1972年,金日成公布了一项政治哲学被称为主体,他定义为“革命的主人和重建自己的国家。”North Korea would reject outside influence, even that of bigger communist countries, and strive to become a self-reliant nation [source:李]。但尽管政府支持这一想法,继续接受来自其他国家的经济援助。
朝鲜的宣传机器花了几十年创造的神话金日成和他的继任者们描绘成高明,几乎的人物。原始的金,例如,被称为“永远的主席”或“伟大领袖”。State media attributed to him a long list of astonishing feats, including scoring a perfect 300 the first time he went bowling and sinking 11 straight holes-in-one on his first golf outing [source:《今日美国》]。他的继任者都被称为“亲爱的领袖”。
工作日结束后,大多数普通朝鲜人必须留下来的日常“社区会议”和“学习会话。”The Community Session is a time to go over the day's tasks and production goals. The Learning Session is to disseminate party policy and report yourself — or others — for breaking the rules. However, defectors report that attendance has been dropping at these meetings, with little censure, as the party begins to understand that most people need their spare time to hunt for food to buy, and are often ill from malnourishment [source:法国]。
2017年8月,联合国安理会一致通过对北韩实施严厉制裁——针对其洲际弹道导弹的发射。专家认为这可能成本平壤每年10亿美元——一个巨大的和贫穷的国家。朝鲜已经受到美国的制裁,the Security Council and the European Union for previous nuclear activity, but this new development is more wide-ranging and likely to cause more hurt economically. The aim is cut off第三个朝鲜每年的出口,迫使金正日放弃核武器计划,或者至少愿意谈判[来源:泰勒]。但由于先前的制裁没有效果,很难知道会发生什么。