and satirized world leaders in the last decade. In reality, many westerners also understand that, due to the widespread love and adoration for the Dear Leader, many North Koreans who oppose the regime and its leader are not treated well and are under threat of being placed in work camps. Perhaps in contrast to the savior-like image North Koreans attribute to their leader, the outside world continues to laugh at what is seen as an intended utopia. Although many are aware of human rights violations by North Korea, specifically from the Human Rights Watch's World Report, others are unaware of the nation's history. In fact, most of the generations who are watching parody videos about the leaders were not alive during the Korean War, and seeing how the Korean War is less popular in American history books, they may not know much else about the country.
Korean War and the Start of the Kim Dynasty
In 1948, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea becomes a state.
Up until 1905, the Koreans were a unified independent people in their own empire with their own language, culture, and customs. However, the Japanese empire, upon their desire for expansion, annexed Korea and continued to have power there until their defeat in World War II. After the Japanese left the country, Korea was divided into North and South. Much like East and West Germany, the North was the Stalinist satellite regime and the South was occupied by the American forces. Eventually, American and Soviet forces left occupation and allowed the Koreans to run their own governments. However, both the North and the South wished to claim the other as their own, in which the Korean war commenced.
Often remembered as the Forgotten War by Americans, the North Koreans remember the war very well; the "War Against the Americans". Not wanting for communism to spread and wanting to protect the South's sovereignty, the U.S. sent troops to fight against the North in 1950. During the war, each side made advances and then got pushed back several times. Eventually, the line settled on the 38th parallel in an armistice (or ceasefire). However, no peace treaty was officially signed, so the North and South are still technically at war. Due to this fact, both states act as if attack will occur at any moment. The North especially prides itself on its military, and, due to the ideology around the perfection of the Korean race and the corruption of outside forces, North Korea has adopted "military first" policies. Additionally, the DPRK continues to view America as an Imperialist nation that wishes to force its ideals, culture, and other influences on the world. This thinking is mostly due to America aiding the South Koreans with fighting against the North in the Korean War. The North basically sees America as being in the way of Korean reunification.
The first "Great Leader" was Kim Il Sung, who was the leader of the Workers' Party of Korea. The party is now the single most powerful force in the nation other than the military. Kim Il Sung was Korean, but spent most of his pre-Great Leader life as a fighter for communism in China. While getting involved in military and politics in China, he rose to certain positions and even commanded his own division in World War II. With the fall of the Japanese in 1945, he went to Soviet occupied Korea to work with the Soviets as a liaison to the Koreans. The Koreans trusted him and put faith in him to create a new way forward for the people and the nation. This is how the legacy of the "Great Leader" began. Like Stalin and Mao, Kim Il Sung became worshiped by his people via media and personality cult efforts.
Below: DPRK National Anthem
Often remembered as the Forgotten War by Americans, the North Koreans remember the war very well; the "War Against the Americans". Not wanting for communism to spread and wanting to protect the South's sovereignty, the U.S. sent troops to fight against the North in 1950. During the war, each side made advances and then got pushed back several times. Eventually, the line settled on the 38th parallel in an armistice (or ceasefire). However, no peace treaty was officially signed, so the North and South are still technically at war. Due to this fact, both states act as if attack will occur at any moment. The North especially prides itself on its military, and, due to the ideology around the perfection of the Korean race and the corruption of outside forces, North Korea has adopted "military first" policies. Additionally, the DPRK continues to view America as an Imperialist nation that wishes to force its ideals, culture, and other influences on the world. This thinking is mostly due to America aiding the South Koreans with fighting against the North in the Korean War. The North basically sees America as being in the way of Korean reunification.
The first "Great Leader" was Kim Il Sung, who was the leader of the Workers' Party of Korea. The party is now the single most powerful force in the nation other than the military. Kim Il Sung was Korean, but spent most of his pre-Great Leader life as a fighter for communism in China. While getting involved in military and politics in China, he rose to certain positions and even commanded his own division in World War II. With the fall of the Japanese in 1945, he went to Soviet occupied Korea to work with the Soviets as a liaison to the Koreans. The Koreans trusted him and put faith in him to create a new way forward for the people and the nation. This is how the legacy of the "Great Leader" began. Like Stalin and Mao, Kim Il Sung became worshiped by his people via media and personality cult efforts.
Below: DPRK National Anthem
Juche Ideology and Philosophy
Kim Il Sung in 1948
Among the great many accomplishments that North Koreans attribute to Kim Il Sung, is the concept of "Juche" thought and national philosophy. Kim Il Sung is said by the party to have written several books on Juche ideology. Stanford University describes Juche thought as the emphasis on using one's own ways and means of solving problems without outside assistance or influence. Many North Korean watchers struggle to fully understand this philosophy, which became the main focus of the nation's ideology in 1972. However, Stanford offers an entire paper on Juche in order to help people understand. Juche thought, or the nation taking efforts to help themselves and build their economy without dependency on other countries, has most likely helped them earn the "hermit kingdom" reputation.
