This course is designed to help student understand the dynamics of North Korean politics. North Korea can be described as an exceptional country in many ways. First, the transition of power in the North Korea was made through the hereditary succession like a monarchy even though it claimed to be a socialist country. Second, North Korea has survived as a socialist country, while most of the communist countries including the Soviet Union and East European countries collapsed in the late 1980s and the early 1990s. Third, the North Korea, one of the poorest countries, has developed the nuclear weapons as well as other weapons of mass destruction, threatening the international security. For critical understanding of the North Korean politics I will trace the Korean communist movement, and deal with the North Korean political history since 1945. I am also planning to deal with the ideology and important governmental structure including the Korean Workers’ party, the Military Commission and the social control structures. Then I will examine the current issues including economic reforms, the nuclear challenge, and the several issues with the South Korea like unification questions and the conclusion of the peace treaty to end the Korean War. Prerequisites: junior standing required.