Social welfare in North Korea: ethical and ideological conflicts and dilemmas

Abstract

Social welfare in North Korea has historically experienced ethical and ideological conflicts and dilemmas. There is a continuing conflict between military needs and social welfare needs. In traditional Marxist–Leninist thinking, the social welfare sector is large, well developed, and (theoretically) exists to serve the socialist citizenry in equalitarian ways. This principle is at odds with the perceived needs for military security by a country perceiving itself “under siege.”