Introduction:
Since it became an independent country in 1953, North Korea or the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has been subjected to heavy scrutiny by the international community. The isolated country has always been reported to pressure South Korea into breaking the détente, continue production of its nuclear weaponry and recently, declare war against the United States. While the international community wishes to influence North Korea’s actions, the fact the country is isolated and information is very scarce makes the issue difficult to resolve. If the international community acted haphazardly towards the issue, North Korea may take it as a signal for war and further complicate the situation.
Aside from the political situation and policies of North Korea, scrutiny is also directed towards reports of difficulties experienced by the North Korean people. According to Amnesty International, as cited by Foster (2010), North Korean defectors reveal that they were forced to scavenge for food in the uncultivated lands of the country in order to survive. Some were left to die because the exorbitant charges charged by mediocre hospitals despite the North Korean government’s announcement that North Koreans get free medical assistance . Adding to the suffering of the North Koreans is the level of human rights violations committed to the people – from the regular citizen to the country’s prisoners. Pearson, Hanna and Park (2014) stated that the United Nations Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights reported that reports of state-induced murder, torture, sexual violence and other human rights abuses were utilized by the state . Observers have cited many reasons as to why the situation in North Korea persist, and a majority of them stressed it had something to do with the North Korean political system. However, to what extent is North Korea’s political system at fault for North Korean’s suffering? Is it their policy, government or the ideology it embodies?
International Level of Analysis:
Understanding how North Korea’s political system affected the country’s current state can be determined through the three levels of analysis. In the international level, North Korea’s plight cane is due to the political situation of North Korea in the international community. Even before it separated from South Korea, North Korea had been very determined to remove America’s presence in the region and derail the South’s progress as stated by Wit (2002). Kim Il-Sung worked with Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin to find means to remove America from the region in order to gain access to the South. Stalin provided troops for the North and gave the gone signal for Kim to attack the South on March 7, 1949. The attack was proven successfully as the South was left vulnerable due to the removal of American troops in the region. However, the attack ended up with the détente in 1953 which marked the pause of the Korean War .
As the years progressed, North Korea became sensitive over the changes within the Peninsula as seen by the growing South, which became one of the largest economies in the globe since the détente. Felician (2011) stated that the South is now a dynamic democracy and has achieved an extent of growth that is no longer similar to its state four decades ago. In 2004, South Korea official became one of the richest world economies despite the onset of the financial crisis. However, North Korea sunk into depression and disarray, with chronic food shortages and famine being reported as a result of its economic stagnancy due to the lack of foreign investment in the region. There is also speculation that it is also a cause of North Korea’s concentration to military policy. Most of its GDP is directed towards the development of the military whilst its Southern brother only uses 2.7% of its GDP for the military. Eventually, North Korea found this imbalance of power and development and started its military action against the South. With random military skirmishes and reports of destabilization attempts, the North aimed to get the South to attack and break the détente .
Aside from the imbalance caused by the sudden growth of the South, the North Korean government was also affected by the continuous presence of the US in the region. Choi (2006) argued that they saw the US as a threat to the regime as they believed the US aimed to destabilize the Kim regime. The US have not denied their position regarding North Korea due to the information being released regarding the country, hoping for unification and democracy to flourish in the hermit country. Furthering the issue with the US is the revelation that North Korea still has a nuclear weapons program which had already been discovered in the 1950s. The recent tests conducted in 2006 to 2009 also added the tensions between the US and North Korea, showing that North Korea wishes to turn the issue against the United States.
The people in Pyongyang were also concerned with the intentions of the US in imposing human rights policies, the Proliferation Security Initiatives and the economic sanctions to pressure North Korea for reform. The government had also been active in stressing that the reports of the US regarding their human rights abuses and issues of their people are fabrications. The government also argued it is a means to belittle North Korea in the world arena and justify America’s intent in toppling the regime. This belief regarding America’s intentions had solidified the country’s Military-First policy while supporting the regime’s continuous existence .
On the state level of analysis, North Korea’s plight is affected by its North Korean political system as it adopted an autocratic and communist type of government that had full control over its people. Chang-Il (2010) cited that communism was applied by North Korea after the Soviet Union used their influence to push for a communist type of government. This would allow the Soviets could take over at any given moment should unrest occur in North Korea. The international community did not appreciate Soviet interference as they wished to reunite the two Koreas. However, the Soviets continued with their construction in North Korea and aided in the creation of the North Korean People’s Council. In turn, on August 25, 1948, the Democratic Republic of Korea was established after the creation of its constitution despite the criticisms and absence of recognition by the international community .
