Kim Jong Eun delivered his third televised New Year’s
Address on January 1st, 2015 at 9:36a.m., rife with remarks on the expansion of
monolithic rule and forging ahead with policies pursuant to the Party. Such
emphasis portends the leader will use the 70th founding anniversary of the
Chosun Workers’ Party this year to drum up loyalty for the Party and strengthen
his autocratic grip on power.
During the address, the leader called to “aggressively
expand ideological project and teachings” broadly implying that this year will
see ratcheted up measures aimed at stirring up idolization of Kim Jong Eun.
Allusions to the strengthening national defense power also
enumerated among the prescriptions of the address and the “Byungjin
Line” [co-developing the economy and nuclear weapons] was referred to
twice–once more than during last year’s message, likely indicative of the
young leader’s plans to fortify the country’s “nuclear deterrent.”
In the economic arena, much emphasis was placed on science
and technology as vital to building a “socialist economic power and a
highly civilized nation.” Paving the way for other widespread
construction projects, Kim Jong Eun can position himself as the driving force
behind this scientific advancement, accentuate his image as a leader “close to
the people,” and compile more achievements to be linked to his legacy.
Contrary to last year, when Kim prioritized agriculture to
spur the economy in his speech, the sector did not stand alone in this year’s
address, but rather was included with animal husbandry and fisheries to form
the chief components of a framework set to “improve the lives of the
people.”
The leader also called for the nation to increase its
capabilities in the light industry, electric power, metals, chemistry, and
construction. Of particular cause for concern in this portion of the address
was Kim’s firm resolve to forge ahead with “Chosun speed” as the answer to
shore up these sectors. Without contrition, or even brief reflection, on the
May 2014 Pyongyang apartment collapse–a direct result of these so-called
“speed battles”– in his address, many fear the building’s reconstruction may
see a tragic reoccurrence.
Garnering the most attention, however, were the leader’s
remarks on inter-Korean relations.
Giving many cause for cautious optimism, he declared,
“We have no reason not to hold talks at the highest level,” but
predictably made attendant comments that the confrontational system in place,
along with the divisive military drills be halted, implying that the nation is still
cleaving to its usual paradigm with little to no deviation in the works.
Yoo Ho Yeol, a professor of North Korean Studies at Korea
University, confirmed these assumptions when he spoke with Daily NK about
the address. “It’s keeping in line with the usual rhetoric of Kim Jong Eun
stressing his leadership’s achievements,” he said. “The most notable part of
the address was the remark that talks are possible if they do not pose a threat
to North Korea’s regime.”
“Setting aside traditional ideological narratives, North
Korea is displaying pragmatism, saying, ‘Let’s get what we can.’” he
elaborated. ”Recognizing the reality that exchange with the South is the
conduit best conduit through which to achieve economic development and escape
diplomatic isolation may be some type of ‘Kim Jong Eun style
pragmatism.'”
Another expert on North Korea also weighed in on the matter,
stating, “Amid all the pressure and criticism, coming from both South
Korea and the international community, on its human rights issues, North Korea
is trying to take a stance aimed at conveying the notion, ‘Don’t only touch on our
weakness anymore.'”
He concluded, “Raising the possibility of inter-Korean
talks while also calling for the suspension of the joint U.S.-South Korea
military exercises is the North’s way of manipulating the talks to work in its
favor, which means that, overall, nothing has changed in its strategic approach on South Korea.”
