In September 2008, the international media started to report on the declining health of the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-Il. Since that date, North Korea has undertaken a series of measures to demonstrate the health of Kim Jong-Il, yet at the same time has demonstrated signs that succession plans may be underway. 

In the context of North Korea, the central non-traditional security concerns include food security, irregular migration, transnational crime, and human rights. These issues could potentially impact regional stability and ultimately, also prove to be a concern for Australian regional security planners.