The U.S.-North Korea summit and the path to be taken by Kim Jong Un

Kim Jong Un takes a tour of downtown Singapore in the afternoon of June 11th. Image : Rodong Sinmun

North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency reported in an article entitled ‘US-NK joint declaration adopted at US-NK summit’ that Chairman Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump met in Singapore on June 12 for the first time in a historic US-NK summit, and adopted a joint declaration.

Questions remain as to the relevance of the specifics in the joint agreement signed by the U.S. and North Korean leaders. It is noteworthy that the leader of the free world met with the leader of the most oppressive nation on Earth, and bonded with each other.

It is more noteworthy that North Korea stepped out of the shadow of a pending nuclear war toward peace. The fact alone that Kim Jong Un stepped foot in Singapore is remarkable.

The Supreme Leader in Singapore

The way Kim Jong Un behaved during his visit to Singapore was enough to put a question mark on his image as a “dictator,” “murderer,” and “cold-blooded animal.” His statements including “wanting to learn from Singapore’s knowledge and experience,” and photos of him taking selfies and waving at the crowds made him appear humble, honest, and “human.”

On this trip to Singapore, Kim did enough to give the world the impression that although he inherited power from his father and grandfather, he was dreaming of a new “North Korea.” He spoke with Trump about how difficult it was to overcome past wrongdoings and break away from conventional politics in order to reach this point.

The young leader of the so-called “hermit kingdom” portrayed himself as being under quite a bit of mental stress due to the continuation of past evils. As the leader of a nation boasting of “achieving power through its own strength,” he nonetheless used a plane not his own, and let the world know that he was willing to show himself in public and accept new cultures.

On June 10, Kim Jong Un arrived in Singapore for a three-day visit to engage in dialogue with President Donald Trump of the United States, the world’s only superpower. It was a bold decision for Kim to make, and he followed through.

Kim wore a big smile as he took a selfie with Singapore’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan and Ong Ye Kung, a prominent member of the ruling party who serves as Minister of Education, in Marina Bay, southeast of Singapore.

On December 12, ahead of the one-on-one meeting with President Donald Trump, Kim Jong Un said, “We have a past that is holding us back, and at times misguided prejudices and practices covered our eyes and ears, but we overcame everything and made it here.”

Although this is likely a statement made bearing in mind the history of conflict and animosity between the U.S. and North Korea, where North Korea saw the U.S. as a “hundred-year foe” and “sworn enemy,” it is also a suggestion of willingness to part with the past. It seemed like an attempt to start anew, leaving behind the ways of the inherited regime which had fallen into poverty and isolation due to his grandfather’s “socialist benevolence politics” and “self-rehabilitation” policy, as well as his father’s Juche ideology and “Songun (military-first)” policy.

During his late-night stroll in Singapore, Kim revealed his desire to break away from North Korea’s past. According to the Korean Central News Agency, Kim walked onto the Marina Bay Sands Hotel’s observation deck, a famous Singaporean landmark, and said, “Singapore is as clean and beautiful as I have heard, and every building is stylish. I hope to learn much from your country’s knowledge and experience in various fields in the future.”

A North Korea without Kim?

While the young leader was abroad, North Koreans at home were put in a state of battle-readiness. According a source in North Korea, the Workers’ Party sent out instructions nationwide to “stay vigilant during the Great Eternal Leader’s overseas visit by giving your best loyalty,” and all military units were on emergency alert, while high-ranking inspectors were dispatched to guard posts near the borders, coasts, and Military Demarcation Line (MDL).

A teaching outline including Edition 33 (“Leading the war for the liberation of the fatherland to victory, liberation of a large area of the South”) and 34 (“Leading a revolutionary force for a counterattack, establishment of revolutionary regulations within the Party”) of Kim Il Sung’s heroic records, which praises Kim Il Sung’s achievements during the Korean War, were distributed across North Korea, and intensive lectures on the superiority of socialism were delivered nationwide.

While Kim Jung Un was busy being escorted by an entourage, visiting attractions, and having food delivered to his luxurious hotel, ordinary North Koreans had to go on with their daily lives under greater stress than usual.

This exemplifies North Korea’s duplicity in a nutshell. What kind of regime does Kim Jong Un want to be guaranteed? Singapore, which has maintained its dictatorship and authoritarian rule politically but has a per capita GDP (Gross Domestic Product) that ranks 10th in the world (USD 61,766), may be seen by North Korea as a role model.

On December 12, Kim Jong Un’s desire to become a member of the international community became more apparent, as he met with Trump at the summit. Kim signed a joint statement with Trump, saying, “Today we will sign a historic agreement which declares a departure from the past and the beginning of a new era. The world will undoubtedly see great change.”

In his opening remarks at the summit’s expanded bilateral meeting, Kim also said, “I would like to take advantage of our new start. I am also determined to initiate large-scale projects together.” Kim hinted that he intends to create a new North Korea, which is different from the country he inherited from his predecessors.

There is much focus on what Kim will do when he returns to North Korea.

The 68th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War is in a few days. North Korea has designated the period of June 25 to July 27 each year as the “Struggle Against U.S. Imperialism Month” and has been delivering material through various events that espouse the brutality of the barbaric Americans. I hope that North Korea, after it has promised a new start, will no longer drag innocent people out to the plazas in the midsummer heat for such propaganda.

I truly wish that the North Korean leader will establish a genuinely democratic rule which will support the 25 million North Koreans in living free and happy lives.