Security risks on the Korean Peninsula during the regime of Kim Jong-Un

Abstract

At the regional and global security level, the issue of security in the Korean Peninsula is a serious problem. After Kim Jong Un has taken power in 2011 many experts wondered whether he could consolidate the power and if any member of the state apparatus (the Workers’ Party of Korea or the army) would hold the real power in the DPRK. Recent years show that the successor of Kim Jong-il (1994-2011) is reinforcing his authority by eliminating potential political opponents and continuing his father’s policy through developing nuclear and missile programme. These actions have serious impact on the destabilization of the situation in the region. The security problem on the Korean Peninsula includes three issues. The first is the nuclear and missile programme in North Korea. The second is the threat of war between the Koreas and the possible repercussions of the conflict. Formally, since the outbreak of the Korean War (1950-1953) these countries remain at war because they have only signed an armistice agreement, and not a peace treaty.

Artificially divided after the World War II, the Korean Peninsula, still struggling with the problems of the future unification of Korea, found itself in the clinch of the interests of great world powers. The third issue is that the international consequences of changing the status quo in Korea and regional consequences of reunification have significant impact on the balance of power and security in Asia.