What is North Korea's primary national security objective?

• A. To ensure the long-term survival of the Kim regime and maintain dominance over the Korean Peninsula.
• B. To achieve rapid economic growth and integration into global markets.
• C. To pursue disarmament through international negotiations.
• D. To promote regional environmental stewardship.

Answer: (A)

Regime survival drives North Korea’s security thinking. The leadership views its grip on power as an existential concern and relies on credible deterrence—chiefly through its nuclear and military programs—to prevent any external move to topple the regime. That focus on staying in power and keeping control on the Korean Peninsula shapes priorities far more than economic or diplomatic ambitions. While economic development can be pursued, it’s not prioritized at the cost of deterrence and political stability, and disarmament talks are often seen as risking that security. Environmental issues are not a central factor in national security calculations. So the overarching aim is to ensure the long-term survival of the Kim regime and maintain dominance on the peninsula.