North Korea's 'Nuclear Power Pride' Masks Unanswered Economic Hardships

Rodong Sinmun "Kim Jong Un, Endless Fear to Enemies"
Politics, Economy, Culture 'Our Style'... Policy of Self-Reliance

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hee-jun] North Korea claimed that its military strengthening measures, including nuclear and missile development, have dealt a blow to 'hostile forces,' expressing its intention to continue a hardline stance toward South Korea. In particular, it insisted that the 'legalization of nuclear forces,' declared last year, is a unique achievement in the world, which is interpreted as a repeated emphasis on North Korea's goal of being recognized as a nuclear-armed state.

The Workers' Party organ Rodong Sinmun stated on the 11th in an article titled "Our Republic, Proud and Independent," "Hostile forces have suffered severe damage due to the rapid advancement of our military power and the issuance of the world's only nuclear law," adding, "They are trembling at our ultra-hardline response will and are committing extremely ugly acts unprecedented in human history."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

It continued, "Step by step, our people are given the power and optimism of certain victory, and hostile forces are given endless fear by the resolute independent politics of the respected General Secretary," praising Chairman Kim Jong-un's policy to strengthen nuclear forces, saying, "If one's power is weak, one cannot speak freely on the international stage nor uphold international justice and conscience."

The newspaper also emphasized again, "A country with an influential voice in human political life is a truly strong nation," and "Today's reality shows that even with a small population and small territory, one can demonstrate the grandeur of a strong nation." This is interpreted as a claim that North Korea's nuclear and missile development is advancing toward recognition as a nuclear-armed state and its status as a strategic country.

Economic Hardship with No Answer Despite 'Nuclear Pride'?

In addition, the newspaper reaffirmed the 'self-reliance principle' in the economy and other sectors. After holding the Party Central Committee plenary meeting at the end of last month, North Korea is holding large-scale rallies across the country to urge the implementation of the plenary meeting's decisions. This appears to be an effort to strengthen unity amid worsening economic difficulties caused by prolonged sanctions and border closures due to the spread of COVID-19.

The newspaper urged, "Politics in our style, economy and culture in our style, national defense in our style," and said, "We should not envy the subcontracted economies of great powers or economies for capitalists but must devote sweat and tears and endure hardships to build a socialist economy."

It added, "As the General Secretary passionately and combatively appealed at the 6th Plenary Meeting of the 8th Central Committee of the Party, the working class, scientists, and technicians, the key sectors in the productive development of the people's economy, must once again uphold the fighting spirit and values of the 1960s and 1970s and take the lead in overcoming the revolutionary crisis with our own strength."

However, North Korea significantly reduced mentions of the economic sector and livelihood issues compared to previous years at this plenary meeting. Notably, unlike past descriptions of 'glorious victories,' this time it referred to 'costly victories,' reflecting the reality of North Korea suffering from the worst food shortages. The South Korean government also views it as unlikely that North Korea's livelihood situation will improve this year.

Especially, the emphasis on the spirit of the 1960s and 1970s in Rodong Sinmun is seen as an admission that there is no effective way out of the economic hardship other than mental strength.

Professor Yang Moon-su of the University of North Korean Studies analyzed, "While mass movements may have political and social effects, they have no economic effect, as proven by North Korea's own historical experience," adding, "Nevertheless, the fact that they are being recalled and emphasized again is clearly a regressive and backward attitude."

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