'Trade Blocked and Farming Ruined' Lonely North Korea, Only Reliant on Resident Labor Force

40 Days Left, All-Out Effort for 'Year-End Results'
"Must Be Filled with Consistent Performance"

Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea / Korean Central News Agency

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hee-jun] North Korea has begun encouraging its people to achieve tangible economic results ahead of the year-end. This appears to be driven by pressure to produce achievements worthy of being credited to Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party, as the midterm of the national economic development plan approaches. However, there is much skepticism due to the prolonged sanctions against North Korea combined with the impact of COVID-19.

The Workers' Party organ, Rodong Sinmun, stated on the 14th in a front-page article titled "Reaffirm the Demands of Unconditionality, Thoroughness, and Accuracy and Strive Harder," that "the crucial march of this year in carrying out the five-year national economic development plan has entered its final stage," and "the next 40 days will determine whether we can make a clear advance in implementing the Party's decisions."

It continued, "Each day, every minute and second today must be filled with unwavering results, and not a single worthless element should be included in those results," emphasizing, "In the remaining 40 days, by fully demonstrating the spirit of unconditionality, thoroughness, and accuracy in carrying out the Party's decisions, we must perfectly fulfill this year's people's economic plan and resolutely defend the Party Central Committee."

It also urged, "Economic sector officials and the working class, let us place our hands on our hearts and reflect: Have I regarded the people's economic plan as my lifeblood?"

This propaganda is effectively interpreted as the start of a "40-day battle." North Korea has historically mobilized residents' labor by setting deadlines called "○○-day battles" during key phases. Last January, ahead of the 8th Congress of the Workers' Party, which marked a turning point in state governance, an "80-day battle" was held, and before the 7th Party Congress in 2016, a "70-day battle" was conducted.

This year, although the term "battle" was not directly used, it is analyzed that the pressure to produce results at the end of the second year, the midterm of the five-year national economic development plan, is at work. There is also a will to present results that can be credited as achievements of General Secretary Kim Jong-un despite the prolonged sanctions, the COVID-19 crisis, and recurring natural disasters.

However, there is much skepticism about how much the stagnant economic atmosphere can be revived in just over a month.

China, North Korea's largest trading partner, and Dandong City in Liaoning Province, considered a hub for trade, have repeatedly imposed and lifted full lockdowns due to the impact of COVID-19. Although some rail freight transport with Russia has resumed, the country remains under international scrutiny over suspicions of arms exports and imports. Agriculture is also expected to fall short of expectations this year due to spring droughts and summer floods.

Rodong Sinmun also mentioned in a separate article on the same day, "If our strength and our way are firmly believed in, we can strategically achieve the set struggle goals according to our will and timetable." This can be seen as a tacit acknowledgment that, without external assistance, there is no effective method other than the people's spirit and labor power.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.