▲ Researcher of NKnet, Kim Young Hwan

A researcher with Network for North Korean Democracy and Human Rights (NKnet), Kim Young Hwan has added his voice to the chorus of opinion that says the winds of democratization from the Middle East will not have much impact on North Korea.

In a seminar held by NKnet today, “Arab People’s Revolution and Outlook for North Korean Democratization,” Kim pointed out, “The Kim Jong Il regime’s ability to control the people is far superior to that of Arab countries.”

North Korea is completely closed in every field, Kim explained, while Arab countries are comparatively open; furthermore, Arab countries have been interacting with Europe since the Middle Ages; North Korea has not even had any religious influences.

Kim added, “Juche ideology, North Korea’s ruling ideology, and the nationalism of Kim Il Sung have not been updated for the last 20 years, and the situation in the country has also been stagnant for over 30 years.”

“It proves that North Korea is seriously out of order from deep inside of the system and can’t last much longer.”

However, he said, “Unlike in the past, now North Korea keeps communicating with China for many political and economic reasons,” and went on, “Since North Korea is now a system which cannot help being influenced by Chinese political changes; it is not that the country is blocked from outside influence.”