North Korea: A growing threat to the West?
North Korea, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, is a country in East Asia. Many have regarded the country as a totalitarian dictatorship, whilst more major critics have named it Stalinist. Over time North Korea has evolved from Communism to Juche; an application of Marxism Leninism. Following the Japanese surrender at the end of World War 2, Korea was divided into two zones by the USA and Soviet Union - South Korea and North Korea. After various failed UN attempts to unify the two, Korea is divided till this very day.
Ownership of Nuclear Weapons
It has recently come to light that North Korea possesses nuclear weapons, after Pyongyang conducted five nuclear tests since 2006. However, the big question on officials’ minds is whether the nuclear devices being tested are atomic or hydrogen bombs.
H-bombs let loose vast sums of energy, and are far more powerful and dangerous than an A-bomb. To experts’ horror, North Korea later confirmed that their latest nuclear test was indeed conducted using an H-bomb.
Another question on expert’s minds is whether the starting material for the nuclear tests plutonium or uranium? Uranium would mean a huge expansion in North Korea’s Nuclear Programme. North Korea has little amounts of plutonium, and so perhaps they are looking to obtain Uranium as well.
North Korea’s Human Rights Violations
North Korea is a totalitarian state where tens of thousands of citizens are enslaved and then tortured. Freedom and expression is strongly repressed and nobody is safe from arrest and imprisonment.
Many things we take for granted in the West are forbidden in North Korea, and are punishable by death. For example, making an international phone call to the outside world will ensure you to become targeted to be hunted down by the North Korean authorities and then publicly executed.
Phone calls and interest usage is constantly monitored by “Bureau 27”, who uses sophisticated intelligence equipment to detect mobile phone frequencies. Making international phone calls is extremely dangerous.
North Korean law also dictates a “Three Generations of Punishment” policy, which means if you commit a crime, your children and grandchildren are immediately implicated too, and must endure the same horrific punishment in forced labour camps or death.
Thae Yong-Ho
Thae Yong-Ho, 54, is a North Korea defector and a former North Korean diplomat. He was also North Korea’s deputy ambassador to the United Kingdom, before defecting to his family in South Korea, in 2016, where he is not confirmed to be protected under South Korean government. Thae Young-Ho is possibly one of the highest-ranking North Koreans to ever defect. Before his defection he was described as one of North Korea’s most elite, sophisticated diplomats. However, following his defection, the North Korean government issued a statement on the affair, describing him as “human scum”.
Since his defection, Thae Yong-Ho has been openly speaking to the media and appearing on television describing the brutal and isolated North Korea. It has come to light that North Korea’s elite are expressing their growing discontent with Kim Jong-un’s government and many more are waiting to defect. He also believes the people will eventually rise against the regime. In the past 63 years, more than 29,000 North Koreans have defected to escape years of poverty and starvation.
Ownership of Nuclear Weapons
It has recently come to light that North Korea possesses nuclear weapons, after Pyongyang conducted five nuclear tests since 2006. However, the big question on officials’ minds is whether the nuclear devices being tested are atomic or hydrogen bombs.
H-bombs let loose vast sums of energy, and are far more powerful and dangerous than an A-bomb. To experts’ horror, North Korea later confirmed that their latest nuclear test was indeed conducted using an H-bomb.
Another question on expert’s minds is whether the starting material for the nuclear tests plutonium or uranium? Uranium would mean a huge expansion in North Korea’s Nuclear Programme. North Korea has little amounts of plutonium, and so perhaps they are looking to obtain Uranium as well.
North Korea’s Human Rights Violations
North Korea is a totalitarian state where tens of thousands of citizens are enslaved and then tortured. Freedom and expression is strongly repressed and nobody is safe from arrest and imprisonment.
Many things we take for granted in the West are forbidden in North Korea, and are punishable by death. For example, making an international phone call to the outside world will ensure you to become targeted to be hunted down by the North Korean authorities and then publicly executed.
Phone calls and interest usage is constantly monitored by “Bureau 27”, who uses sophisticated intelligence equipment to detect mobile phone frequencies. Making international phone calls is extremely dangerous.
North Korean law also dictates a “Three Generations of Punishment” policy, which means if you commit a crime, your children and grandchildren are immediately implicated too, and must endure the same horrific punishment in forced labour camps or death.
Thae Yong-Ho
Thae Yong-Ho, 54, is a North Korea defector and a former North Korean diplomat. He was also North Korea’s deputy ambassador to the United Kingdom, before defecting to his family in South Korea, in 2016, where he is not confirmed to be protected under South Korean government. Thae Young-Ho is possibly one of the highest-ranking North Koreans to ever defect. Before his defection he was described as one of North Korea’s most elite, sophisticated diplomats. However, following his defection, the North Korean government issued a statement on the affair, describing him as “human scum”.
Since his defection, Thae Yong-Ho has been openly speaking to the media and appearing on television describing the brutal and isolated North Korea. It has come to light that North Korea’s elite are expressing their growing discontent with Kim Jong-un’s government and many more are waiting to defect. He also believes the people will eventually rise against the regime. In the past 63 years, more than 29,000 North Koreans have defected to escape years of poverty and starvation.
Other Sites |
|
