The Structural Elements of North Korea's Insecurity Applying the "Regional Security Complex Theory"

North Korean insecurity is the focus of this paper. Kim Jong Un's ship left the foggy port without a modified navigation chart from his father. The main elements of a track chart are maintaining the dictatorship, the nuclear-weapon policy, and the military-first policy. In this sense, Barry Buzan's Regional Security Complex Theory is appropriate because security complexes in this region are action-reaction phenomena, a systemic approach to security analysis, and lying in the lines of amity and enmity. The military-first policy is not simply a policy but a last measure for survival. This policy does not consider the influence of the Regional Security Complex (RSC) and the world. Indeed, due to the long-term military-first policy, the North Korean economy can hardly breathe by itself. Also, the regime must consider the trend of the RSC and the world in terms of human rights. On April 13, 2012, North Korea's new constitution proclaimed its status as a nuclear-armed nation. However, the aftermath would be very serious. The world will not support the North Korean regime on any issue. Consequently, the regime's isolation will be deeper and more serious. It has to waste more and more money until it gives up the nuclear dream. Furthermore, the domino effect will appear in the region. Therefore, members of nuclear-armed states have a responsibility toward North Korea's insecurity and future. As the main actor, South Korea needs to assume a more positive role in dealing with North Korea's insecurity.