Survival of the Northern Regime and Relevance Today

The regime seems to have survived solely due to the oppressive nature of the government. If any of the military's leaders are all subject to the suspicion of Kin Jong-il then they undergo a purging very similar to that of Stalin's treatment of his officer corps. The loyalty of the people is based primarily on an illusion. Anyone who has seen the photo of the world's lights at night will know that almost all of North Korea is dark, with the notable exceptions being the capital city and some other scattered points. The people are told that the sacrifice they are making is what keeps their nation safe. By keeping the military and the general public inline with fear the government is able to hold to the power it acquired in after World War Two. The USA, having supported the South to prevent the USSR from gaining power in the region. Thus the USA has a Historical alliance with the South, as well as fighting the Korean War on the South's behalf (as they did not have a sufficient military at the time). The situation in the Korean Peninsula may well be a Cold War relic that does not retain the importance that it once did. War is never a good thing but the stalemate in the peninsula has gone on for too long, and both sides recognize it.