Severity 4 โ€” Severe๐Ÿ’ฐ economy1998

"Military-First" Policy Prioritises the Army Through the Famine

Kim Jong-il formalised "Songun" (military-first politics) as state doctrine in the years immediately following the famine's worst point, directing scarce resources toward the 1.2-million-strong armed forces even as international food aid was being rationed to a starving civilian population.

W

Kim Jong-il โ€” Workers' Party of Korea

In power 1994โ€“2011

Source

Council on Foreign Relations โ€” North Korea's Military Capabilities

๐ŸŒ See this event in context

This event is one entry in North Korea's accountability record. Open the interactive map to see the full timeline, polling data, and every documented event.

๐ŸŒ View on the map