Return to *North Korean Studies*
By Aidan Foster-Carter
For the first time ever, North Korea on March 24 officially honoured a South Korean: the late Chung Ju-yung, the larger-than-life founder of the Hyundai conglomerate, who died last week aged 85. When he was a teenager, the northern-born Chung ran off to the bright lights of Seoul, taking money his dad was saving to buy a cow. In 1998, he returned to the North with a gift of 500 cows. He got to meet Kim Jong-il and clinched a deal to run tourists to Mt Kumgang. That was the breakthrough that made the inter-Korean summit possible and set the stage for the new pan-Korean political economy that is now emerging...
The Korea Herald reported that the DPRK news media Thursday continued to accuse the US administration under President George W. Bush of attempting to block the reunification of the Korean Peninsula. "The Bush administration is getting on the nerves of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and hurting its feelings," said the website of the Korea Central News Agency, quoting an article from Rodong Sinmun (the Workers' Daily). It said that the US president's remarks were adventurous and intentionally designed to provoke hostility between the two Koreas, adding that the US is raising "silly questions" about the DPRK in order to dominate the peninsula.(Kim Ji-ho, "NORTH KOREAN NEWS MEDIA CONTINUES ATTACKS ON U.S.," Seoul, 03/30/01)
Chosun Ilbo reported that General Thomas Schwartz, the commander of the Combined Forces Command in the ROK, told a budget allocation meeting of the Senate's Armed Services Committee Wednesday that the DPRK military was getting larger, closer and more lethal day by day. He said that the DPRK was increasing training and improving the quality of its troops. Schwartz said that he would go into details at closed door sessions where he would cite intelligence, and lists of weapons purchases made by the DPRK. His testimony was in line with Central Intelligence Agency Director George Tenet who said in February that the decline of the DPRK military over the past ten years had recently halted. (Joo Yong-joon, "SCHWARTZ EMPHASIZES INCREASED THREAT FROM NK," Seoul, 03/28/01)
By Aidan Foster-Carter
For the first time ever, North Korea on March 24 officially honored a South Korean: the late Chung Ju-yung, the larger-than-life founder of the Hyundai conglomerate, who died last week aged 85. When he was a teenager, the northern-born Chung ran off to the bright lights of Seoul, taking money his dad was saving to buy a cow. In 1998, he returned to the North with a gift of 500 cows. He got to meet Kim Jong-il and clinched a deal to run tourists to Mt Kumgang. That was the breakthrough that made the inter-Korean summit possible and set the stage for the new pan-Korean political economy that is now emerging...
Joongang Ilbo reported that the Mercy Corps International (MCI), the US-based international humanitarian aid agency, will dispatch US$3.9 million worth of goods to the DPRK on Saturday March 31. The supplied goods that come from local communities in the US and Canada would be sent to aid the DPRK's agriculture sector. The shipment would start heading to the DPRK by Boeing-747 operated by Evergreen International Aviation of McMinnville, Oregon on Sunday April 1. This is the third time for Evergreen Aviation to assist MCI in sending aid materials abroad. ("MCI DISPATCHES $3.9 MILLION WORTH SUPPLIES TO NORTH," Seoul, 03/28/01)
By Doug Struck
Washington Post Foreign Service
Sunday, March 25, 2001; Page A01
SEOUL -- For five hours, a powerful South Korean ferry churned toward the eastern shore of North Korea last week and unloaded an unlikely cargo: 207 men from Uzbekistan, brought to the impoverished country to replace striking North Korean construction workers at a U.S.-led atomic power plant site. Their arrival was a sign of the latest trouble at the project. Seven years after the United States promised to build two "safe" nuclear plants in a deal to end North Korea's nuclear program, the project is beset with ills...
By RUSSELL WORKING (The New York Times, March 26, 2001)
ANDONG, China — For most of the day — presumably when there is no electrical power to spare — there is nothing to see on North Korea's state television network. No reruns, no test patterns, nothing but static. Then in the late afternoon, the viewer flips on Channel 22 to find the camera panning a hall full of teenagers in dark suits or traditional Korean dresses. Iron-faced, they watch an awards ceremony. Half of them take home red banners extolling the leader-god Kim Jong Il. The rest win red accordions. And so begins another evening of entertainment from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea...
by George Gedda
It was 1987, and Ahn Myong-chol was a fresh-faced 18-year-old. As part of his military obligation in North Korea, he was assigned as a trainee guard at a prison camp in North Hamyong province. The experience of entering the camp for the first time hit him with the force of a rock slide. The area swarmed with dwarfs wearing the rags of slaves. "Are these humans?'' he asked himself. "Or are they animals?'' For a time, he thought the dwarfs he saw were actually South Korean beggars who are often depicted on North Korean television. "They were walking skeletons, nothing but skin and bone,'' he recalled years later. "This frightened me''...
The Chosun Ilbo, 25 March 2001
The public execution in the North of North Korean defector to the South, Yu Tae Jun, who re-entered the North to bring his wife out, as covered on March 17 in this weekly publication, was tragic. But public executions are so routine in the North that North Koreans witness several of them. Those condemned to public execution brought out to execution sites, are unsightly and are gagged with stone. Family members of the condemned are sometimes made to appear at the scene of execution to charge their beloved ones with "crimes." Those publicly executed are mostly economic offenders and felons, while political criminals are executed mainly at detention camps. While being incarcerated in Yodok Political Prisoners Camp for 10 years, this journalist saw tens of public prosecutions. North Korean authorities use public executions as a means of ruling for the purpose of planting fear among the populace and spur awareness about specific social problems. Real aspects of public prosecutions as witnessed by some North Korean defectors in the South are introduced below. Kang Chol-hwan, author of this article, was formerly a prisoner of Yodok political prison camp. The article can also be viewed on the Internet...
The Power in North Korea is the Workers' Party, which is run by specialized departments, the cream of which is the Central Committee's Organization Guidance Department. Outwardly, it is nothing but one of about 20 departments constituting the Secretariat under the jurisdiction of the Workers' Party Central Committee. But its scale, functions, roles and authority are enormous, incomparable with those of other departments.
The Korea Herald reported that Britain will open its first embassy in the DPRK "in the near future," Foreign Secretary Robin Cook said Thursday. In a written statement to Parliament, Cook said the planned embassy in Pyongyang would improve Britain's ability "to analyse political, economic and social developments and to help support recent positive developments in inter-Korean relations." (Kim Ji-ho, "BRITAIN NEARLY READY TO OPEN EMBASSY IN N.K.," London, 03/24/01)
Reuters reported that the PRC's official Xinhua news agency said Friday that the DPRK has built a national Intranet network used by more than 1,000 people each day. The report said that the "Kuang Myong" network boasts "every feature of a well-established network -- a search engine, an electronic information system, a homepage search engine and a data transmission system." It quoted Li Hyok of the Korean Central Science and Technology Information Agency as saying, "Kuang Myong Net will become part of our daily life, just as the way America Online does to the Americans." Li said that the network is accessible only inside the DPRK and content is mostly limited to science and technology. It links scientific research institutes, universities, factories and some individuals as well as central and local government departments. Li said that his agency had posted more than 30 million scientific documents on the network, which also provides television program guides and an on-line system that translates English, French, German, Chinese, Japanese and Russian into Korean...
