Emergency Architecture under the Collapse of Closed Regimes: A Case Study of North Korea

The collapse of a closed regime like North Korea presents unprecedented challenges for urban reconstruction, demanding a response that goes beyond physical rebuilding to integrate complex social, economic, and governance dimensions. The primary purpose of this research is to explore these unique challenges for emergency architecture and to propose a strategic framework for resilient and equitable reconstruction in a post-collapse North Korean context. This study employs a qualitative, descriptive-analytical research methodology. As a conceptual review, it does not utilize a traditional statistical population or sampling method; instead, its analysis is based on a broad body of existing scholarly work and relevant case studies. Data were gathered through a comprehensive literature review of peer-reviewed academic sources spanning fields such as post-conflict reconstruction, urbanism, technology, and human rights. Data analysis was conducted via a qualitative synthesis of this literature, identifying key themes and structural challenges to inform the proposed framework.The research concludes that conventional post-conflict models are inadequate for North Korea's unique context, defined by a legacy of extreme centralized control, severe infrastructural deficits, and institutionalized forced labor. The findings confirm the hypothesis that a successful response must be an integrated, multidisciplinary strategy that rebuilds not only physical structures but also the social, economic, and ethical fabric of society. While advanced technologies like ۳D printing and decentralized energy systems present significant opportunities, the study affirms they must be deployed within a framework that prioritizes human dignity and local empowerment, with robust safeguards against new forms of surveillance or exploitation.

Keywords:

Emergency Architecture , Post-Collapse Reconstruction , North Korea , Resilient Urbanism , Decentralization