Why is North Korea a totalitarian government?

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (commonly known as North Korea) is officially a single-party military dictating Juche republic, which is incorrectly colloquiallized with totalitarianism and communism, even though most Western and European media recognize the nation as a totalitarian state.

North Korean dictatorship began in its early stages after the defeat of Japan in World War II, which ended its 35-year hold on Korea as a colony. The removal of Japanese presence allowed the United States and the Soviet Union to temporarily hold control of parts of Korea. The United States occupied the south and the Soviet Union occupied the north. An agreement was made to make the 38th parallel the dividing point.

With mistrust growing rapidly between the United States and the Soviet Union, tensions also appeared between the Koreans. In 1947, the United States presented the problem to the United Nations, who decided to split Korea into North Korea and South Korea at the 38th parallel.

At this point, the Soviet Union still held parental control over North Korea. The North Korean political system was heavily influenced by the Soviet presence and its communist government. In 1948, the Soviet Union officially withdrew from North Korea.

Kim Il-sung, a Korean communist supporter, officially founded North Korea the same year the Soviet Union withdrew and led the nation as the Prime Minister from 1948 until 1972, when the Socialist Constitution of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea was written.

During the 1950s, Kim Il-sung was seen as an orthodox communist leader and openly praised Stalin and Soviet Communism. However, he sided with the People's Republic of China during the Sino-Soviet split, opposing the reforms brought by Nikita Khrushchev, whom he believed was acting in opposition to communism.

Kim Il-sung soon distanced himself from Stalin and the Soviet Union and began reforming North Korea to his own tastes. This began the North Korean totalitarian government that is recognized today.

After Kim Il-sung died on July 8, 1994 he was given the title of "Eternal President of the Republic". The position of President remains exclusively to Kim Il-sung incumbent. His son, Kim Jong-il, is the de facto head of North Korea and rules with a miltary dictatorship.