The Associated Press reported that the ROK Red Cross said in a news release that a cargo ship left for the DPRK Friday with 3,000 metric tons of potatoes, apples and pears. The release stated, "We hope the donation will be distributed evenly around the nation, and also to children and the elderly." It added that the ROK Red Cross will send another 9,000 tons of potatoes, apples and pears within the month. The food, valued at US$11 million, was donated by the state-controlled National Agricultural Cooperative Federation. ("SOUTH KOREA SENDS FOOD AID TO NORTH KOREA," Seoul, 03/23/01)
The Korea Herald reported that ROK analysts said Tuesday that the DPRK is using a dual strategy of threats and appeasement to coax the US into the early resumption of dialogue. On Monday, an editorial of Rodong Sinmun, gazette of the DPRK's ruling Workers' Party, made it clear that the DPRK would not strike its neighbors first but instead advocate rapprochement with them. "We have no intention to strike the United Sates, and what we want is to end confrontation with them and work toward reconciliation," said the
official Radio Pyongyang quoting the commentary. (Kim Ji-ho, "NORTH KOREA ALTERS STANCE TOWARD UNITED STATES," Seoul, 03/21/01) and Chosun Ilbo (Yoon Jong-ho, "NK DAILY CALLS FOR IMPROVED US RELATIONS," Seoul, 03/19/01)
Pyongyang, March 21, 2001 (KCNA) -- It is a sure guarantee for successfully carving out the destiny of the nation and glorifying the national dignity to deepen national self-respect, says Rodong Sinmun today in a signed article. If a nation loses its self-respect to have illusion and expectation for the imperialists, it is bound to go to ruin, the article says, and continues: The imperialists, talking about the improved relations with big countries, are loudmouthed about "strategic partnership" and "engagement" and avoid confrontation with those countries as far as possible under the signboard of "smile diplomacy" and "diplomacy of detente". But they are putting pressure upon small and weak countries in a bid to stifle them by force of arms.
Professing "democracy," "liberty," "pluralism" and "multi-party system" the imperialists are working hard to bar small countries and nations from advancing along the road chosen by themselves and pursuing a big-stick policy towards those countries to let them meekly obey them. It is the imperialists who will become more arrogant and outrageous if other countries get more obedient to them, bereft of self-respect. However small a nation is, it should have stronger national self-respect. This is an important lesson and truth the Korean people have learned in the gunfireless confrontation with the imperialists. Only when a nation has strong self-respect, can it defend its sovereignty and dignity and contribute to the human cause of independence.
For over one month National Defense Commission Chairman Kim Jong-il has not appeared or spoken in public. After Chairman Kim’s on-the-spot guidance tours at a machine-tool factory in the North Pyongan Province on Feb. 14th and Taechon Electric Plant he has not been seen since. On January 15th Chairman Kim Jong-il visited Shanghai in China for six days and then went back to North Korea. He did not go directly to Pyongyang city but rather performed an on the spot tour in a light industry factory in Sinuiju City. However, after the 14th of February Chairman Kim has not been seen publicly. He did not appear on the North Korean Television or Newspapers and there were even rumours that he was in some sort of physical danger...
The Wall Street Journal reported that European corporations are waiting for US President George W. Bush's administration to decide on its policy toward the DPRK so that they can begin working on the DPRK power system. In recent months, European engineering companies such as Asea Brown Boveri Group of Switzerland and Siemens AG of Germany have taken initial steps to enter the DPRK market. An ABB executive who visited the DPRK recently stated, "There is opportunity everywhere. We are looking to build up relationships and cooperation." Siemens has made an initial study of the DPRK power situation in preparation for entering the market, and found that the DPRK's 24 million people have access to just 19.3 billion kilowatts of electricity per hour, in contrast to the ROK's 46 million people's access to 224 billion kilowatts. [Ed. Note: These figures, given in the original article, appear to be mistaken. The correct figures are probably 19.3 billion kilowatt-hours per year for the DPRK, and 224 billion kilowatt-hours per year for the ROK.]
Suk-bum Jun, who leads Siemens' power-generation office in Seoul, stated, "The country desperately needs power. But the question is: Who is going to pay for it?" Gunter Unterbeck of the German Asia-Pacific Business Association in Pyongyang stated, "North Korea needs to improve its industry so that it has the money to buy food." Ole Dahlberg of the Norwegian engineering company Norconsult AS visited Pyongyang in October to explore business opportunities in the energy industry, and said that he was making progress. He stated, however, "As long as the U.S. is restrictive, everyone else is going to be very tentative." (Jay Solomon, "EUROPE ENGINEERS WAIT FOR U.S. MOVE TO OFFER ENERGY HELP TO NORTH KOREA," Seoul, 03/21/01)
Admiral Dennis C. Blair, commander in chief of the U.S. Pacific Command has declared that the U.S. has designated North Korea as a ‘No. 1 Enemy’ of the U.S. troops in the Pacific Rim. “North Korea has sufficient military systems to attack U.S. military bases which are near the Korea Peninsula, however the U.S. has enough strength to impede any of their attempts,” said Admiral Blair. ”North Korea has also sufficient physical (military) strength to attack Japan and therefore the U.S. has supplemented it’s forces in Okinawa and Guam in order to deal with conventional or guerilla warfare,”said Blair at a press conference when he visited South Korea after visiting China. ”Although the U.S. warships (fleet) have sufficient strength to block this threat, the U.S. would rather resolve issues dealing with N. Korea through peaceful means,” he added. Admiral Blaire emphasized that in the Pacific Rim area the United State’s No. 1 enemy is North Korea. “However the combined forces of Republic of Korea (ROK) army and the U.S. army out classes the North Korean military capability,” Blaire said.
The Korea Herald reported that North Korea's Vice Foreign Minister Choe Su-hon departed Pyongyang Saturday to travel several European countries like Sweden, Poland and Germany, the North's official Radio Pyongyang reported. The radio station for overseas Koreans said, "Choe was sent off by acting ambassadors of relevant countries stationed in Pyongyang at Pyongyang Airport," but it did not disclose his concrete visit schedules and purposes. But a Swedish vice foreign minister, who tripped to the North early March said in a news media interview that Choe will discuss the roles of Sweden and other European Union (EU) nations in the Korean peninsula peace process while visiting Sweden for three days from March 22.
