Political: North Torbia
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Contents
- 1 Political Overview
- 2 Government Overview
- 3 Governance Issues
- 4 Centers of Political Power
- 5 Politics and Political Parties
- 6 International Relationships
- 6.1 Geopolitical/International Political Strategy
- 6.2 Major Diaspora Population(s)
- 6.3 Relationship with Major World Powers
- 6.4 Relationship to Other Countries in the Region
- 6.5 Regional Issues
- 6.6 Political Relationships
- 6.7 Military Relationships
- 6.8 Economic Relationships
- 6.9 Other International Organizations
Political Overview
Olvana's normalized relations with the west in the late 1970s resulted in a lessening of political and economic interactions with the Democratic People's Republic of Torbia (DPRT). Decreasing Olvanan support contributed to a collapse of the DPRT economy, widespread famine, and political instability. The DPRT government reacted to these changed conditions by becoming more insular, restricting travel, cracking down on dissidents, and beginning a nuclear weapons and power program. Facing flooding, international sanctions, the global collapse of communism, and enormous food shortages and famines, the North Torbian government expanded the DPRT’s nuclear and missile development while gradually increasing the role of the military in government, codifying a military first policy that made the Torbian People’s Army (TPA) the most powerful political body in the country.
Overall, North Torbia maintains a Level of Freedom categorization of Not Free and a poor score of 7 on a 7 point scale.
Political History
The Modern state of North Torbia resulted from hasty negotiations between the United States and the People’s Republic of Olvana following the occupation of Torbia during World War II. Planners arbitrarily divided the Torbian portion of Luzon Island roughly in half from Lingayan Gulf to Dingalan Bay, with the US governing the southern portion along with Midoro Island and Olvana the north from Baguio. The US and its western allies left Torbia shortly after, focusing instead on the occupations of Japan and Germany and the growing frictions with Donovia. South Torbia was given independence and declared a nation on September 15, 1947, envisioned by the West to be a liberal western democracy and American ally in the Western Pacific. North Torbia recognizes and celebrates 15 September as “Torbian People’s Day”, the day of national independence.
The Torbian War
The Torbian War was a formative event for North Torbia’s government. Song Jin Su, along with Olvanan advisors, convinced Olvana that a North Torbian invasion of the south, the Republic of Torbia (RoT), would be quick and decisive, resulting in the island being unified under North Torbia’s communist government. North Torbia massed forces on the border and invaded in 1950, met minimal resistance from the South Torbians, and nearly completed their destruction before the United Nations (U.N.) intervention. The resulting U.N. counterattack and subsequent Olvanan intervention ultimately resulted in a stalemate that endured for nearly three more years before ceasefire terms were finally agreed upon. The war helped to consolidate Song’s power and gave rise to the idea of self-reliance that has dominated North Torbian politics since that time. The war also set into motion a series of complex diplomatic confrontations with South Torbia, Olvana, and the US that would eventually lead to North Torbia’s isolation and militarism.
Following the war, Olvanan interest in North Torbia led to substantial foreign investment. The North Torbian economy and industrial base grew rapidly (much more so than South Torbia) throughout the 1950s and early 1960s. North Torbia would eventually joint the Non-Aligned Movement, a declaration of their independence from Olvanan control and a strong endorsement of self-reliance. North Torbia was, however, still heavily dependent on Olvana as a trading partner, investor, and provider of financial and military aid.
Economic Crisis
As Olvana normalized relations with the west in the late 1970s, they gradually began lessening both political and economic interaction with North Torbia. This led to a complete collapse of the North Torbian economy in 1986. Widespread hunger and political instability ensued; the Worker’s Party of Torbia (WPT) responded by increasing restrictions on travel, cracking down on dissidents, and beginning a nuclear weapons and power program. In 1994, Song Ji-Su died and was replaced as dictator by his son, Song Ji-Hoon. The elder Song never established specific official positions. Thus, it fell to the younger Song to establish himself as party secretary and president. Soon after Ji-Hoon took power a combination of factors, primarily flooding, global sanctions, and the collapse of global communism, combined to create an enormous food shortage and famine throughout North Torbia. Ji-Hoon expanded North Torbia’s nuclear and missile development while gradually increasing the role of the military in government. By 1998, North Torbia codified a military first policy that made the Torbian People’s Army (TPA) the most powerful political body in the country.
