the while smuggling and continuing to accumulate hard currency. With new tough sanctions imposed based on UN Security Council Resolution 2321, which was adopted in November 2016, North Korea is striving to find a way around them. North Korea is likely to carry out additional nuclear tests to earn recognition as a nuclear state from the U.S. and continue with the demand for a peace treaty between the two. At the same time, North Korea will try to resume high-level contacts with China in the hopes of repairing the relationship with China and easing sanctions imposed on them while also attempting to break out of international isolation by stepping up diplomacy focused on friendly countries. 2. Military strategy and Military Command structure | Military strategy | In 1962, in accordance with the principle of “self-reliance in defense”37) embedded in the Juche ideology, North Korea adopted four military guidelines and has since continued to build up military strength under its Songun(military first) Politics. While maintaining a military strategy centered on guerrilla warfare, hybrid warfare and blitzkrieg, North Korea is also exploring various tactics. After his succession to power, Kim Jong-un strengthened North Korea’s system for conducting not only local provocations, but also a total war. To secure military strength superior to that of ROK, North Korea is heavily investing in asymmetric capabilities such as nuclear weapons and WMD,38) missiles, longrange artillery, underwater capabilities, special force units and cyber-units while continuously enhancing the performance of its conventional weapons. Notably, North Korea has developed a 6,800-strong unit of trained cyberwarfare specialists who are launching various forms of cyber-attacks. During contingency, North Korean forces are likely to resort to hybrid and guerilla warfare and blitzkrieg. There is a strong possibility that they will launch massive surprise attacks on limited targets, mainly using their asymmetric capabilities. | Military Command structure | Kim Jong-un, who is concurrently serving as the Chairman of the State Affairs Commission, Supreme Commander of the Korean People’s Army, and the Chairman of his party’s Central Military Commission, maintains practical 37) article 60 of the North Korean Constitution stipulates, “the State shall implement the line of self-reliant defence, the import of which is to train the army into a cadre army, modernize the army, arm the entire populace, and fortify the country on the basis of equipping the army and the people politically and ideologically.” 38) Weapons of Mass Destruction. Section 3 North Korean Situation and Military threats 27 Chapter 1 Korea focused on trade with China per the clause for exceptions for livelihood purposes, all