Knowra Songun Songun Songun is North Korea’s military-first policy, prioritizing the Korean People’s Army in state affairs and resource allocation. It became a defining doctrine of Kim Jong Il’s rule.
Korean People's Army : North Korea’s armed forces, encompassing its ground, naval, air, and strategic units. Songun placed the army at the center of state priorities.
Kim Jong Il : North Korean leader who ruled from 1994 until his death in 2011. He made Songun a central doctrine of his leadership.
Kim Jong Un : North Korean leader who succeeded his father, Kim Jong Il, in 2011. He inherited Songun but later emphasized a policy of parallel development.
Byungjin : North Korea’s policy of pursuing economic development and nuclear weapons development in parallel. Kim Jong Un’s Byungjin policy paired military deterrence with economic development more explicitly.
North Korean militarism : The strong political and social emphasis on military readiness and armed strength in North Korea. Songun made military service and strength prominent features of state identity.
Military-industrial complex : A network linking a country’s armed forces, government, and defense-production industries. Songun strengthened military claims on industrial capacity and state resources.
Kim Il Sung : North Korean founder and leader from the state’s establishment in 1948 until 1994. Songun was presented as continuous with his revolutionary and military legacy.
Choe Ryong-hae : North Korean official who held senior party, state, and military posts under Kim Jong Un. His career illustrates the changing relationship between party leadership and military authority.
Military rule : A system in which armed forces directly govern a country or dominate its political institutions. Songun privileged the army without simply replacing party rule with military government.
North Korea–United States relations : The diplomatic and security relationship between North Korea and the United States. Songun’s military emphasis shaped how Pyongyang pursued deterrence and negotiations.
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