Song Chong-Su Rule
Song Ji-Hoon died in 2013 and was succeeded by his son, Song Chong-Su. After a brief period consolidating his power, Song Chong-Su continued the provocative programs and policies of his predecessors. He also reorganized the North Torbian government, creating the State Commission as the top of the party and government, with himself at the head as Secretary-General.
Government Overview
Branches of Government
Legislative Authority
As in other communist countries, the North Torbia legislature, called the People’s Assembly of Torbia (PAT), is little more than a rubber stamp for decisions made by the WPT. However, within the PAT, a smaller body called The Presidium fulfills several important government functions, operating as both the foreign office and the Supreme Court.
The PAT consists of 721 members, one elected from each constituency. The PAT is only called sporadically, however, usually to rubber stamp a major change in government. Elections are held every five years for terms of the same length. Members are often elected as a reward for party service or faithfulness to the Soon family.
There is no meaningful opposition party in North Torbia, and the PAT has little to no influence on day-to-day governance. The Presidium, however, carries significant weight with diplomatic and legal matters, though these are tightly bound with the will of the WPT.
National Assembly Diagram
National Assembly Chart
| Political Party | Percent of Vote | Seats |
|---|---|---|
| Workers Party of Torbia (WPT) | 99.9% | 721 |
Executive Authority
The North Torbian executive consists of the head-of-state (the Secretary-General of the WPT) along with his cabinet, advisers, and senior military commanders. The party’s authority is processed through the cabinet. That body ultimately takes on most of the responsibility of governing the country. North Torbia is effectively a dictatorship and thus virtually all real authority lies with the executive branch supported by the military. The Secretary-General, along with the cabinet and military, runs the nation autocratically. A prime minister is appointed as the head-of-government but has no meaningful authority.
Although executive elections ostensibly occur in North Torbia, they are only for show. The most recent election showed Soon with 100% of the vote. Abstaining or attempting to vote against the WPT is considered treasonous. North Torbia provides no term limits for its executives; the cabinet is appointed to their positions at the will of Soon.
Cabinet Ministers are the functional element of North Torbia executive. Currently, there are nine ministers, covering the economy, diplomacy, and propaganda. These ministers are appointed by Soon and serve at his pleasure, though some, particularly senior military officers, are powerful party members in their own right and enjoy positions of relative power to Soon. Notably, the Ministers of National Security and Defense are not part of the Cabinet but serve the Secretary-General as direct advisors.
The North Torbia executive essentially controls all other elements of government; their primary role is to support the legitimacy of the WPT.
Judicial Authority
The judiciary of North Torbia cannot be thought of as a typical judicial body: it exists almost entirely to support the WPT and the Soon regime. It is modeled on early communist court structures. Practically all decisions are made either to maintain order amongst the population or to reinforce the standing of Soon and the WPT. Lower levels courts are the way that the North Torbian central government enforces decisions and employs its authority over broad regions; appointees to these courts are party officials rather than legal professionals.
North Torbia employs three levels of courts. T Different court systems handle the military and railroad/transportation workers.
All justices and judges are ultimately appointed by the PAT, though they are first chosen or otherwise approved by Soon or another WPT official. They are to serve 5-year terms, but loyal judges are usually de facto lifetime appointees. The North Torbian judiciary has no meaningful independence. Judges serve at the leisure of Soon; if they do not follow his will they are removed.
National Court System
- Central Court: This court is the highest court in North Torbia and consists of a chief justice and two associate justices. This is the court of last appeal—its rulings are, constitutionally, final; however, subject to change if revisited by the government.
- Regional Appeals Courts: These govern large regions and are generally concerned with translating the will of the regime into meaningful day-to-day decisions governing the people. Lower Courts
- Military Courts: These courts handle military judicial matters exclusively.
- Lower Courts:The lowest courts handle minor criminal cases while also serving as local points of political power.
Parallel Legal Systems
There are no known parallel legal systems allowed or permitted.
- Religious Law: Religious practices are suppressed and discouraged. To the extent that any form of religious law exists, it is insignificant and localized.
- Customary Law: These practices may be found in local villages, but are only used as the means of solving small disputes, away from the more punitive North Torbian legal system.
- Common Law: The North Torbian legal system exists to serve the interests and goals of the state. It is arbitrary, changeable, and corrupt. There is little place for common law, except as it furthers the government’s best interests.