Sweden is the first western European nation, which has permanent diplomatic missions in both Seoul and Pyongyang, and has assumed a member of the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission, which supervises the truce in the Korean border truce village of Panmunjom since the end of 1950-1953 Korean War so far. In the first half of this year, Sweden is also alternate chairing nation of the EU. Beginning Italy last year, the North has newly established diplomatic ties with most of EU-member nations like Britain, the Netherlands, Spain, Germany and Greece.(19 Mar.2001)
Pyongyang, March 7, 2001 (KCNA) -- Minju Joson today carries a signed article on the campaign against "Falun Gong" cult intensified in china. The Chinese government is organizing and intensifying the campaign against the "Falun Gong" cult because it is an anti-social and unethical perverse organization which paralyses the sound reason of people and harasses social stability and legal order, says the article.
Referring to the harmfulness of the "Falun Gong" cult, the article points out: The Chinese government is intensifying the campaign also because this perverse organization hatches an anti-government plot in conspiracy with the anti-Chinese outside forces. The anti-Chinese outside forces described the Chinese government's strict dealing with the "Falun Gong" cult as "human rights abuse" and "crackdown upon the freedom of citizens." However, legal control over the unethical and anti-state perverse organization cannot be human rights abuse. Political parties, public organizations and religious groups of China are bitterly condemning the criminal "Falun Gong" cult and demanding intensified legal sanctions and control over it. With the Chinese government's timely and dynamic efforts, the campaign against the "Falun Gong" cult is now being carried out effectively and a number of people, once tempted by the "Falun Gong" cult, are propagandizing its harmfulness and joining in the campaign, awakened to the essence of the perverse religion. China's efforts to deal a blow to the unscientific and unethical "Falun Gong" cult will bear a good fruit.
The New York Times reported that the DPRK on March 13 postponed meetings planned for this week between DPRK and ROK cabinet members on major topics affecting inter-Korean relations. An ROK official said that in a telephone message to the inter-Korean liaison office at Panmunjom, a DPRK official said only that "a number of circumstances" were responsible for causing a "delay" in the talks. ROK unification minister Park Jae-kyu responded by saying he hoped that the two sides would agree on another date "as soon as possible." There was speculation in the ROK that the DPRK, by canceling the meeting, was sending a signal that its leader, Kim Jong-il, was unhappy about comments in the US last week by US President George W.Bush after his meeting with ROK President Kim Dae-jung. ROK officials searched for reasons other than DPRK anger with Bush for the cancellation of the meetings.
One theory was that the man who was to head the DPRK delegation, Jon Kum-jin, might be severely ill. Analysts also suggested that the DPRK might be in a policy quandary. Kim Sung-han, professor at the Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security, an adjunct of ROK foreign ministry, said, "The North needs
time to think about its strategy about how to deal with the United States as well as South Korea." Some analysts believed that the DPRK's cancellation of the talks might have reflected negotiations on a lesser level between the ROK and the DPRK over payment by the Hyundai group for tours to the Mount Kumkang area of the DPRK. [Ed. note: This article was included in the US Department of Defense's Early Bird news service
for March 14, 2001.] (Don Kirk, "NORTH KOREA SUDDENLY CANCELS CONCILIATION TALKS WITH SOUTH," Seoul, 3/14/01) and The Associated Press (Christopher Torchia, "N.KOREA CANCELS TALKS WITH S.KOREA," Seoul, 3/14/01)
The Korea Herald reported that DPRK officials expressed hope it will become a member of the World Bank during their visit to the US early this month, ROK diplomatic sources said on March 11. Han Song-ryol, a senior official from the DPRK's Foreign Ministry who led a five-member economic mission in Washington from February 27-March 4, voiced the hope while meeting with the staff of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) March 2. At the meeting, the DPRK delegates focused their inquiries on possible benefits of Pyongyang's entry into the two international financial agencies as well as requirements to get loans and a planned visit to the DPRK by a World Bank-IMF joint survey team. Analysts said that if the DPRK joins the World Bank, it would enable its government to receive a loan of between US$1 billion and US$4.5 billion. A possible entry by the DPRK, however, would mean that a number of diplomatic preconditions would have to meet. (Kim Ji-ho, "N. KOREA WANTS TO JOIN WORLD BANK," Seoul, 03/12/01)
The Korea Herald reported that a DPRK Foreign Ministry spokesman assailed the US for recently slandering his country over the "drug issue," the Korean Central News Agency reported Tuesday. The US State Department, in an annual report on drug control released March 1, hinted that the DPRK may be manufacturing and smuggling drugs into other countries and said it will "keep tabs on" the DPRK, while admitting there was a lack of clear evidence. "This is a groundless charge and shameless provocation against the DPRK," the spokesman was quoted as saying. He claimed that the use and transaction of drugs, to say nothing of their manufacturing, are strictly banned by law under the "man-centered socialist system in the DPRK where a sound way of life prevails." He added, "Shortly ago, it slandered the DPRK over 'human rights abuse' and this time it fabricated the preposterous 'drug issue' in a bid to tarnish the image of the DPRK and isolate it. However, no one will lend an ear to this. The US is well advised to clearly know that such a trite trick will only bring to light the futility of its hostile policy toward the DPRK." (Shin Yong-bae, "N. KOREA BLASTS U.S. DRUG SUSPICION," Seoul, 03/08/01)
by Bradley Martin - AFI
Mar 2, 2001 Tokyo (AFI) - Within the last few days alone the official media treated North Koreans to such catchy propaganda slogans as: “The revolution is, in essence, a sacred struggle to defend the leader and to embody the leader’s ideas.” And: “The do-or-die spirit for defending the leader should be thoroughly embodied in one’s daily work and life.” The “defense” is defense against enemies of the revolution. The list of those enemies starts with Japanese colonial forces that tried to hunt down Kim Il-sung in his guerilla days in Manchuria in the 1930s. It moves right along to include all the “imperialists,” “splittists,” “impure elements” and various other plotters, real or imagined, who have been portrayed as threatening Kim and his son and successor Jong-il in the decades since...
Pyongyang, March 3, 2001 (KCNA) -- The director for researches of the "doctors without borders", a non-governmental organization, in a recent interview with Kyodo absurdly talked about the need to look into the distribution of 500,000 tons of rice Japan donated to the DPRK, asserting that most of food aid to it "has gone to government and army officials only." His remark is intended to build up public opinion by falsifying truth. This behaviour is unbecoming of a member of the organization whose mission is to avert disputes and conflicts and contribute to international reconciliation and peace. This cannot be construed otherwise than a diatribe aimed to chill the atmosphere of international aid.
As already known, members of various international aid organizations stationed in the DPRK including the world food program of the united nations are witnessing for themselves the distribution of rice, medicines and other aid goods on the spot and confirming transparency in their use. Nevertheless, the fiction about the diversion of most of the food aid is spread to build up public opinion. This cannot but raise a doubt as to whether it is aimed to seek an ulterior purpose nothing in common with a purely humanitarian aim. This only goes to prove that the "doctors without borders" plays into the hands of the dishonest forces keen to throw obstacles in humanitarian aid by damaging international understanding of humanitarian assistance to the DPRK.
