“North Korea provides material incentives [to workers] in some cases. However that does not mean the country wants to reform its system. If it ever does, it will use the opportunity of reform to defend and strengthen the regime with its own hands,” says a recent analysis.
“Real reform can mean a revolution for North Korea,” said Dr. Lee Su Seok of the Institute for National Security Strategy at the spring academic conference of the Korean Political Science Association held on April 9 at Kyunghee University under the theme, “North Korean regime and its reform and open-door policy under the leadership of Kim Jong Il.”
Lee said, “Since around 2000, Kim Jong Il has shown a flexible position on the areas which need change.” To understand Kim Jong Il’s attitude towards reform, Lee said, one has to pay attention to the level of the country’s commitment to self-efficiency and science. Also important is to see how Kim Jong Il deals with the Economic Adjustment of July 1, 2002 and places importance on foreign trade activities, interests, efficiency and profitability.
Lee said, “Just like his father, Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Il maintains the position that the country’s system has no defects and therefore there is no real need for reform and open-door policy.”
Lee continued “North Korea is pursuing reform at a limited level. The country continues to defend its ideology while opening its door to only those areas such as economy and technology.” Lee said that North Korea has consistently tried to prevent any subversive elements from ever entering the country.
Dr. Kwon Yung Kyung of the Korea Institute for National Unification who participated the conference as a discussant said, “Up until 1990s, North Korea did not accept the concept of international division of labor. However, after 2000, the country began to accept the concept to the extent that there is now a saying “Chosun [referring to the North Korea] In the World!” Dr. Kwon added that North Korea’s reform would take a form that strengthens its military first policy. For North Korea, reform means economic development in the era of “Military First.”