Governance Issues
Legitimacy
Government Legitimacy Claims
North Torbia government’s stability essentially revolves around Soon. Since he effectively consolidated his power following the death of his father, it is assumed that North Torbia government is both stable and unlikely to change or evolve in the near-term. The primary threat to North Torbian stability is external forces such as Olvana and the US, who North Torbia insists on provoking regularly.
Population's Recognition of Legitimacy
North Torbia’s government is generally recognized as legitimate by the North Torbian population; very little dissent or resistance occurs to the best knowledge of western observers. North Torbia is, however, essentially a cult-of-personality: should that model break down or the ruling regime be otherwise undermined, the government would cease to be an effective entity almost immediately.
Participation
Very little information is available on the public opinions of North Torbia population; no valid public opinion polling has been done since the birth of North Torbia. Estimates range from “fanatically supportive of the Soon regime” to “desperately unhappy.” Defectors, along with the emerging North Torbian information era, are helping to provide more insight into North Torbia population, but information is still sporadic at best.
Protests
Dissent is punished quickly and harshly. Those attempting to lead or participate in protests will face any combination of imprisonment, torture, hard labor, and execution.
Measures Taken To Maintain Legitimacy
The government exploits the abject poverty of the people to insure total dependence on its “favors.” The Song dynasty as near deity and protectors of the people is a mythology that has worked in the past. Uncontrolled cross-border communications and increased smuggling has given, at least a minority of North Torbians, access to information about the world beyond their borders. This is slowly breaking down the control the government has exerted on the people. Ultimately, the fear of the government’s security forces and loyal local leaders are the means the government will use to maintain its control and semblance of legitimacy in the eyes of the people.
External View of the Government's Legitimacy
North Torbia’s self-imposed isolation and inaccessibility to international markets are reasons for North Torbia’s current status as a failed state. Outside of a few patron countries, North Torbia is not seen as legitimate. It is burdened with severe sanctions, due to its nuclear program and human rights abuses.
Effectiveness
Elections
Elections in North Torbia have always been showpieces in support of the WPT. It is assumed that most North Torbians realize that their elections are rubber stamp affairs. However, interestingly, many defectors indicate that voting is a point of pride for many North Torbians. The international community recognizes the nature of North Torbian elections and does not recognize the nation as democratic. Elections for the PAT take place every 5 years, and for local assemblies every 4 years.
Rule of Law
Although North Torbia has a constitution and a formalized set of laws, the only meaningful authority in the country is the WPT. The WPT routinely modifies or ignores the law to suit its needs.
Domestic Security Forces
Security forces are tightly controlled through a network that extends directly from local police to national police. The Ministry of Public Security, responsible for internal security, social control, and basic police functions, is one of the most powerful organizations in North Torbia and controls the North Torbia Internal Security Forces. It maintains public order, investigates common criminal cases, manages the prison system, controls traffic, monitors citizens' political attitudes, conducts background investigations, controls individual travel, manages the government's classified documents, protects government and party official, and patrols government buildings.
The Security Bureau is responsible for ordinary law enforcement and most police functions. The Investigation Bureau handles investigations of criminal and economic crimes. The Protection Bureau is responsible for fire protection, traffic control, public health, and customs. The Registration Bureau issues citizen identification cards and maintains public records on births, deaths, marriages, residence registration, and passports.
Below the ministry level are public security bureaus for each province and directly administered city. Public security departments are staffed at each city or county and smaller substations throughout the country. North Torbian uniformed civil police officers are primarily unarmed traffic control officers.
Prison System
There is not much information available on the specifics of the North Torbian prison system. The government uses arbitrary arrest and imprisonment, torture, and executions to insure fear and maintain control over the population. The government and security agencies extract forced, unpaid labor from its citizens— including women, children, detainees, and prisoners—to build infrastructure, implement projects, and carry out activities and events that extoll the ruling Song family and further its goals.
All crimes are deemed offenses against the state. Depending on the crime, North Torbians are sent to a variety of concentration camps. Not only are the families and relatives of the criminals forced into concentrated camps, but second generations and third generations of the criminals are often imprisoned as well—an attempt to contain any familial revolutionary inclinations. The prison camps attempt to redirect and reeducate anyone deemed a threat to the government. Political prisoners deemed irretrievable are sequestered in special camps where they receive even greater abuse and will likely never return to their villages.
