Everyone experiences loss and grief at some point in their lives. But can nations grieve?
In this article, I argue that North Korea’s seemingly irrational actions during the Cold War era can be explained as collective grief due to Kim Il Sung’s failure to successfully reunify the country during the Korean War. The regime’s failure to do this between 1950 and 1953 left a deep psychological scar on the leadership.
Everyone experiences loss and grief at some point in their lives. But can nations grieve?
In this article, I argue that North Korea’s seemingly irrational actions during the Cold War era can be explained as collective grief due to Kim Il Sung’s failure to successfully reunify the country during the Korean War. The regime’s failure to do this between 1950 and 1953 left a deep psychological scar on the leadership.
Become a member for less than $4 per week.
Unlimited access to all of NK News: reporting, investigations, analysis
The NK News Daily Update, an email newsletter to keep you in the loop
Searchable archive of all content, photo galleries, special columns
Contact NK News reporters with tips or requests for reporting
Get unlimited access to all NK News content, including original reporting, investigations, and analyses by our team of DPRK experts.
Subscribe now
All major cards accepted. No commitments – you can cancel any time.
SHARE
COPY LINK
X
MASTODON