The "doctors without borders" is well advised to pay due attention to the irresponsible and disturbing remarks made by its members that resulted in impairing its image as an international aid organization and crippling confidence of the international community in it. The strengthened regional and international cooperation and ties are of great importance in the development of international relations in the new century. Whoever remains true to the idea of humanitarianism and international mission for the human cause of peace should not allow himself to be embroiled in the political intrigue of the dishonest forces so that he may not leave such a blot as falsifying truth.
Chosun Ilbo reported that the DPRK is set to expand its farmers' contract system, similar to PRC's, nationwide following the success of a limited test, according to a PRC source Sunday. The system allows farmers to use part of their produce instead of selling it all to the state at fixed prices. The DPRK had previously criticized the system as being capitalistic. The source said that Kim Jong-il was shocked by the agricultural reform and level of technology in the PRC when he visited Shanghai in January. Kim then decided to adopt the PRC policy to the DPRK's cooperative system on a gradual basis. The system had been on a trial run in Hwasong and Kilchu in Hanbuk Province, and apparently has been a success. As a result DPRK authorities will expand it nationwide, to solve falling production and other structural defects in the sector. (Jee Hae-bom, "NORTH KOREA TO INTRODUCE FARMERS' CONTRACT," Beijing, 03/03/01)
Chosun Ilbo reported that the DPRK has deployed more than 100 Rodong-1 missiles with 1,300km range since 1998, according to a high-ranking government official Thursday. He said that 20 of the surface-to-surface ballistic missiles were confirmed by the US intelligence authorities at underground sites at Youngjeodong, Yanagang province, only 20km from the PRC border. So far, the DPRK was learned to have deployed nine Rodong-1 at Shinori, Pyongbuk province. He said that the DPRK also carried out 4,000-6,000km range Taepodong-2 missile's engine test three to four times since December 1999. He said the US officials expressed serious concern over the DPRK move at the meetings between ROK and US officials. The DPRK is also building two more missile bases for Rodong-1 and Daepodong-2 missiles at Yonglim, Jagang province and Sangnam, Hambuk province, the official added. (Yoo Yong-won, "NK DEPLOYS 100 RODONG-1 MISSILES," Seoul, 03/02/01)
"According to the far-reaching plan of the Great General who is determined to computerize the whole country, computer genius education bases will be newly established." That report in the North Korean party paper Rodong Sinmun goes on to extol Kim Jong-il's "extraordinary knowledge about the computer area". Aidan Foster-Carter writes about the North's expanding, if still restricted internally, interest in the World Wide Web and notes that, as ever, self-reliance rules. But, he adds, that can't last...
Reuters reported that the US State Department's annual human rights report, released this week on the State Department's web site (www.state.gov), said that one million DPRK citizens have died of starvation and related diseases since 1995. The report stated, "Famine has caused internal dislocation, widespread malnutrition and approximately a million deaths from starvation and related diseases." It added that economic and political conditions had caused thousands to flee their homes. The report claimed that economic recovery had been hampered by military spending, which it said amounted to perhaps a quarter of gross domestic product a decade ago and is probably an even larger share of national output today. The report also said that human rights groups had received reports of extrajudicial killings and disappearances. Acting US Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Michael Parmly said Monday that the DPRK is one of the world's three worst human rights abusers along with Myanmar and Cuba. ("FAMINE KILLS ONE MILLION IN NORTH KOREA, SAYS U.S.," Seoul, 02/27/01)
The New York Times reported that people in the DPRK rely on walking due to lack of transportation. On Fridays, citizens are mobilized into state work units to build monuments and other public works. The article said that visitors to hospitals and schools are told about the personal efforts made by Kim Jong-il in planning their work. It added that soldiers are ubiquitous throughout the countryside. However, it added, signs of change can be seen in the growth of farmers' markets and open use of foreign currency. (Elisabeth Rosenthal, "NORTH KOREANS, BELTS TIGHT, COBBLE UP A FUTURE," Pyongyang, 02/25/01)
By ELISABETH ROSENTHAL
PYONGYANG, North Korea — For most of a decade marked by shortages of food, fuel and other commodities North Korea's leader, Kim Jong Il, has exhorted his people to do more with less. And today, belt-tightening has even seeped into this capital city's fanciest hotel, the Koryo. Lights are kept dim, making it difficult to read. Well-furnished rooms hover just above freezing, warmed by space heaters. In a place where Americans may not leave the hotel unescorted and television sets have only one channel, guests spend a lot of time looking down at Pyongyang from 15 floors up. Insight comes in snippets of conversation and glimpses caught through windows.
by Leon V Sigal
The proposed United States missile defense system is too far off to protect the US from a possible North Korean missile attack, argues Leon V Sigal, and therefore it is in the US interest to conclude a deal to terminate Pyongyang's missile program. Sigal outlines six myths which he says have prevented the conclusion of such a deal.
by Aidan Foster-Carter
In a critique of the abovementioned article, Aidan Foster-Carter agrees with Sigal's conclusion that dialogue with North Korea, not isolation, is required. But the fear is that one-sided "dove" arguments like this will only confirm to US hawks that liberals need a reality check...
Chosun Ilbo reported that the US government conveyed its concern recently over the possibility of ROK aid to the DPRK is being transferred to DPRK's military, according to a diplomatic source on Saturday. The source said that the US judged that the DPRK has been strengthening its military since last year and international aid may have contributed to this. This concern was delivered to National Intelligence Service chief Lim Dong-won on his visit to the US. Another source revealed that the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) had sent a secret report to the ROK that contained a list of weapons the DPRK had purchased overseas and the source of funds necessary for this. The US Defense Department and the CIA are taking seriously the huge amount of cash provided to the DPRK by Hyundai for its Mt. Kumgang tour, and watching carefully the negotiations on the supply of electricity by the ROK to the DPRK.
