North Korea and the Science of Provocation

Why does North Korea consistently turn to provocative actions to achieve foreign policy goals? Are the actions of the Kim regime predictable or based on logical responses to the conditions faced by North Korea? In an examination of North Korean conflict over the past 50 years, this research is an ef [...]
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Why does North Korea consistently turn to provocative actions to achieve foreign policy goals? Are the actions of the Kim regime predictable or based on logical responses to the conditions faced by North Korea? In an examination of North Korean conflict over the past 50 years, this research is an effort to explain why the DPRK consistently uses conflict and force to interact with other states. Surprisingly, this type of research is rare due to the perceived lack of information on this isolated state, yet information is readily available to understand the ruling Kim regime's foreign policy activities. Using three case studies and quantitative analysis of over 2,000 conflict events, his study examines the relationship between North Korea's societal conditions and its propensity to engage in external conflict. These findings are viewed through the lens of diversionary theory, the idea that leaders use external conflict to "divert" domestic attention, as a possible explanation.By examining the actions of an isolated state such as North Korea and providing a template for conflict scholarship in general, this study provides an original perspective on how explain the intricate relationships between state-level activities and external conflict. This research provides insight into this reclusive nation and the Kim regime's volatile relationship with the international community.