Understanding North Korea means understanding all Korea, a country given full independence by the Chinese Dynasty long ago..a Country then invaded and obliterated into serfdom by Japan, the Soviet union, and then half liberated by China. A country of Animism, shamanism, pure Machismo, neo-confucianism, missionary Christianity, Shinto, communism and Juche. This is not an easy country to understand nor to defeat. It will not 'roll over' to suit China, nor the USA, and is not like a vassal state like Australia that is always happy to roll over and take it up the arse from the USA.