The sources said that the US government understands the ROK's explanation it is doing its best to ensure aid is used for the correct purpose, and also that there is no detailed evidence of aid being transferred to the military to date. They added that the ROK basically shares US concerns. CIA Director George Tenet testified at an Intelligence Committee hearing that the 10-year decline in defense spending in the DPRK recently stopped and upgrades were carried out and more money spent. He added that any form of outside assistance could be used by the DPRK to develop its military and would shorten the development period for ballistic missile development and production. (Ju Yong-jung, "US EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER AID TO NK," Washington, 02/23/01)
The Korea Herald reported that to keep up with the rapid thaw in inter-Korean relations, the ROK government has been conducting research to compare the two Koreas' administration systems, the ROK Government Administration and Home Affairs Ministry said. When the research is completed in June, it will help the two Koreas better understand each other in their exchanges, Minister Choi In-kee said. Choi also said that the ministry would launch an education program for government officials in order to help try and work towards the congeniality that the Koreas had before their division half a century ago. (Chang Jae-soon, "NORTH KOREA'S ADMINISTRATION UNDER STUDY," Seoul, 02/22/01)
Chosun Ilbo reported that Taiwan will not be sending nuclear waste to the DPRK anytime in the near future, the spokesman of the country's Representative Office in Seoul announced on Thursday. Yu Myongriang said that he had checked with the Taiwan Power Company and ascertained that no new progress had been made in discussions with regard to this. Yu said that as a member of the global community Taiwan respected the environment and international standards, and would not ship waste to a country that could not meet these. ("TAIWAN SAYS NO N WASTE BEING SENT TO NK," Seoul, 02/22/01)
Chosun Ilbo reported that Seo Young-hoon, the president of the ROK National Red Cross, said on Wednesday that he would meet his DPRK counterpart Chang Jae-on soon and propose a plan of providing the DPRK with beef produced in the ROK. He said at a question and answer session of the Assembly's Health and Wealth Committee that he was shocked to learn that countries infected by the bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) were sending their beef to the DPRK. He added that worries about the disease contagion would never be removed even with the strictest control by the governments involved. ("RED CROSS INDICATES SENDING BEEF TO NK," Seoul, 02/21/01)
The Asahi Shimbun reported that ROK President Kim Dae-jung revealed that he had kept refusing Kim Jong-il's request that he visit Kim Il-sung's grave during their summit meeting in June 2000. Kim
Dae-jung said that the DPRK side had said to the ROK before the summit meeting, "If the ROK refuses to visit Kim Il-sung's grave during Kim Dae-jung's visit to Pyongyang, Kim (Dae-jung) should not come to the
North." Kim Jong-il even said to Kim Dae-jung in a car on their way from the airport, "Let's go and visit Kim Il-sung's grave right away." Kim Dae-jung responded, "Given our people's emotions, I cannot go with you." Kim Jong-il said, "Then, you don't have to go." The report added that by referring to this episode, the Kim Dae-jung administration is now emphasizing, "The North listens, if we talks." ("KIM DAE JUNG REVEALED THAT HE REFUSED TO VISIT TO KIM IL SUNG'S GRAVE," 02/19/2001)
The New York Times reported that UN officials said that the DPRK is less hungry than during the worst food shortages in 1997, thanks in large part to international aid. However, the ongoing deterioration of the country's infrastructure - particularly its health and sanitation systems and its energy supply - has continued to negatively affect many DPRK Nationals. A recent trip with AmeriCares, a private, US-based relief organization in the DPRK, to inspect the progress of its aid projects in hospitals and orphanages in and around Pyongyang was filled with scenes and tales of deprivation. One aid worker said, "The health sector has just collapsed. You probably have more in your home medicine chest than some county hospitals here have." David Morton, UN coordinator in Pyongyang, said schools, hospitals and clinics all contain what the DPRK government calls "weak children," children who have been chronically underfed. (Elisabeth Rosenthal, "COLLAPSE OF HEALTH SYSTEM ADDS TO NORTH KOREA'S CRISIS," Youngsong, 2/20/01)
The Korea Herald reported that the inter-Korean trade over the West Sea will likely resume soon after a three-month hiatus, which was caused by an inter-Korean strife over shipping companies, officials said on Monday. "It has yet to be seen whether the North would allow the third vessel entry into Nampo Port," said a Unification Ministry official. "Based on recent dialogues with Pyongyang, however, we are confident the North would not refuse them as long as the ships are not from Hansung." Critics in the ROK had maintained that the government should not accept the DPRK's denial of Hansung ships as it violates international practices, which enable any businesses to choose a shipping company that will carry their own products. "Nevertheless, we've decided to designate the third company, instead of Hansung, as we believe the continuation of inter-Korean trade would be as important as the international rules," the ministry official said. "We plan to first help resume the trade and later resolve the issue through various government-level channels, including the inter-Korean economic committee," he added. (Kim Ji-ho, "TWO KOREAS TO RESUME SUSPENDED MARITIME TRADE OVER WEST SEA," Seoul, 02/20/01)
Chosun Ilbo reported that the German government announced on Saturday that it will meet with the DPRK delegates in Berlin to discuss food assistance to the DPRK. German Agricultural Minister Renate Kuenast, answered in a press conference that, "the possible food assistance of 40,000 cows that the government is planning to slaughter due to concerns over Mad Cow Disease, can be discussed." He added that "the German officials will openly discussed the matter with the North. The main agenda, however, will be to discuss what the North wants, whether it be beef or other food." The DPRK has previously asked the German government to give beef surplus, though the European Union has continually shown concerns over beef assistance to poor countries. "We do not want European beef being dumped in Third World markets destroying domestic ones," said Gregor Kreuzhuber, agriculture spokesman for the executive body of the 15-nation European Union. Critics also have raised moral concerns over such move to aid surplus beef. (Shin Yong-kwan, "GERMANY TO DISCUSS BEEF AID WITH NORTH," Seoul, 02/18/01)
by Aidan Foster-Carter
If North Korean leader Kim Jong-il learned more than "Woooo, skyscrapers!" from his recent Shanghai jaunt, he should whiz down the new motorway to Nampo port, where the authorities have been doing their damnedest to sabotage business by refusing entry to South Korean ships, and give the harbour board some of his celebrated on-the-spot guidance.
The Associated Press reported that ROK officials said Monday that the DPRK unilaterally postponed implementation of an accord to clear jointly with the ROK thousands of land mines along the Demilitarized Zone to build a cross-border railway. An anonymous ROK Defense Ministry official said that the DPRK notified the ROK on Saturday that the schedule should be changed for "administrative reasons." ROK media speculated that the DPRK move appears to be related to the ROK's 2001 defense white paper. Before concluding last week's talks, DPRK delegates declared there would be no more defense ministers' meetings between the two sides unless the ROK defense white paper is revised to remove the designation of the DPRK as the ROK's "principal enemy." ("NORTH KOREA DELAYS RAILWAY PROJECT," Seoul, 02/12/01)
China Daily reported that officials of the DPRK and ROK met in two separate rounds of talks on February 8, one in Panmunjom and the other in Pyongyang, hoping to wrap up deals to build a cross-border railway and ease the DPRK's energy shortages. Breakthrough came during talks between top officers at Panmunjom where the two sides agreed on guidelines to avoid accidental clashes during reconstruction of a railroad and highway across the border, officials said, but they added that negotiations in Pyongyang for the supply of free electricity to the DPRK hit obstacles. Last December, the DPRK requested that the ROK provide it with 500,000 kilowatts of electricity, but the ROK insisted that it would consider the request only after both sides conduct a joint survey of the DPRK's energy shortages. At Thursday's meeting, ROK officials proposed that both sides jointly survey the ROK's energy situation as well as that of the DPRK. ("KOREAS HOLD FURTHER TALIKS," Seoul, 02/09/01, P11)
Chosun Ilbo reported that at the fifth round of military talks on February 8, the DPRK demanded that the ROK drop the concept of a main enemy from its defense white paper as a pre-condition to the next round of ministerial level meetings. A high ranking government source said on Sunday that at the end of the meeting about the Seoul-Shinuiju railroad, the DPRK suddenly read out a statement concerning the concept. Colonel Yoo Young-chul said that DPRK Defense Minister Kim Il-chul was angered at the wording. This is the first official mention of the ROK's defense posture since military contacts were initiated. The DPRK's move was completely unexpected and some analysts say that it was an attempt to introduce a bargaining chip as they did last December at a deputy ministers' meeting. Others said that it is a move to pave the way for the setting up of a military hot line if the ROK abandons the concept. (Yoon Young-won, "NORTH KOREA DEMANDS CHANGE OF 'MAIN ENEMY' CONCEPT," Seoul, 02/10/01)
Agence France-Presse reported that Zhao Huji, a DPRK expert with the PRC State Council Developmental Research Center, said on Monday that the PRC views closer ties between the US and the DPRK as key to peace on the Korean Peninsula, but is alarmed at perceived US unwillingness to improve ties. Zhao stated, "A visit by Bill Clinton to North Korea would have greatly worked toward defusing tensions on the Korean Peninsula." He added, "The decision by President (George W.) Bush's administration to build the NMD (National Missile Defense) will become a huge obstacle toward North Korea's opening up."
