North Korea Demystified By Han S. Park

Introduction

Establishing a Theoretical Lens

Han S. Park with Regan Damron and Jonathan Polk

North Korea as a state is not a typical case study. In order to understand the manner in which the North Korean system has been formulated and has evolved, it is important to establish a theoretical basis that will assist in developing such an understanding. In this regard, certain theories can help not only contextualize but also identify why North Korean foreign policy behavior is not an aberration in the global political arena. This chapter establishes the theoretical lens through which one can effectively understand and explain the dynamics of political and social life that account for policy patterns in both the domestic and foreign arenas in North Korea.