ABSTRACT
This chapter identifies major problems that North Korea confronts today after the death of Kim Il Sung and assesses whether it is feasible for new political leaders to successfully manage the current crisis. Kim Il Sung proclaimed that North Korean foreign policy goals were threefold: independence, friendship, and peace. To manage the policy setbacks, Kim Jong Il must find a new foreign minister who can more effectively implement the some foreign policy goals. North Korean relations with the United States are marked by South Korean interference and American military presence in South Korea. Kim Jong Il and his new leaders must find the means to lessen the burden of the North Korean military. The impact of military outlay to its economy is a problem that requires both political and economic solutions. They must reduce the armed forces, find new and reliable allies that can replace the former Soviet Union, or negotiate with powerful neighbors to satisfy security concerns.