Corruption
Corruption is deeply rooted in North Torbian culture and government; North Torbia consistently ranks among the world’s most corrupt nations. The buying and selling of bureaucratic positions is one of the most common forms of corruption. Bureaucrats tend to be poorly paid and as a result rely heavily on corrupt monies to survive. This tendency goes up to the highest levels of government. For the military, it is difficult to separate what constitutes “corruption,” though it is thought that military ranks, especially general officer ranks, are commonly bought and sold, or given out as favors for party loyalty or other such actions. Government jobs are typically in positions to receive bribes and other forms of payment and are thus highly sought after. Bribery functions not only as means of avoiding punishment at the hands of the government, but also as a means of economic development: citizens are able to participate in low-level free markets with the tacit approval of their local bureaucrats. There is little business in the western sense in North Torbia. State-owned industries are just as dependent on corruption as any other part of the government.
Human Rights and Freedoms
North Torbia is one of the world’s most significant violators of human rights. Secret prisons, torture, enslavement, travel restrictions, and any number of other violations occur habitually, either by the government or with the consent of the government.
North Torbia does not recognize any universal freedoms. Freedom of worship, speech, press, and assembly do not exist, and are not protected in any way by the government. Citizens do not have freedom to move around the country or to change jobs without government approval. The family is the one area of society in which North Torbia does not exercise autocratic control. Though families are closely monitored and managed, generally speaking, families are allowed to develop their own living arrangements and have children as they wish.
Provision of Services
North Torbia is a country with a disastrous centralized economy, dilapidated industrial sector, insufficient agricultural base, malnourished military and populace, and intent on spending money on its nuclear program. While the government plays a role in nearly every facet of society, services provided by the government to the average North Torbian are minimal at best. Without significant aid from Olvana and Donovia, North Torbia is not able to sustain itself or prevent total collapse.
Centers of Political Power
State Institutional Authority
Military
The Torbian People’s Army (TPA) dominates much of DPRT politics. General officers control the State Commission and, in effect, the entirety of North Torbia government. In turn, the WPT maintains political officers at every echelon of the TPA. The TPA essentially acts as a kingmaker in North Torbia – Song is ultimately dependent on their endorsement and protection to maintain power. The internal politics of the TPA are constantly shifting and are largely opaque to the west, but it is assumed that Song installs and supports allies in the highest positions in order to enhance his own security.
Religious
North Torbia is officially an atheist state; formal religion has no meaningful role in government. North Torbia actively seeks to suppress religion and does not acknowledge any freedom of worship. Organized religions are typically persecuted and actively suppressed. However, folk religions such as Shamanism are still widely practiced, though informally and away from the eyes of the government. There are small numbers of Buddhists and Christians in North Torbia, but they have no legal status and are actively persecuted by the government.
Elites
There are two basic classes of elite in North Torbia: the upper echelon of the WPT and the upper echelon of the military. These two groups are indistinct and thoroughly intertwined. The innermost elites are those that surround Song, along with influential senior general officers: most major decisions made in North Torbia stem from this group. As in most autocratic nations, the majority of North Torbian political structure and economy is designed to preserve and protect this group.
Non-State Institutional Authority
There are few, if any, non-state institutional authorities in North Torbia. The government runs the country and those citizens that do not support the state are sent to the gulags for "re-education" if not something worse.
Informal Authority (Social Groups)
Ethno-linguistic Groups
As in most Asian countries, family is deeply important to the North Torbian population and society. The family is the basic economic building block of the nation; the government administers much of the individual economy through a system called “cells” that essentially revolve around the patriarch of the family. Older parents often live with their children. This is ingrained in the society and is recognized and supported by the government. Families tend to be small and insular. Family authority can be seen at the highest levels of government: the Song family is essentially a family dynasty. Many other senior government and military officials hand their authority/titles to offspring or other family members wherever possible.
North Torbia is very ethnically homogenous, and what minorities exist are virtually all East Asian in descent. North Torbia is notoriously unfriendly to non-Torbians, despite their long-standing dependence on foreign visitors for currency liquidity and smuggling. Small populations of foreign families maintain close-knit communities scattered around the country. There were several historical ethnic groups, most prominently a variety of unique ethnicities in mountainous areas, but it is thought that their communities and separate ethnic identities are now extinct.
