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Kim Jong-un and North Korea
In April 2012, North Korea conducted a test launch of its latest rocket technology, the Unha-3. The launch failed, but another test in December proved successful, lifting a small satellite out of Earth’s atmosphere and into orbit, which they have been attempting to accomplish for the last fourteen years. These satellite launches are believed to be a cover for the development of inter-continental ballistic missiles that would be able to target North America.

North Korea is also believed to have an arsenal of rough nuclear devices, and has conducted three nuclear tests since 2006, with the last being on February 12, 2013. This latest test was a success, and, while the device’s detonation was much smaller than the bomb that the United States dropped on Hiroshima, caused a new series of sanctions to be put into place by the UN and China. The US installed fourteen ground based missile interceptors, which are located in Alaska. The US have also prepared to deploy an advanced missile defense system, along with the Navy’s missile defense warships.

Sanctions have been pressed against North Korea, but they have continued to threaten the international community, especially the United States, Japan, and South Korea.

The South Korean president, Park Geun-hye, has responded to these threats with warnings of her own, and says that she considers Kim Jong-un’s threats “very serious.” North Korea has threatened to not provide any notice before sending out an attack directed at South Korea. The United States has adopted a policy of “strategic patience”, in which negotiations and offers of aid are withheld from the country unless it shows a willingness to negotiate and come to an agreement.

China has been trying to avoid conflict with North Korea, as their government is worried about a unified Korea allied with the United states. They did participate in the sanctions against the country after February’s nuclear test, but were careful not to push the country too far.

The humanitarian situation in the country has not improved since Kim Jong-un came to power. A system of gulag labor camps spread across the country holds thousands of political prisoners, and outside of the camps life is not much better, with over 300,000 people employed to maintain control of the population through any means.

Kim Jong-un’s motives are still largely a mystery.