김정은 정권의 정치적 특성과 대내정책

The Political Characteristics of the Kim Jong Un Regime and its Domestic Policies

Many changes have occurred in the last seven years that Kim Jong Un has been in power in North Korea. Much of the power elite in Pyongyang has been replaced, while multiple nuclear tests have resulted in intensifying international sanctions. Politically, this was a period in which Kim Jong Un’s personal political power became more apparent. While the power and image of the leader was raised through a reign of terror, factions that held significant interests like that of Chang Song Taek, were eliminated. And the rights of specific power groups were not recognized. The official institutions of the ruling party were also revitalized, and the regime sought simultaneous development of the economy and accelerated development of nuclear weapons(the so-called ‘Byungjin line’) helping to strengthen the solidarity of the regime’s support base. However, recently, as the Kim Jong Un regime has sought to negotiate denuclearization, it seeks to maintain the North Korean system through a complete focus on economic construction. Amidst rapidly changing circumstances at home and abroad, there is great interest in whether the Kim Jong Un regime can stabilize, or whether the system will face crisis due to continued elite purges and nuclear development. The article assesses the salient characteristics of the regime that has emerged under Kim Jong Un, assesses political change in the country as seen in the way Kim Jong Un exercises power, and attempts to forecast future North Korean domestic policies and political change.