He warned, "It is not unlikely that China and Russia could end up using North Korea as a kind of card to play in joint efforts to get Washington to back down from NMD." Zhao said that DPRK leader Kim Jong-il needs to improve relations with the US to open up his country and implement economic reforms. He stated, "Kim Jong-Il is talking peace not confrontation. He sees that he will not be able to reunify with South Korea quickly and that economic development is his only way out." He argued that Kim's recent overtures to the PRC and Russia are aimed at "creating the conditions for economic reforms and opening up," while also preparing for the likelihood of continued isolation from the US and Japan.
He noted that while normalization of relations between the DPRK and the US would not result in any influx of US investment, it would open the way for investment from the ROK and financial institutes such as the World Bank and possibly for compensation from Japan. Zhao said that the biggest obstacle facing Kim is opposition from his country's elites, including top government and military officials, and that a propaganda campaign on the ideological merits of economic reform has already appeared in the DPRK press. Zhao said that he expects the ruling DPRK Worker's Party to hold a key congress in the coming months in which Kim will unveil a reform plan. (CHINA WANTS CLOSER US-NORTH KOREA TIES: SCHOLAR," Beijing, 02/12/01)
The Korea Herald reported that the DPRK will pursue its own strategy in rebuilding its economy, rather than follow the market reform examples of the PRC, said pro-DPRK media in Japan. The Choson Sinbo, the official gazette of Chochongnyon, or the General Association of (DPRK) Korean Residents in Japan, said in an article Friday that Kim Jong-il's surprise visit to the PRC in mid-January was not aimed at following in the footsteps of the PRC, but only at examining the economic development there. The article stated, "Choson has decided to follow its own way. Our march in the new century focuses on pursuing the juche (self-reliance) idea, which we protected in the face of hardships, instead of shifting from it." While the PRC, under its market reform policy, helped part of its people become richer before moving toward making the entire country an affluent nation, the DPRK would not adopt this policy, the newspaper said. (Kim Ji-ho, "N.K. WILL NOT BECOME 2ND CHINA," Seoul, 02/12/01)
Chosun Ilbo reported that from the beginning of the 1st Inter-Korean working level conference on electricity cooperation, both parties faced stumbling blocks due to clear differences in their stances. Delegations of the two Koreas met Thursday at the Koryo Hotel in Pyongyang to discuss how to jointly carry out the inspection of power supplies.
In a keynote speech, the ROK delegation proposed implementing a spot-survey on power supplies of the two Koreas by launching a joint inspection team with 7-10 members each as prerequisite to figure out power line conditions before cooperating with each other for better power supplies. The ROK delegation also suggested carrying out a parallel inspection on field and information of power generation as well as transmission and distribution. In response to such proposals, meanwhile, the DPRK delegation insisted on its initial position that it wants 500,000 KW power to be promptly supplied to the DPRK through a transmission line. ("NO AGREEMENT ON ELECTRICITY SUPPLY," Seoul, 02/08/01)
The Sankei Shimbun reported that DPRK leader Kim Jong-il's "order" or "lessons" given to the Association of Pro-DPRK Residents in Japan in April 1999 led to questions of whether the DPRK's recent shift to "new thinking" in economic opening and reform is only an outward pretension. The report said that Kim gave the "order" or "lessons" to the vice chairman of the association in 1999 to reform the organization to adjust to the changing outside world by taking a flexible method while continuing to accomplish their basic mission in Japan.
According to the report, Kim stated, "In order to attract the younger generations, you have to make them believe that you are changing your (hard-line) stance. You have to use 'perfume' to do so.... While maintaining a reformist face, you have to accomplish your basic mission.... If your association changed your practice, our Rodong Shinmun might criticize you for becoming a capitalist, but you have to patiently put up with it because even if they don't understand you, I understand you.... It does not matter, either, if the enemy (Japan) comes to think that I, General Kim Jong-il, have become a reformist because what matters is (not how we reform, but) that we achieve our final goals." The report added that the complete text of Kim's statement is available in the January-February 2001 issue of Gendai Koria (Contemporary Korea). (Katsuhiro Kuroda, Seoul, "KIM JONG-IL'S PRETENDED POLICY SHIFT AND ECONOMIC IMPROVEMENT," 02/09/2001)
By Aidan Foster-Carter
Kim Jong-il has a new theme song: it's no longer "My Way", but rather "The Times They Are A-Changin". Kim's problem, writes Aidan Foster-Carter, is that in order to put into practice the lessons he learnt in Shanghai he must justify a policy U-turn by his absolutist regime without repudiating its past or weakening its grip.
Chosun Ilbo reported that a high-ranking government official said that DPRK leader Kim Jong-il's visit to Seoul is likely to be delayed until May or June, adding that it will be preceded by a trip to Russia. A source at the Korean embassy in Moscow said that Kim would visit the Russian capital in April. He added that Kim is waiting to see the results of Russia's President Vladimir Putin's trip to Seoul in February and President Kim Dae-jung's visit to Washington in March.("KIM JONG IL'S VISIT DELAYED UNTIL MAY," Seoul,02/05/01)
The Korea Times reported that a recent article by a foreign newspaper indicating that the ROK had paid the DPRK to consummate the landmark inter-Korean summit last year is putting the government's level of tolerance regarding freedom of the press to a test. "We take extra care when dealing with inaccurate and misleading articles appearing in foreign mass media because they are guests," a Chong Wa Dae official said. "But the article went too far, being not only inaccurate but also libelous."
