The Rise of the Red Star
Gomez meets with the North Koreans
Before the First Contact Battles, The Democratic People's Republic of Korea took advantage of economic blind spots on the world stage. After Latin American drug cartels collapsed, a vacuum for a need for elicit drugs formed that North Korea took advantage of. Soon after, North Korea became one of the leading countries in drug manufacturing and money laundering. Since many world leaders and wealthy elites took advantage of North Korea's services, there was a lackluster pressure against the hermit kingdom. Dealings with the DPRK became the dirty secret of many UN member countries.
Regardless of the fact that North Korea abstained from joining the UN, North Korea still advanced its interests in keeping up with the world in terms of space colonization. North Korea found an alliance with Nova Zion, which was also not a UN member and was one of the few businesses that would publicly do business with the nation. In exchange for providing North Korea with a discounted supply of rockhoppers, North Korea would provide Nova Zion with protection muscle. Along for other rogue space nations, North Korea would become the mob soldiers of space.
Nova Zion's position as key defender of mankind against The Prosecutors meant that North Korea's allegiance would be advantageous for the nation on the world's stage. Therefore, having one of their own serve as a "campaigner," (symphony fighter pilot) would also serve their interests. In doing so, the leadership elected Major Kim Soo-Jung to serve among the campaigners.