ThinkTankWeekly

Power, religion, and ideology in North Korea

Brookings | 2026-04-27 | china_indopacific

Topics: China, Middle East, Russia, Indo-Pacific

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English Summary

North Korea's regime stability is maintained through a complex blend of authoritarian internal control, dynastic ideology, and strategic geopolitical alignment. The Kim dynasty has successfully leveraged this model across generations by deepening ties with major external powers, including Russia, China, and Iran, to navigate a shifting global order. Analysis of the regime's evolving ideology and domestic policy drivers is critical for understanding its current trajectory. Ultimately, tracking these internal and external pressures is key to predicting regional instability and the challenges associated with potential future leadership transitions.

中文摘要

朝鮮政權的穩定性,是透過威權的內部控制、王朝意識形態,以及戰略的地緣政治佈局等複雜因素維持的。金氏王朝透過深化與俄羅斯、中國和伊朗等主要外部大國的關係,成功地將此模式傳承至各代,以應對不斷變化的全球秩序。分析該政權不斷演變的意識形態和國內政策驅動力,對於理解其當前軌跡至關重要。最終,追蹤這些內部和外部壓力,是預測區域不穩定性以及潛在未來領導層更迭所帶來挑戰的關鍵。

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