Kinship Groups
Tribal politics dominated the premodern Torbian peninsula. However, very little of this tribal affiliation extended into the modern age, stamped out largely by foreign occupations. Aside from very small rural areas, there is no meaningful tribal element in North Torbia.
Non-state Sponsored Religious Groups
North Torbia has no clear religious majority. Practicing religion is allowed by the government, however,it is mostly to give the illusion of freedom of religion. Christian and other religious minorities are persecuted and given few rights beyond acknowledgement. The official ideology may itself be characterized as a religion.
Politics and Political Parties
Domestic Political Issues
The sole long-term domestic objective of North Torbia and the WPT is survival. In order to accomplish this, the WPT must remain in a position of absolute power. The WPT’s short-term political objectives are consolidation of power around Soon, specifically with the TPA and the regional bureaucracies. These are the chief fulcrums of power in North Torbia and without fully consolidating them Soon’s position will be vulnerable.
Official Political Parties
Workers Party of Torbia (WPT)
There is no meaningful opposition party in North Torbia, and the Torbian People’s Army has little to no influence on day-to-day governance. The Presidium, however, carries significant weight with diplomatic and legal matters, though these are tightly bound with the will of the WPT.
Other Political Parties
There are no other political parties allowed in North Torbia.
Political Coalitions
Since there is only one party and all members echo the party line, there is no need for coalitions.
Other Domestic Influential Groups
There are only two centers of social power in North Torbia: one is the family, the other is the Workers' Party of Torbia. The WPT recognizes the importance of the family in maintaining stability and generally seeks harmony with the family construct. Inside the home, families are a patriarchy, with wives expected to defer to husbands on most household matters. Outside of the family, the only meaningful holder of social power is the WPT: it establishes cultural norms, legal and illegal communications, jobs and education, and virtually everything else not directly related to the individual family.
International Relationships
Geopolitical/International Political Strategy
North Torbia’s obsession with becoming a world power, even as it continues to be a failed state, has focused its drive for relevance on nuclear weapons. The capacity to deliver these weapons ever closer to the West is its only geopolitical strategy.
Major Diaspora Population(s)
North Torbia does not allow emigration. Its borders are tightly controlled and those who attempt to cross into other countries are severely punished. Only a very few North Torbians have been able to escape to other countries.
Relationship with Major World Powers
United States
US/DPRT relations have been highly strained and formally nonexistent. North Torbia views the US as intruders into Torbia and wants any American presence on the island gone. The DPRT does not want U.S. military trainers on the island and especially detests any exercises conducted between the U.S. and South Torbian military forces. North Torbia regularly antagonizes the US government. No formal research data exists about North Torbian citizens’ opinion of American citizens or government. North Torbia and the US do not have formal diplomatic relations; all diplomacy is conducted through third parties. The US and North Torbia do not have any meaningful economic connection aside from small numbers of American-affiliated NGOs. Tariffs and other trade barriers imposed on North Torbia have further distanced any trade relations between the two countries. The US and North Torbia share little culture; however, there is thought to be a large and growing grey/black market for western and especially American media among younger North Torbians. Despite various embargoes and tensions, the US continues to supply North Torbia with foreign aid amounting to nearly $1.6 billion since over the past twenty years.
Donovia
Donovia provides limited support to North Torbia. It uses its support of North Torbia, in most cases, as an adversarial ploy against the US and other western countries.
Olvana
Olvana remains the primary ally of North Torbia in the region. North Torbia continues to be an isolated country, cut off from many of the economic and other benefits of regional progress. Its closed society and resistance to normalized relations with western countries limits its potential for regional partnerships. Olvana, being its only real connection to the wider world, plays a critical role in importing needed commodities and resources.
European Union
Since the 1990s, the EU’s relations with North Torbia have not had much depth and breadth and been characterized by ebbs and flows. The following is a summary of EU relations with North Torbia over the past few decades.
- Setting up the EU’s Asian strategy in 1994, with emphasis on strengthening ties with North Torbia;
- EU economic and technological assistance to North Torbia, especially food aid;
- The start of regular political dialogues between the two sides since 1998;
- The beginning of formal diplomatic relations between the EU and North Torbia since 2001;
- Rising tensions over the North Torbian nuclear issue, and bilateral co-operation ending in 2002;
- A decrease in EU cultural and economic co-operation with North Torbia;
- The EU imposing independent sanctions against North Torbia in 2013;
- Interruption in diplomatic talks between the two sides from 2015 onwards;
- Increased willingness of the EU and its member states to play an active role in North Torbia’s nuclear disarmament.
