North Korea
Democratic People's Republic of Korea
Population
26.2M
GDP
$18.0B
Capital
Pyongyang
Government
Unitary one-party socialist ...
At a Glance
Human Development
0.7
HDI (0-1)
Democracy
1.1
EIU (0-10)
Press Freedom
—
RSF score
Corruption
—
TI CPI (0-100)
Innovation
—
GII score
Happiness
—
WHR (0-10)
North Korea is one of the most isolated countries in the world, governed by the Kim dynasty since 1948. Its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs have made it a focal point of international security debates and the subject of extensive UN Security Council sanctions.
North Korea withdrew from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in 2003 and has conducted multiple nuclear tests. The Six-Party Talks (involving the US, China, South Korea, Japan, and Russia) collapsed in 2009 with no resumption. Brief summits between Kim Jong-un and US President Trump in 2018-2019 produced no lasting agreement.
North Korea maintains close ties with China and has deepened military cooperation with Russia, reportedly supplying ammunition for the war in Ukraine in exchange for technology and economic support.
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Ask Atlas anything about North KoreaMUN Delegate Guide
As North Korea, you are playing defense. Your primary goal is regime survival, and your nuclear program is non-negotiable. Frame it as a deterrent forced by US aggression and hostile military exercises on the peninsula.
Align with China and Russia on procedural votes. Oppose sanctions as violations of sovereignty. Denounce the US-South Korea alliance as a provocation. On human rights, reject all criticism as fabricated and politically motivated.
Your isolation is a strategic tool -- you have little to lose by being obstinate, which gives you unusual leverage in negotiations. Be willing to walk away from any deal that does not serve regime security.
Foreign Policy
North Korea's foreign policy is driven by regime survival. Nuclear weapons are seen as the ultimate security guarantee against US-led regime change. Diplomatic engagement is sporadic and typically aimed at sanctions relief or extracting concessions.
China provides North Korea's economic lifeline, accounting for the vast majority of its trade. Relations with Russia have warmed significantly since 2022, with military and economic cooperation expanding. North Korea opposes the US-South Korea alliance and views Japan as a historical adversary.