A leading U.S. expert on North Korean affairs says that paranoia is one of the prevailing aspects of North Korean culture.

Merrily Baird said Wednesday that the North and its leader Kim Jong-il see the world through a Manichean viewpoint, which draws a clear distinction between good and evil.

The North Korea expert added that Kim’s narcissism is also a major component of the North Korean philosophy.

Baird is considered one of the top authorities on North Korean leader Kim Jong-il. She has a total of 27 years of government experience, including serving as the chief of the Japan-Korea Section at the Bureau of Intelligence and Research at the State Department.