Relationship to Other Countries in the Region
North Torbia has limited relations with regional countries, other than Olvana and South Torbia.
South Torbia
The two Torbia’s have strained relations, fueled by a mutual distrust of the motives of the other. The ebb and flow between warm and cold is punctuated by pressures exerted by families who were separated when the two countries created a hard border on the peninsula. There are periodic attempts to thaw the relationship with families able to meet each other and South Torbian humanitarian aid delivered to the north. These initiatives are usually interrupted by the two countries coming to the brink of military confrontation or perceived affronts disrupting diplomatic.
Belesia
North Torbia has very little to do with Belesia except they sometimes end up fishing in each other’s territorial waters.
Gabal
North Torbia has very little to do with Gabal except they sometimes end up fishing in each other’s territorial waters.
Regional Issues
Sovereignty
North Torbia views South Torbia as its territory, as does South Torbia see North Toribia. This impasse and the two diametrically opposed government systems all but preclude reunification of the peninsula under one banner.
Domestic Sovereignty
North Torbia is the most isolated country in the world and excludes all countries from meddling in its affairs. With isolation comes almost complete control over the inner workings of its government. Olvana, with arguably the most influence in North Torbia, finds itself frustrated and unable to move an unwilling North Torbia on a number of issues.
Territorial/Interdependence Sovereignty
Its border is tightly, albeit not completely, controlled by the border guards. There have been several high profile incidents where people have attempted to cross into North Torbia without permission. Those who enter North Torbia illegally and are caught find themselves charged with espionage and subversion, imprisoned, tortured, and often starved. Unless their release is negotiated, they will die in one of North Torbia’s notorious detention camps.
International Sovereignty
Consensus regarding North Torbia’s sovereignty is mixed. As an example, forty-seven countries host a North Torbian embassy, while 24 have an embassy in the North Torbian capitol city. Most of the countries that do not have an embassy in North Torbia handle their diplomatic affairs with the country from their embassies in neighboring Olvana or South Torbia. Major countries with diplomatic relations with North Torbia include Germany, Britain, Donovia, India, and Pakistan. Conversely, countries that do not have diplomatic relations include United States, France, South Torbia, and Japan.
Issues of de jure and de facto Sovereignty
There are no issues with de jure or de facto sovereignty.
Conflict and/or Disputes
North Torbia considers South Torbia part of its territory with the ultimate goal to reunited all of Torbia under control by the current ruler in the DPRT.
- Water Rights: No issues
- Environmental Issues: Lack of information makes it difficult to assess the extent to which industrialization and urbanization have damaged North Torbia’s natural environment. After the Torbian War, North Torbia embarked on a program of ambitious industrialization utilizing obsolete technology imported from Olvana and other countries. Decades of focus on production has created serious environmental concerns. Some of the environmental damage has been mitigated by limited exposure and access to international advisors.
Political Relationships
Global Particpation
The DPRT picks and chooses the international organizations in which they decide to participate. This is usually based on their own interests and is limited to the organizations they must participate in, those organizations that may provide them a return on their investment. (See the partial list of international organizations at the end of this variable for additional information)
Regional Participation
North Torbia’s regional integration is constrained by both external forces and Olvanan strategic interests. Current diplomacy on the peninsula shares a common interest in avoiding the costs of confrontation after years of escalating tensions. But despite small breakthroughs in high-level talks, North Torbia’s integration into the regional system remains inhibited by three factors. First, Olvana and South Torbia have fundamental disagreements about diplomatic strategies. Second, United States demands over eliminating North Torbia’s nuclear weapon programs. Third, the US-Olvana competitive relationship discourages broader regional coordination.
Military Relationships
Beginning in the 1980s, North Torbia emerged as a legal arms trader to primarily Third World countries, exporting relatively inexpensive, technically unsophisticated, but reliable weapons. It has a known track record in proliferating nuclear and missile technology. Following its first known nuclear weapon tests, international sanctions have sought to limit or prevent North Torbia from exporting various types of arms, materials, and technology. UN sanctions now ban all North Toriban arms sales, including small arms and light weapons. North Torbia has developed an extensive and complicated arms trade network in an attempt to circumvent sanctions and uses front companies and embassies to traffic weapons to customers.
