North Korea’s Guiding Ideology and Its Impact

Abstract

Juche, the political philosophy instituted by Kim Il-sung, is a guiding ideology for North Korea and its party. It also serves as the foundation upon which principles, guidelines, and policies are developed for North Korea’s socialist revolution. With changes in North Korean domestic conditions and it international situation, Kim Jong-il inherited and further developed the Juche idea, proposing the Songun (Military First) policy as North Korea’s ruling ideology and governing practice. After Kim Jong-un took office, he proposed Kimilsungism-Kimjongilism as the guiding idea for the party. The guiding principles proposed by three generations of North Korean supreme leaders ideologically guide the country’s political, economic, cultural, and military affairs. They are fundamental ideas on which the study of North Korean policies and national strategies should be based. A study of the origin, core value, and impacts of North Korean guiding ideologies will help us better understand the country and grasp the Sino-North Korea relationship.