In 2015, the politics of North Korea was dominated by the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK). The party was led by Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un, who had assumed power in 2011 after the death of his father Kim Jong-il. The WPK was a totalitarian political party that focused on maintaining absolute power and control over all aspects of life in North Korea. See ehealthfacts for North Korea in the year of 2005.
The 2015 elections were held in March and saw the WPK win a majority in both chambers of Parliament with 687 out of 687 seats. This ensured that they would remain in power for another five years. During this time, Kim Jong-un sought to implement further reforms to strengthen North Korea’s economy while ensuring social control and stability. He also worked towards improving relations with other countries such as China and Russia, while also strengthening ties with international organizations such as the United Nations (UN). In 2020, he was succeeded by his sister Kim Yo-jong following her successful election campaign.
Yearbook 2015
North Korea. According to COUNTRYAAH, Pyongyang is the capital of North Korea which is located in Eastern Asia. There were reports of continued purges at a high political level. Defense Minister Hyon Yong Choi must have been executed – with an air defense weapon – after falling asleep at a military parade, and Deputy Prime Minister Choe Yong Gon after criticizing forest policy. In total, some 70 high-ranking people were reported to have been executed since Kim Jong Un took over as leader in 2011.
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With one day’s notice, the government canceled a planned visit by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon in May, without explanation. Ban, who had previously been South Korea’s foreign minister, would have visited the industrial zone Kaesong, which North and South Korea jointly operate.
The UN appealed to donor countries for humanitarian aid for $ 111 million to North Korea. The government stated in June that the country was facing the worst drought in a century, raising concerns about severe food shortages. More than 30% of the rice fields were reported to be dehydrated. Assessors felt that the situation was less threatening than in the 1990s, when hundreds of thousands of North Koreans swallowed to death, thanks to the fact that some privately organized agriculture was allowed and production increased. But according to the United Nations food program WFP, nearly a third of children were still hampered in their growth due to malnutrition.
The situation was very tense for a few weeks in August, following an incident at the border when two South Korean soldiers were injured in a mine explosion and an artillery fire later erupted. South Korea then began propaganda broadcasts through speakers across the border, prompting North Korea to put troops into combat readiness. Previously, such a propaganda war was common, but the countries agreed in 2004 to stop it. High-level negotiations followed, and eventually the shipments were canceled and North Korea withdrew troops from the border. The parties also agreed on new reunification meetings for families that have been separated since the 1950-53 war. In November, hundreds of South Koreans traveled to North Korea for such meetings.
Operations at the disputed nuclear plant in Yongbyon resumed after laying down since 2007. Satellite monitoring had already aroused suspicion and in September the government confirmed that the reactor was running. The United States warned North Korea of “irresponsible provocations”. The reactor was closed in 2007 as part of an agreement on aid in exchange for disarmament. As early as 2013, however, Pyongyang threatened to restart it, in a tense situation since the country conducted its third nuclear test. North Korea jumped off the so-called six-party talks on the country’s nuclear program as early as 2009. In December, the United States tightened its sanctions on the country.
October
Danish documentary shows secret arms deals
October 12
A Danish documentary is said to show that North Korea is trying to evade UN sanctions against the country. Among other things, North Korea’s embassy in Stockholm has served as a liaison center for the construction of an underground weapons factory in Uganda. Denmark and Sweden’s foreign ministers announce after the film was broadcast on TV that they have “decided to pay attention to the documentary in the UN Sanctions Committee. We will also raise the issue within the EU ”. The film is based on the fact that a Danish chef managed to win the regime’s trust and document meetings with both hidden and open cameras.
North Korea shows off giant robot in military parade
10 October
In connection with North Korea celebrating the Labor Party’s 75th anniversary with a large military parade in Pyongyang, what is said to be a new record-breaking intercontinental robot is on display. In front of a jubilant crowd, troops march past along with new weapons and equipment. After that, Kim Jong-Un also gives an emotional speech, he regrets the difficulties that the country has had to endure with everything from continued UN sanctions to the corona pandemic that led to closed borders.
September
Kim Jong-Un apologizes to South Korea for shooting dead
September 24
South Korea reports that a South Korean official was shot dead by North Korean soldiers after being found on North Korean waters. This is the first time in ten years that a South Korean has been killed by North Korean troops. The man is believed to have jumped overboard from a South Korean patrol boat near North Korea. Assessors say he may have been shot when he did not respond to calls from North Korean soldiers who had orders not to allow anyone to enter the country due to the risk of spreading coronavirus. According to South Korean sources, the man must have been burned after he was killed. Kim Jong-Un has sent a personal apology to South Korean President Moon for the incident. North Korea, however, claims that it was not the dead man that the soldiers set fire to, but the buoyancy aid he had had. The body must have disappeared into the sea.
IAEA: North Korea violates nuclear weapons resolutions
2 September
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) writes in its latest report on North Korea that operations are underway at the Yongbyon nuclear weapons facility in violation of UN Security Council resolutions. The IAEA has not been able to visit the country itself to conduct nuclear weapons inspections since 2009 because Pyongyang does not want to agree to this. The IAEA calls on North Korea to live up to its international commitments.