Obstacles Threatening the Existence of the Kaesong Industrial Complex

Cultures around the world are divide by their distinctive characteristic of people, and how people interact within their society. Most cultures are driven by the way their environment has been set for them. Many of cultures have to adapt to the way their environment are due to the conditions that are set for them and the amount of resources that they are provided. The biggest drive for culture are the historical custom. Most countries continue to carry their ancestor custom so that the tradition may stay with them throughout their years, in which making other countries distinctive from one another. One of the particular country that will be discuss in this report is North Korea. In this report, I will be discussing the North Korean culture, with describing their living condition in the country, common issues that they face with on a daily bases, and common threat that they pose on other countries.

The northern border is known as the DMZ (demilitarized zone) it is the most heavily armed border in the world. At 2.5 miles wide and 150-miles long the heavily mined and guarded area has served as a buffer zone since the cease fire in 1953.(3) The united States helps to guard the DMZ and protect the ROK with approximately 30,000 troops and an arsenal of military equipment. The country of South Korea is unable to maintain their own Nuclear weapons and relies on the US Militaries nuclear weapons program to match North Koreas Nuclear weapons program. Although the ROK army is well equipped and well trained it lacks the sheer numbers and nuclear capabilities to match North Korea. Therefore the ROK relies heavily on the United States military assistance. However with the ROK’s consistent progression and strong economy it’s only a matter of time before the ROK will no longer need the help of the USA. (4)

North Korea, formally known as the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK), is a relic of the Cold War and the world’s last remaining totalitarian Stalinist dictatorship. Arguably the most secretive state in the world, North Korea poses a unique set of challenges to the world, especially to its democratic and capitalist neighbor, South Korea, formally known as the Republic of Korea (ROK). As one of the last remnants of the Cold War era, North Korea remains an anomaly of the international system due to its unpredictable nature and disregard for international norms. With the recent bombardment of the South Korean Island of Yeongpyong and the sinking of the warship Cheonan, tensions between the two Koreas are at the lowest point since

The U.S. helped to divide the Korean peninsula at the end of World War II, and then waged war against North Korea in the 1950s. Although the U.S. signed a peace agreement rather than a peace treaty with North Korea after the war, its policy toward the country changed. Instead of trying to overthrow the North Korea government, the U.S. government adopted a policy of containing communism. During the 1980’s, associations between North Korea and the U.S. start to take on a new diplomatic form. North Korea’s nuclear weapons program had become a pressing international issue

Following the Korean War and the rebuilding of their societies, both North Korea and South Korea’s economies have depreciated and fluctuated. With their different economic systems, one using the military and the other using trade, they both have received different results.

In this seemingly peaceful world, the Korean Peninsula has been seen as one of the hottest potatoes in the world. Many people do not acknowledge that the Korean War has not ended, but the event settled with just an armistice since the tension of the war became so intense between not only two Koreans, but other major countries such as Russia, China, and the United States. Even an armistice of the war, there still remains severe tensions in the Korean Peninsula and because of this, questions like why Korea has been the only divided country in the world and what has increased the tension between two Koreans have been brought up to historians. And to the answers to the questions about the modern Koreans is the war

After the war, both Koreas moved quickly to rebuild and modernize. North Korea, which was more industrialized than South Korea before the war, rebuilt quicker. Unfortunately, North Korea’s economy suffered, because of the break-up with the Soviet Union. Eventually South Korea evolved into a industrial society, who became a heavy exporter to the United States. Overall after the war both Koreas have been successful, but still face the challenge of

The Korean peninsula has always been in a rough location. It is located between China and Japan, trapped. It could be reasonably compared to the rope in a tug-of-war game, having been occupied by one or the other for a large majority of time. In 1910, Japan had annexed Korea and were occupying the region. Their occupation stayed firm until Japan’s ultimate defeat in World War 2. One may think that Japan leaving the region would mean that Korea would receive its sovereignty back. However, they ended up becoming more divided than ever. After World War 2, the Soviet Union and the United States became involved in what is commonly known as the Cold War. The Soviet Union was communist. The U.S. wanted to keep communism from spreading. The Cold War

It has been almost sixty-five years since the split of Korea into the North and South. Although it was not until 1953 when Korea was confirmed by a signed agreement that it is spilt in North Korea and South Korea. As a result of Korea separating into two countries, two different people were in power with different types of governing. Although both countries were once one single country, they both have merged into two totally different countries, that if in the future they came back together to be one country it would be difficult to comprise their rulers and come to an agreement of governing between them.

Understanding how North Korea as a country defines itself in a changing world. Where do they derive their customs and practices, political standings and military power? Define North Korea’s history leading into the modern age and define its culture and characteristics and how they interact with the world today. Understanding a subject as broad as the term culture begins where the culture began with the birth of civilization and the people that influenced it. There are many factors that play a role in the shaping of a nation none so much as turmoil and conflict and the Korean peninsula saw its fair share for the better part of a millennia. A complete statistical breakdown of North Korea shows a struggling nation that strongly depends on

In the article “Better Tomorrow?” from The Economist, we learn about the reality of life, and practices made by the North Korean government. Their many unknown truths regarding what occurs in the North Korean border. That has risen the concern that North Korea is more corrupt than previously expected. Ever since Kim Jong Il passed away, his son Kim Jong Un has made some extreme actions. Recently, he sent is uncle who was once known to be the second most powerful man in North Korea, to be exiled. Showing to the public that he isn't afraid of killing those who are believed to betray him. Since late 2011, Un has placed economic development zones to spark needed foreign investment into the countries economy. To make North Korea seem to be well

“We risked our lives for a South Korean dream, but If a war breaks out, should I fight South Koreans or should I shoot at my relatives in the North?” asks Ri Kyong” The Republic of Korea was small a country which was located in the far eastern edge of Asia. It was separated when the Korea War started in 1950 and lasted until 1953. At that time it turned into two different countries, which are known today as North Korea and South Korea .Thereafter these two countries have attempted to find ways to advance their power and wealth compared to the other, and work their way through the world’s exponential growth in all forms of technology. These days whoever walks through an exhibition can

This article deals with the United States and its attempts to deal with the dangerous matters of North Korea. Some of the problems that were brought up in this article were North Korea’s plan to restart a plutonium based nuclear program at Yongbyon, North Korea’s plan to build a new highly enriched uranium (HEU) nuclear program, and the tension that emerged between the United States and South Korea. Even though many problems were occurring, there were some positive things that were happening at the time. The United States began negotiating with North Korea and South Korea about establishing railroad links, demining portions of the demilitarized zone, allowing athletes to compete in the Asian games, and allowing abductees to visit Japan.

The North Korea is dramatically different compared to the South Korea. Unlike China, which is rapidly developing its economy and diverging from the self-contained world, until this day North Korea still remains undeveloped. Many of those who are not familiar with the affairs in the South and North Koreas might not understand why both regions, which are so close to one another, differs so much in terms of lifestyle, economic, and social developments. They were unified for centuries under the Joseon Dynasty (1392 - 1910), and share the same language and essential culture. Yet for the last six decades and North and South Korea have been divided along a fortified DMZ(Szczepanski).

This amazing economic transformation of South Korea has made present-day developing and under developed nations in the