The article in question appeared in the January 31 edition of the International Herald Tribune which claimed that National Intelligence Service director Lim Dong-won was at the beck and call of the DPRK in one part and that, in another, former culture-tourism minister Park Jie-won, who had secretly contacted DPRK officials in the PRC to arrange the June summit, may have sent money to DPRK leader Kim Jong-il while in Singapore to persuade him to agree to the summit. "We are considering all options including legal action against the Paris-based newspaper," the Chong Wa Dae official said. The Korea Information Service (KOIS), the government's mouthpiece overseas, has sent a letter of protest to the newspaper. The latest case might determine how far the government is willing to go in order to correct what it thinks are wrong reports in foreign press. (Oh Young-jin, "NK BRIBERY ARTICLE LIKELY TO TEST GOV'T WILL," Seoul, 02/05/01)
The Korea Times reported that amid speculation on the DPRK's city of choice for a special economic zone (SEZ), the Unification Ministry on Saturday suggested four cities as possible candidates. In the report titled "Comprehensive Analysis of the North Korean Economy in 2000," the ministry named Nampo, Kaesong, Tanchon and Shinuiju as candidates for the SEZ to be designated by the DPRK. The report predicted that the DPRK could bolster business in the existing Rajin-Sonbong free trade zone. "With the help of South Korea, the North could also make overtures to expand its economic activities abroad," the report said.
While the names of other cities have been brought up as likely sites for the SEZ, Tanchon has rarely been mentioned as a possible choice. There have been widespread speculations on the location of North's SEZ since DPRK National Defense Commission Chairman Kim Jong-il visited the PRC last week. At the time, Kim reportedly said that the DPRK "will build a Shanghai-style economic zone." (Seo Soo-min, "WHERE WILL N. KOREA BUILD SEZ? ," Seoul, 02/05/01)
By Aidan Foster-Carter
If Kim Jong-il learned anything in China, he should swiftly do a Deng Xiaoping and say loudly and clearly that markets and private enterprise are A Good Thing, to be actively encouraged. It's far too late for toes in the water, or even halfway houses. What North Korea needs is the full monty: markets, reforms, private business, entrepreneurs. Everywhere. Now.
(by Simon Bone)
I suppose if you had to pick a time to travel to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, it might as well be during a standoff with Japan. On 30 August, in anticipation of the country’s forthcoming 50th anniversary on 9 September, the DPRK launched a Taepo-Dong 1 multistage rocket, without warning, in the direction of the Land of the Rising Sun. Its second stage passed over Hokkaido and landed in the Pacific. The Japanese government mused openly about how to respond to this potential act of war...
(by David Franken)
We drive by some empty show grounds for children - used on holidays - roller coaster, video game palace, carousels and chairlift. There is a second area over the hill. As we drive around this city of two million, we see but a few street sweepers, perhaps a dozen people in the grounds we visit - so few people. Where are they? At work, one presumes. The emptiness of the streets between early morning and late afternoon is eerie. I am reminded at these times of the film “Fahrenheit 451” and its empty streets...
By Aidan Foster-Carter
Whatever your view of Kim Jong-il, you have to admire his skill on the world stage. His just completed visit to China was pure theater, and his timing was perfect. For his Washington audience, he sent a signal to the potentially hostile new US administration that he's serious about reform. His own military received a message that economic matters are in the ascendant. Watch the "Great Teacher of Acrobats" fly - and pray he doesn't lose his grip.
Washington Post reported that PRC and ROK analysts cautioned Tuesday against speculation that Kim intends to imitate the PRC and reform his country's economy while trying to maintain a tight grip on political power. Experts said that any attempt by the DPRK to become a "second China" will be extremely difficult.
Piao Jianyi, a leading DPRK analyst at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said, "What North Korea wants to do is become an economic power in a short period of time, but I don't think it can try to become a second China. Kim wants to learn from China's experiences, but the situation in North Korea is different and requires its own solutions." Unlike the PRC, the DPRK is much more heavily industrialized, and only a third to a tenth of its workers are in farming. To restart its economy, analysts say, the DPRK will need to tackle its huge, stagnating state industrial sector.
Hyung Kook Kim, a Korea specialist at American University, said, "There are really not any overseas North Koreans waiting to invest as there were overseas Chinese. And there are not as many countries in the world interested in investing in North Korea as in China," said North Korea does have a cheap labor force, he noted, but "there are plenty of cheap labor forces elsewhere in the world and in Asia." If rapprochement between the DPRK and the ROK continues, more ROK investment may follow, but DPRK's ability to attract foreign investment is hampered by a severe energy shortage and an ailing transportation system. Also, opening the DPRK to foreign investors may undermine the legitimacy of Kim's government.
Therefore, Kim Byung Kook, a professor at Korea University in Seoul, said, "I cannot persuade myself that Kim Jong Il can have his cake and eat it too -- that is, have a regime and yet reform it from the inside out by following the Chinese model. What he saw in Shanghai was the product of 23 or 24 years of real hard work, full of dangers [for the Chinese leadership.] The odds against him succeeding are exceedingly high." [Ed. note: This article was included in the US Department of Defense's Early Bird news service for January 23, 2001.] (Philip P. Pan and Doug Struck, "EXPERTS DOUBT N.KOREA CAN BE 'SECOND CHINA'," Beijing, 1/23/01)
The International Herald Tribune published an opinion article by Han Sung Joo, a professor of political science at Korea University and a former foreign minister, which said there are three key areas to consider as the administration of George W. Bush formulates its Korea policies.
The first, Han points out, is whether to support ROK President Kim Dae-jung's "sunshine policy" in seeking better relations with the DPRK. The second is what to do about the DPRK's nuclear and missile threats. Third is that the US has to gauge how fast and how extensively it should improve relations with the DPRK. Han wrote, "The only legitimate concern for America, given its role in safeguarding the Korean Peninsula, is that the operational capability of its military forces should not be compromised as a result of exaggerated South Korean expectations from the reconciliation efforts." As for the Bush administration's agenda on the DPRK nuclear issue, Han wrote, "In the absence of a new formula and the means to apply it, sticking with the existing agreement serves the interests of both the United States and South Korea." He also said that the Clinton administration appeared to be making some headway in its missile negotiations with the DPRK and the Bush administration "should pick up in earnest where its predecessor left off."
Han noted that the US should be able to negotiate on missiles with the DPRK without "necessarily hastening diplomatic normalization" and it is in the US interest "to make North Korea increasingly more dependent on the outside world for its development and even survival." Therefore, Han wrote, the Bush administration should take advantage of the situation DPRK's current eagerness to expand external relationships and seek assistance from the outside world. He also said that the new administration "should use deliberate speed and do it in full and close consultation with its allies, particularly South Korea and Japan. There is no need to rush into a major policy shift. The success of the Bush administration's policy will depend on how well it can keep North Korea engaged even while keeping its threatening behavior in check." [Ed. note: This article was included in the US Department of Defense's Early Bird news service for January 19, 2001.] ("RULES FOR LIVING WITH NORTH KOREA," Seoul, 1/19/01)
A day after arriving in North Korea in July 1999, Dr. Norbert Vollertsen made a visit to a hospital in Sinwon, a town near the southeastern port city of Haeju. As a volunteer for German Emergency Doctors, a non-profit medical aid group, his assignment was to assess and assist the North Korean medical system—or what passes for one. At the Sinwon hospital, doctors were preparing to perform an emergency appendectomy on a young North Korean girl. The anesthetic hadn't worked, but the doctors operated anyway. As the surgeons sliced into the girl's belly, her muscles tightened and tears poured down her face, but she didn't scream. Vollertsen took the girl's hand and held it throughout the half-hour operation: "I couldn't believe my eyes. She was so brave—I was nearly crying."