North Korea’s government adheres to a ‘Party-Military State (PMS)’ system or the “Party State.” According to Scobell and Sanford (2007), this type of government is the mark of the communist regime under the communist party, the Korea Workers’ Party (KWP). However, North Korea has another actor within its government, and that is the military. The state is then focused on war and the creation of a powerful and well-equipped military that can withstand all types of threats. Currently, the North Korean Army or the KPA is the fourth largest military active in the world with 1.2 million under its banner. It also has a paramilitary reserve of 7 and a half million people or 40% of the entire population. The military also has immense influence over the country’s resources and policies .
This dominance of the state party and the military enables both actors to control the people by taking over every aspect of society. Choi (2006) stated that the state and the party runs a majority of the country’s major industries and engage in trade with the public. However, with corruption rampant in the country, the market becomes dominated by the military and the elites aiming to make money rather than do their duties to the country. Some of these businesses are not even legal with most of its employees acting as dummies while money goes to the military or to party members. The government had tried to introduce reform policies to revive the economy, and while it did work in order to give farmers and businessmen more autonomy, it was clear that it benefited the elites. The reform policies were not supported by many because of the lack of confidence with the public. The leading party had also preferred military power to ensure regime stability. The party does not also meet regularly to discuss policies and programs, further affecting decision-making and programs for the public. The military ensures that every person supports the government and secures its stability .
Defectors also showed that the state’s strict adherence of the juice and isolation can be seen through the treatment of the state to returned defectors and political prisoners. Walker (2014) reported that statements cited by the United Nations report on North Korea showed that the state uses cruel torture and punishment to inflict pain to these caught citizens. Pregnant women, especially those pregnant with mixed race children, are forced to abort their babies or else they would be beaten. These children would even be killed, sometimes forcing the mothers to kill them. Prisoners were also tortured and beaten by the guards whilst making sure they are indoctrinated or brainwashed. Massive propaganda is also used by the state to ensure that the public would never rebel against the government. Brainwashing was also done, even in children, to make people see Kim Il-Sung, Kim Jong-Il and even Kim Jong-Un as gods and role models. The state also controls outside information and everything else around the citizens .
Individual Level:
Finally, the North Korean situation can also be explained through the ideas of North Korea’s leaders: Kim Il-Sung, Kim Jong-Il and Kim Jong-Un. Upon its establishment as an independent state, each of its premiers have established their ideologies which the state government enacts as seen in its policies towards the country and the international community. The country’s Eternal Leader and father of North Korea, Kim Il-Sung, advocated the doctrine known as the Juche. Lee (2003) stated that the ideology aimed for North Korea to become “self-reliant” to reflect the capability of the people in terms of solving its issues and become a master on his right. It is said that this thinking reflected Kim Il-Sung’s perceptions of Marxism and Leninism and revised it to fit the North Korean perspective. Kim Il-Sung formally introduced the doctrine to the people on December 16, 1967, stressing that the government would now adopt policies that would push for self-reliance in order to sustain the ideals of the country and establish equality. However, the stance itself led to the country’s isolation as a hermit kingdom as the juche restricted foreign access and cooperation with the rest of the world unless it is a fellow Marxist country like China. Kim also expounded that the juche follows economic independence (charip), preventing the possibility of foreign nations of using the country as a political satellite .
After the death of Kim Il-Sung in 1994, his successor Kim Jong-Il modified the doctrine that the North Koreans would take and adopted two main beliefs to coincide with his intentions for the country. The first policy, according to Pinkston (2006) was the ‘son’gun chongch’i (songun) or the ‘military first politics’ which was introduced in 1997. Under this ideology, Kim ensures that North Korea would be able to protect the people from external threats and reassure that the military would be taken care of by the administration despite lacking funds. The military had been a vital supporter to Kim’s leadership, and the doctrine would apparently permit the military to get the first half of the country’s funds. The songun also allows Kim to reassure all skeptics that security would be the utmost priority of the government whilst adopting economic reforms for the rest of the country. The second ideology was next introduced in August 1998, and it was called the ‘kangsongdaeguk’ or the establishment of a ‘stable and prosperous country.' This doctrine can be considered Kim Jong-Il’s primary national strategy, directing North Korea to the road to progress and success. However, the doctrine focuses on ideology, politics, military and the economy rather than concentrate on the people. For Kim, he believes that the country is already strong on ideology after the decades’ worth of adherence to the juche. While he agrees that the country is indeed in a state of decline, Kim knew that modernization and foreign capital is needed to revive the country .