Alliances
North Torbia is often called the “Recluse Kingdom” and perceived to be completely isolated from the rest of the world. While there is merit in this perception, North Torbia still maintains some level diplomatic relations with 164 independent states.
Olvana and North Torbia are generally seen to be on friendly terms; however, in recent years, both the relationship and friendliness between the two nations have gradually declined due to growing concern in Olvana over issues such as North Torbia’s nuclear weapons program and other military provocations.After North Torbia conducted its first nuclear tests, the Olvanan government stated that it was "resolutely opposed to it" and voted for United Nations sanctions against North Torbia. Olvana does not hold strictly to the sanctions, however, and continues to be the biggest patron of the North Torbia government.
Donovia is generally seen as North Torbia’s second most important ally after Olvana. Donovia-North Torbia relations are generally determined by Donovia’s strategic interests, defined primarily by creating stability on the the peninsula by eliminating North Torbia’s nuclear program.
Treaties
| Agreement | Status |
| Torbian War Armistice | Signed July 27, 1953; claimed the agreement to be "nullified" on multiple occasions |
| Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War | Acceded August 27, 1957 with reservations |
| Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War | Acceded August 27, 1957 with reservations |
| Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded and Sick in Armed Forces in the Field | Acceded August 27, 1957 with reservations |
| Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of Wounded, Sick and Shipwrecked Members of Armed Forces at Sea | Acceded August 27, 1957 with reservations |
| Final Act of the Diplomatic Geneva Conference, 1974-1977 | Signed October 6, 1977 |
| Convention on offences and certain other acts committed on board aircraft | Acceded May 9, 1983 |
| Convention on the prohibition of military or any other hostile use of environmental modification techniques | Acceded November 8, 1984 |
| Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons | Acceded December 12, 1985; announced withdrawal March 16, 1993 (suspended); withdrew January 10, 2003 |
| Antarctic Treaty | Acceded January 21, 1987 |
| Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention | Acceded March 13, 1987 |
| Additional Protocol (I) to the Geneva Conventions, Relating to the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts | Acceded March 9, 1988 |
| Geneva Protocol on Asphyxiating or Poisonous Gases, and of Bacteriological Methods, 1925 | Acceded January 4, 1989 |
| Protocol for the suppression of unlawful acts of violence at airports serving international civil aviation | Signed April 11, 1989 |
| International Convention Against the Taking of Hostages | Acceded November 12, 2001 |
| Convention on psychotropic substances | Acceded March 19, 2007 |
| Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, as amended | Acceded March 19, 2007 |
| United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances | Acceded March 19, 2007 |
| Outer Space Treaty | Acceded March 5, 2009 |
| International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism | Signed November 12, 2001; ratified July 25, 2013 |
| United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime | Acceded June 17, 2016 with reservations |
Human Rights Treaties
| Agreement | Status |
| International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights | Acceded September 14, 1981; announced withdrawal August 23, 1997, though treaty does not include a withdrawal provision |
| International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights | Acceded September 14, 1981 |
| Convention on the non-applicability of statutory limitations to war crimes and crimes against humanity | Acceded November 8, 1984 |
| Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide | Acceded January 31, 1989 |
| Convention on the Rights of the Child | Signed August 23, 1990; ratified September 21, 1990; accepted amendment to Article 43 (2) February 23, 2000 |
| Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women | Acceded February 27, 2001 with reservations; partially withdrew reservations November 23, 2015 |
| Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities | Signed July 3, 2013; ratified December 6, 2016 |
| Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography | Signed September 9, 2014; ratified November 10, 2014 |
| Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired or Otherwise Print Disabled | Signed June 28, 2013; ratified February 19, 2016 |
International Health and the Environment
| Agreement | Status |
| Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident | Signed September 29, 1986; not ratified |
| Convention on Assistance in the Case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency | Signed October 29, 1986; not ratified |
| United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change | Signed June 11, 1992; approved May 12, 1994 |
| Convention on Biological Diversity | Signed June 11, 1992; approved October 26, 1994 |
| Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer | Acceded January 24, 1995; subsequently acceded to multiple amendments |
| Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer | Acceded January 24, 1995 |
| International Plant Protection Convention | Adhered to text January 16, 1996; adhered to revised text August 25, 2003 |
| Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants | Acceded August 26, 2002 |