The hospital had no drugs, disinfectant, syringes, IV drips or soap. The doctors worked without surgical gloves. There were no toilets inside the facility, and water had to be hauled in by bucket. The operating room's cement floor was stained with old blood, and the surgery was performed next to a window for light: the hospital didn't have electricity...
By Aidan Foster-Carter
Real politics in North Korea is kept carefully hidden behind a facade of unity. Yet different reports emanating from Pyongyang recently have taken such contradictory lines that it is impossible not to notice. Diehards and reformers are engaged in fierce debate over what is a matter of life and death for the country. Highlighting the debate is leader Kim Jong-il's call for nothing less than a new way of thinking.
Chosun Ilbo reported that according to the Rural Development Administration on Wednesday, the DPRK's grain crop fell to 3.59 million tons in 2000, down 15 percent from a year earlier. In detail, the rice yield dropped to 1.42 million tons in 2000 from 1.63 million in 1999, and the production of corns and beans contracted to 1.44 million and 120,000 tons from 1.92 million and 130,000 tons, respectively, in the same period. Sweet potatoes output rose to 390,000 tons in 2000, up 25.8 percent from the previous year. The RDA cited bad weather for the overall shortfall as drought was severe from May to July, hurting seeding, followed by flooding that continued to early September. (Lee Jun, "NK'S GRAIN CROP FALLS 15 percent." Seoul, 01/10/01)
Chosun Ilbo reported that according to a BBC report Wednesday, people in the DPRK are literally starving to death with nearly all adults being afflicted with chronic depression and being addicted to alcohol. The report cited Doctor Norbert Vollersten, a German doctor who has been thrown out of the DPRK after criticizing its human rights abuses, had worked in a Pyongyang hospital for 18 months for the aid group, Komitee Cap Anamur. Vollersten talked about desperate people driven to alcoholism and living in a constant state of fear. He also said that people were "burn-out" with widespread alcoholism adding to crippling food and power shortages Aid agencies have estimated that up to two million people have died since the mid-1990s as a result of acute food shortages caused by natural disasters and economic mismanagement. He said that while conditions in the capital, Pyongyang, had improved, the plight of some people in rural areas was now desperate. Vollersten accused the DPRK government for not distributing food aid properly. ("NORTH KOREANS ARE "STARVING TO DEATH"," Seoul, 01/10/01)
Global Times carried an article on changes in the DPRK in the new century. The sign of change first appeared, Zhang said, on January 1 in the form of joint editorial by the DPRK's Party newspaper, army newspaper and Youth Daily proposing to reform the economy by introducing modern technology and improving its economic management structure to answer the requirement of the new environment and new climate. On January 4, Rodong News published part of the speeches of Kim Jong-il, stressing that new ideas should be used to solve problems in a new era. For these new signs, Zhang commented that due to the long-term planning economy in the DPRK, the real implementation of new ideas needs some time. Without relevant regulations and laws to ensure and guarantee the smooth transition, the focus of the DPRK's economic reform will still be in the process of adjustment and economic recovery. The article also leaves some space for the DPRK domestic reaction to Kim Jong-il's proposal. Currently, all walks of life are studying the joint editorial and Kim's speech. Those ordinary citizens who were interviewed expressed their optimistic views on the DPRK's future under the leadership of Kim Jong-il. (Zhang Xinghua, "KIM JONG-IL ADVOCATES REFORM," 01/09/01, P2)
The Economist Intelligence Unit reported that the outlook for inter-Korean relations in 2001-02 is broadly good. The report said that inter-Korean relations will be "quite unlike anything seen during the past half- century." However, it said, the process of engagement between the ROK and the DPRK will not be smooth. It also stated, "the overall food situation remains unclear, but far from healthy." Politically, the report said that Kim Jong-il seems firmly in control, but what remains less clear is "when, or even whether, Kim Jong-il will formalize his new turn by convening a long overdue full congress of the ruling Korean Workers' Party (KWP)." The report also said that the DPRK and the ROK are clearly entering a new phase, with contacts of various kinds, if not always smooth, becoming normal rather than exceptional. Regarding the DPRK's relations with the US, the report predicted "a harder US line is under George W Bush. Nevertheless, continuity in US policy is more likely than radical change." The report said that a challenge for the DPRK will be to ensure that its spread of markets in recent years does not erode its overall political authority. Economically, the DPRK is now listed as the fifth worst country in the world for malnutrition under a new study by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Almost 60 percent of the DPRK's population was undernourished in 1996-98. ("NORTH KOREA: COUNTRY OUTLOOK," 1/5/01)
The Associated Press reported that an official report said more than 100,000 people rallied and marched Friday in the DPRK, vowing to remain loyal to DPRK leader Kim Jong-il in the new year. The state-orchestrated rally was held in Kim Il-sung Square in Pyongyang. The official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that Premier Hong Song Nam urged the crowd to "become indomitable fighters who implement the idea and line of Kim Jong Il under any circumstances." KCNA also said representatives for workers, farmers, youth and students took the podium to swear loyalty to Kim. ("NORTH KOREANS HOLD MASS RALLY," Seoul, 1/5/01)
The Korea Herald reported that the DPRK said Saturday that all of its people would unite in spirit next year to make the 21st century as the "century of General Kim Jong-il." Radio Pyongyang, the official media outlet, said in a commentary, "The people of North Korea and the people's Army will keep our pledges of loyalty to our sun, General Kim Jong-il, until the end and make this century the century of North Korea and the great Kim Jong-il by uniting our spirit." While boasting about its major economic achievements last year, including a power plant near Mt. Kumgang and an expressway linking Pyongyang with Nampo, the radio attributed these accomplishments to their leader. Touching on the inter-Korean summit in June last year and the Joint Communique, it said the events were declared to the whole world and that the Korean people could reunify their divided land by their own strength. The radio also attributed Pyongyang's normalization of diplomatic ties with Italy and Britain as well as visits to the DPRK by Russian President Vladimir Putin and US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright to successful diplomacy by Kim. (Kim Ji-ho, "NORTH GREETS NEW YEAR WITH EULOGY OF ITS LEADER," Seoul, 01/01/01)
The Korea Herald reported that ROK officials and analysts said Tuesday that the DPRK has said in a New Year's message that it would place its top policy priority on rebuilding its economy. In the message, which came in the form of joint editorials by three official newspapers on Monday, the DPRK said, "Nothing is more important for us today than to consolidate the national economic power." The three media outlets representing the ruling party, military and youth groups then cited developing up-to-date technologies and building of infrastructure as key agenda for its economic reconstruction. "Given the moves, North Korea will likely become more active in pushing for joint projects with the South," said a senior ROK Unification Ministry official. (Kim Ji-ho, "PYONGYANG'S NEW YEAR MESSAGE PUTS FIRST PRIORITY ON ECONOMY," Seoul, 01/03/01)