North Korea Nationalism (Blog 2)

According to Merriam-Webster, Nationalism is "a feeling that people have of being loyal to and proud of their country often with the belief that it is better and more important than other countries." Nationalism in North Korea is minimal. When it comes to wanting to come together and feel good about your country, North Korea citizens take no part. There is somewhat of a forced nationalism that goes on because the government requires their citizens to be apart of the military. 

Young North Korean men serving their country. 

Zakaria talks about rising nationalism as a negative and positive thing. He finds that nationalism in countries could be dangerous because people will stop coming together to solve common problems. In one of the readings we read for class Zakaria says, "As the number of players-- governmental and nongovernmental-- increases and each one's power and confidence grows, the prospects for agreement and common action diminish." (34) Zakaria is correct that when nationalism grows countries are less likely to ask other countries for advice or help with their problems, this leads to conflict and the idea that the citizens own country is the best and others are at fault for global issues. 

It is not news to anyone that North Korea is not afraid of conflict and is never one to shy away from war, especially with its neighbor South Korea. On August 22, 2015 North Korea's dictator Kim Jong-un threatened their neighbor that they would go to war. The reason for this conflict was the start of anti North Korean propaganda that was being aired through loud speakers on the border of North and South Korea. North Korea responded with violence and the South retaliated with artillery as well. Talks between the two countries are ongoing about their issues but many believe that this will lead to an all out war between the North and the South. 

North Korean dictator, Kim Jong-un.

The inequality in North Korea has become increasingly worse throughout time. As stated in my previous blog the citizens of North Korea are expected to join the military whether they want to or not. Another rising problem in North Korea is the gap between those in poverty and the wealthy. There has been a rapid polarization in wealth while majority of the country is malnourished and living in horrible, non-livable conditions with no escape. 1 in 3 children under the age of 5 in North Korea is chronically malnourished. There is an estimated 150,000 living in political prison camps for disobeying their government. It seems that there are two types of people living in North Korea. Either you are living in poverty in struggle for the search for food or you are an elitist with no struggle at all. After doing research it is difficult to say whether or not their is a middle class. 

According to an article in Fox News, a North Korean citizens fate is determined by the family they are born into. The article also states, "The study released Wednesday by the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea says all adults in the socialist state are categorized as one of three classes: loyal, wavering or hostile. Education, healthcare, food, and jobs are all based on the the marry you are born into or marry into. 

It seems that these issues are not being addressed by the North Korean government itself, but more by surrounding countries that feel the need to step in and help those that are in need of food and shelter to survive. In 2009 India exported 1 million dollars to North Korea in efforts to help the food supply. the country is hard to get along with because of their aggressive government system. It would be difficult for another country to force help on the North Koreans because in the past they have been so disagreeable to outsiders. 

Sources:
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nationalism 

https://globedrifting.wordpress.com/2014/05/03/korea/

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/north-korea-recap-updates-kim-6297533

http://thediplomat.com/2015/05/north-koreas-3-tiered-society/ 

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/06/06/in-communist-nkorea-inequality-assigned-at-birth/

Zakaria, Fareedd. "The Post-American World"