When Kim Jong-Un took office after the death of his father, he reasserted that he would be following the same ideology as noted by his grandfather Kim Il-Sung. Yoon and Lim (2003) indicated that North Korea, under Kim Jong-Un’s plans to build a “Strong and Prosperous State” would industrialize the country by 2020 and continue the songun politics Kim Jong-Il had advocated in his tenure. Jong-Un also implicated that his North Korea would ensure that it could stop military threats and get the guarantees they desire in diplomatic negotiations with other countries. Kim Jong-Un even took over the military and the country’s leading party – the Korean Worker’s Party – to ensure that his short-term goals for the country (regime stability) would be recognized. With him in the helm of leadership, it would prevent the possibility of dissenters and change the leadership’s priority from military power to economic and social policies .
Central premise
North Korea’s plight is due to the ideology of its leaders and the dominance of the state party and the military. On the one hand, the situation of the country in the international community can be the cause of North Korea’s plight as the country needs to fight for its survival. However, North Korea could have prevented itself from constant military activity if the state had acquiesced in accepting dialog without the necessity of using force or threats. On the other hand, the suffering of the people is mostly attributed to the ideology enforced by the Kim regime and the dominance of the state. For North Korea, its adherence to the juche and the “military first policy” pushed by the Kim Premiers has contributed to the suffering of the people. The juche isolated the country from foreign aid whilst the military policy provided that funds would be given to the military first, rather than to the people in need. Furthermore, with only a few owning most of the country’s businesses and determine the state of the country, the people are left with no choice but to try fending for themselves and steel themselves from abuse.
Proposal:
The situation in North Korea should not be taken lightly by anyone considering the erratic nature of North Korea’s government, especially in diplomatic negotiations. In the past, North Korea had been open with engaging on diplomatic negotiations with the United States after the end of the Cold War in the 1990s. However, according to Synder (2001), the United States did not immediately register North Korea’s openness as South Korea managed to redirect the discussions to strengthening the relations with the US. While North Korea managed to get negotiations in 1992 as part of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s requirements, they still were not able to get America’s attentions as the US were mostly after the results of the South Korean election results. In order to get America’s attention, North Korea developed a ‘brinksmanship-style’ approach and demanded America to begin negotiations or else North Korea would withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty on June 12, 1993. The US had quickly responded and opened talks with North Korea. Since this incident, North Korea used their brinksmanship strategy to gain an advantage in negotiations and threatened the international community that it would withdraw unless a settlement is organized .
Despite this setback, the international community should reopen talks again with North Korea in order to construct a development plan to support North Korea towards recovery. North Korea may deny the reports regarding its current status, but it is clear that it would need to obtain assistance sooner or later unless they would be able to acquire more funds to prevent complete failure. He and Feng (2013) even argued that North Korea’s current military and foreign policy is a survival strategy since the country has small financial aid and security guarantees from the rest of the world. With China serving as its only support provider, the aid is mostly directed to the military to sustain the campaign for its survival . In order to establish the development plan, North Korea must be enticed to meet up with the international community – led by the United Nations – in neutral territory to ensure transparency. China can be the host of the even considering that North Korea trusts the country as its only ally. Each side must be permitted to lay out the rules for engagement to prevent a possible walk-out from North Korea or a spillover for the rest of the international community.
Once the ground rules are set, the development program should tackle issues like policy development, financial institution reform and a possible open door strategy for North Korea so foreign investment can come freely without state intervention. Policy development is critical for the development plan for North Korea in order to revise the country’s economic and financial system to boost the economy through local businesses and foreign investment. Institutional change could also aid in proper monitoring of the economic and GDP growth, as well as the circulation of the state funds and resources. The discussions must also discuss possible methods for North Korea to accept an open door policy to allow foreign companies, investors and even international institutions to enter North Korea easily to assess what can be improved. This part of the discussion may even include consideration on sector reform for North Korean education, society and even politics to sustain the development program’s efficiency.
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