The flipside of North Korea’s aggressive statement about taking a confrontational position and using strong military measures against South Korea that was released on the 17th is to attempt to promote solidarity within the “military-first politics” system, and internationally to gain the upper hand in relations with South Korea and the U.S.
In the statement of the 17th, a spokesperson for the General Staff of the Korean People’s Army read on Chosun (North Korea) Central TV that, “As long as [South Korea’s] invasions of our side’s territorial waters continue, our military armaments to crush them will be ranged in a confrontational posture for all-out war.”
The spokesperson continued threateningly, “The greater the hostility against the Republic (North Korea) and the stronger the preparations for military action the enemies take, the more aggressive and ruthless punishment our military will give.”
Only three times have the General Staff of the People’s Army made clear their position on domestic or international affairs since the 1990s, so this was an exceptional case. Moreover, the spokesperson wore military uniform to read the statement, an implied strengthening of the threat.
▶ Internal solidarity under the “Military-first Politics”
North Korea has been being overwhelmed recently by several unstable factors; rumors of Kim Jong Il’s ill-health, the succession issue, economic unrest and other, corollary effects.
Professor Kim Young Su of Sogang University analyzed, “North Korea has recently been emphasizing principles and practices in internationally and domestically tough surroundings. At the same time, the North Korean authorities have been exaggerating their acts, in a loyalty competition.”
Professor Kim said that, “It is all to create the solidarity of the people as well as to display aggressive messages to South Korea. It is a conventional feature of the Military-first Politics.”
He added, “All such measures are implemented on Kim Jong Il’s decision.”
A researcher for the Korea Institute for National Unification, Choi Jin Wook, analyzed it thus; “It seems to be from the same pretext of Kim Jong Il’s consecutive onsite inspections of military units: to raise military tension and promote internal solidarity.”
Yoo Ho Yul, a professor of North Korean Studies at Korea University, foresaw, “The spokesperson in a military uniform announced the statement to arouse more serious tension domestically. The best medicine for North Korean authorities when they feel unstable is a strong aggressive policy towards the South.”
▶ Message is for the U.S.
The statement was unfurled a few days ahead of the inauguration of new U.S. President Obama, so it is also interpreted as pressure being placed on the incoming administration.
“When we see the timing of the statement, it can be seen as a message to the U.S. The North Korean regime may be getting somewhat short-tempered, for they could be feeling deprived of their leadership in negotiations because of the new administration in Washington,” Professor Yoo hypothesized.
He added, “The North Korean military tried to show off that they have conventional military forces that can raise tension on the West Sea, even without nuclear weapons.”
Researcher Choi said, “It implied that if normalization between the U.S. and North Korea is delayed, tension between the North and the South could rise.”
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the North Korean Foreign Ministry emphasized in a recent statement that as long as the U.S. nuclear threat over Chosun remains, North Korea will not give up the status of nuclear state regardless of normalization with the U.S.
Regarding this, Choi relayed his view that, “North Korea has still the expectation of normalization with the U.S., but at the same time it has revealed its intention that the regime will not abandon its nuclear program. Therefore, this message hints to the U.S. “Do not annoy us over the nuclear issue.”
