ABSTRACT
North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), stands out as a state that poses a significant threat to regional and international peace and stability. This threat derives principally from the regime's continued development of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and its exportation of WMD systems and components to other rogue governments in geopolitically sensitive regions of the world. A one-man dictatorship under the control of Kim Jong-il, North Korea faces a future of uncertainty with regard to how its brazen pursuit of WMD will eventually play out and is dealt with in the face of strong international opposition. This high-stakes diplomatic and political-military situation is taking place against the background of continued economic hardship for the people of North Korea.