Kim Il Sung's Death and Kim Jong Il's Leadership
In 1980, Kim Il Sung appointed his son Kim Jong Il as his future successor upon his eventual death. This ended up allowing Kim Jong Il to get 14 years of training from his father before the Great Leader's death in 1994 (Beck 66). In 1994, Kim Jong Il took on his father's succession and became the new leader of the DPRK. In the mid 90's, the new leader, called the "Dear Leader", had to make some tough decisions for his people due to the country-wide famine. The state's distribution of food became scarce and thus created extreme issues in the economy, according Jae-Cheon Lim, author of the article, "North Korea's Hereditary Succession." Many Koreans died of starvation. The faulty economy may be due in part to the country's Jouche philosophy, since most markets had to be approved by officials and trade with other countries was rare (China, Russia, and France are examples of states that engage in commerce with the DPRK) (Ahn).
Over the years, the U.S. has been hesitant to give the DPRK any kind of food aid due to threats of the nuclear arms capability. The U.N. has made threats of sanctions against the nation if it continued their nuclear program. However, from 1998 on, Kim Jong Il launched several short range missiles, satellite launches, and nuclear tests. One satellite launch in 2009 is said to have fallen into the Pacific ocean out of orbit. Kim Jong Il's tone during his leadership was a tone of the continued thinking that the DPRK had a right to their own nuclear weapons and also a right to launch rockets and satellites into space. The UN and the international community reacted mostly in disapproval, since the launching of any rocket without approval is a violation of the Security Council Resolutions. Also, the UN is afraid that these launches will aid in improving further missile technology. What's interesting is that the DPRK is a member of the UN. The DPRK, though, keeps declaring these actions as the right of a sovereign state.
Just before Kim Jong Il died in December of 2011, the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization estimated that 1 in 8 Koreans were experiencing chronic hunger and 1 million of those under the age of 5 (Beck). Kim Jong Il left his country in economic hard times, but the Korean state media insists that his death doesn't mean any change in regime.
North Korea’s Broadcasting System reported the regime’s second successive leader, Kim Jong Il, dead on December 19, 2011. The statements made about the late Dear Leader displays the extent of the nation’s feelings and understandings about his role and the philosophy behind his rule. At the same time, this is more of a reflection of what the state media has to say about the Dear Leader which centralizes around the intended philosophy for their people, but it is widely unknown as to whether regular Koreans agree or possess these same sentiments:
Kim Jong-Il, great master of politics and illustrious commander born of Heaven, honorably defended the socialist gains and noble heritage bequeathed by the President [Kim Il Sung], by dint of Songuni politics despite the collapse of the world socialist system, the demise of the President-which was the greatest loss to the nation, the vicious offensive of the imperialist allied forces to stifle the DPRK, and severe natural disasters. He turned the DPRK into an invincible political and ideological power in which single-minded unity has been achieved and made it emerge a nuclear weapons state and an invincible military power which no enemy can ever provoke. (Isozaki).
Over the years, the U.S. has been hesitant to give the DPRK any kind of food aid due to threats of the nuclear arms capability. The U.N. has made threats of sanctions against the nation if it continued their nuclear program. However, from 1998 on, Kim Jong Il launched several short range missiles, satellite launches, and nuclear tests. One satellite launch in 2009 is said to have fallen into the Pacific ocean out of orbit. Kim Jong Il's tone during his leadership was a tone of the continued thinking that the DPRK had a right to their own nuclear weapons and also a right to launch rockets and satellites into space. The UN and the international community reacted mostly in disapproval, since the launching of any rocket without approval is a violation of the Security Council Resolutions. Also, the UN is afraid that these launches will aid in improving further missile technology. What's interesting is that the DPRK is a member of the UN. The DPRK, though, keeps declaring these actions as the right of a sovereign state.
Just before Kim Jong Il died in December of 2011, the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization estimated that 1 in 8 Koreans were experiencing chronic hunger and 1 million of those under the age of 5 (Beck). Kim Jong Il left his country in economic hard times, but the Korean state media insists that his death doesn't mean any change in regime.
North Korea’s Broadcasting System reported the regime’s second successive leader, Kim Jong Il, dead on December 19, 2011. The statements made about the late Dear Leader displays the extent of the nation’s feelings and understandings about his role and the philosophy behind his rule. At the same time, this is more of a reflection of what the state media has to say about the Dear Leader which centralizes around the intended philosophy for their people, but it is widely unknown as to whether regular Koreans agree or possess these same sentiments:
Kim Jong-Il, great master of politics and illustrious commander born of Heaven, honorably defended the socialist gains and noble heritage bequeathed by the President [Kim Il Sung], by dint of Songuni politics despite the collapse of the world socialist system, the demise of the President-which was the greatest loss to the nation, the vicious offensive of the imperialist allied forces to stifle the DPRK, and severe natural disasters. He turned the DPRK into an invincible political and ideological power in which single-minded unity has been achieved and made it emerge a nuclear weapons state and an invincible military power which no enemy can ever provoke. (Isozaki).
Below: Korean Media reports on Kim Jong Il's funeral