(University of the Western Cape, 2019) Hendricks, Craig Darren; Pretorius, Joelien
North Korea has against the numerous warnings of the international community, protocols and
sanctions tested nuclear and missile devices. The purpose of this study is to explain how the
political ideology of Juche informs North Korea’s nuclear weapons programme. Using a
qualitative analysis, this study analyzed the origin of Juche and its impact on North Korea’s
foreign and nuclear policies through the years. The social values underlying Juche were found
to be the foundation of North Korea’s nuclear and missile ambitions. Juche itself has evolved as
a framework that informs North Korea’s international relations and the study traces this
evolution through the different Kim presidencies.