North Korea emerged as a nation in 1948 amid the chaos following the end
of the Second World War. Kim Il-Sung is the dominant figure in North Korean
history. He shaped the country’s political affairs for nearly half
a century.
Kim Il-Sung's son, Kim Jong-Il, was declared his father’s successor
in 1980. He assumed power in 1997.
Famine and starvation remain harsh realities to the population of North
Korea. Years of bloated military spending have had devastating effects on
the population. Several relief agencies have finally been allowed into the
country and are delivering hundreds of millions of dollars to the starving
population.
In 1994, the country signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, agreeing
to stop its nuclear weapons program in exchange for much needed foreign
aid from the United States, South Korea and Japan.
The progress made during the historic summit in 2000 between Kim Jong-Il
and Kim Dae-Jung was hampered earlier this year. In January, the country
withdrew from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and in April, North
Korea admitted it has nuclear weapons and is prepared to export them. With
this admission, the U.S. cuts off all food and oil aid.
As the country continues to allow no private investment, no foreign investment,
and relies heavily on aid, it seems perched on the brink of collapse.