| International Treaty on plant genetic resources for food and agriculture | Acceded July 16, 2003 |
| Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity | Signed April 20, 2001; ratified July 29, 2003 |
| United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification | Acceded December 29, 2003 |
| Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade | Acceded June 2, 2004 |
| Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change | Acceded April 27, 2005 |
| WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control | Signed June 17, 2003; ratified April 27, 2005 |
| Plant Protection Agreement for the Asia and Pacific Region | Accepted November 23, 2006 |
| Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal | Acceded July 10, 2008 |
| Paris Agreement on Climate Change | Signed April 22, 2016; ratified August 1, 2016 |
Economic Cooperation and Management of the Global Commons
| Agreement | Status |
| International Telecommunication Convention | Acceded September 24, 1975 |
| Convention on International Civil Aviation | Adhered August 16, 1977 |
| Postal Parcels Agreement | Ratified September 18, 1978 |
| Subscriptions to Newspapers and Periodicals Agreement | Ratified September 18, 1978 |
| Insured Letters Agreement | Ratified September 18, 1978 |
| United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea | Signed December 10, 1982; not ratified |
| Convention on the international regulations for preventing collisions at sea | Acceded May 1, 1985 |
| International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea | Acceded May 1, 1985, with Protocol |
| International Convention on standards of training, certification and watch keeping for seafarers | Acceded May 1, 1985 |
| Agreement on the Global System of Trade Preferences among developing countries | Definitively signed April 13, 1988 |
| International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships | Acceded October 18, 1989 |
| International Convention for Safe Containers | Acceded October 18, 1989 |
| International Convention on Load Lines | Acceded October 18, 1989 |
| Agreement on the network of aquaculture centres in Asia and the Pacific | Acceded May 23, 1990 |
| Convention on facilitation of international maritime traffic | Acceded April 24, 1992 |
| Convention on registration of objects launched into outer space | Acceded October 3, 2009 |
| Intergovernmental Agreement on the Asian Highway Network | Acceded October 12, 2012 |
| Intergovernmental Agreement on the Trans-Asian Railway Network | Acceded October 12, 2012 |
| Svalbard Treaty | Acceded January 25, 2016 |
Military Aid
North Torbia’s military presence abroad takes three forms: individual technical specialists, Air Force tactical contingents, and advisory groups. Technicians usually accompany and supervise the transfer of arms when a new military supply relationship is established. In most cases, the number of technicians in any one country is small, ranging from five to ten. Military technicians also are assigned on a long-term basis to assist in the operations of North Torbian-equipped small arms and ammunition factories.
Economic Relationships
North Torbia offsets its significant trade deficit and lack of access to conventional channels for international finance with arms exports. North Torbia sells small arms, training and consulting, and Praetorian Guard services. In the 1980s it emerged as a significant player in the global arms market, with the some sources putting exports at more than one half billion dollars at times. It is reputed to have the third largest store of chemical weapons and is alleged to have biological weapons that include the smallpox virus. Of primary concern is its missile program.
Trade Agreements
North Torbia is heavily sanctioned and does not enjoy the benefit of standard trade agreements. This means its trade can be easily disrupted, even with Olvana, with no recourse to a formal agreement.
Tariffs, Sanctions, and Embargos
With the exception of Olvana, North Torbia is isolated from legal trade. It does have illicit means of trading that includes, most prominently, military arms sales.
Economic Aid
North Torbia depends heavily on aid, particularly when climate, insects, and other challenges cause its already insufficient agricultural production to be lessened. Olvana is North Torbia's largest aid donor but the extent of that support is difficult to determine. That's because Olvana provides aid on a bilateral basis as well as through the UN. Other nations offer humanitarian support to North Torbia through UN agencies, NGOs and the International Red Cross. The United Nations recently estimated that around 40% of the population are facing severe food shortages.
Other International Organizations
- ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF)
- Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
- G-77
- International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
- International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (ICRM)
- International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
- International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCS)
- International Maritime Organization (IMO)
- International Olympic Committee (IOC)
- International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
- Non-aligned Movement (NAM)
- United Nations (UN)
- Untied Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
- United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
- United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
- United Nations World Tour Organization (UNWTO)
- Universal Postal Union (UPU)
- World Health Organization (WHO)
- World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)