The regime of North Korea, which is a hard-line autocracy, continues to maintain a succession logic based on bloodline. In 2021, Kim Jong-un was elected as the general secretary of the party, a position equivalent to his father’s role. Regarding foreign and security policy, Kim Jong-un pursues a highly aggressive approach and continues to threat other countries with the development of nuclear weapons.
The COVID-19 pandemic and the border closure have had a significant negative impact on the country’s economy. International reports indicate a substantial deterioration in living standards and an ongoing humanitarian emergency. Meanwhile, corruption has proliferated, and many citizens have resorted to bending the rules in order to survive.
Tensions between the new South Korean and the North Korean government have heightened during the review period. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Pyongyang attempt to seek closer economic cooperation with China and Russia, while maintaining its hard-line posture towards the United States and South Korea.
