Kim Jong-un Era Research Articles

A Study on the Party-military Relations and the KWP Control over the KPA during the Kim Jong-un Era: Focusing on the Dual Clientelism Relationship

A Study on the Party-military Relations and the KWP Control over the KPA during the Kim Jong-un Era: Focusing on the Dual Clientelism Relationship

김정은 시대 공연예술 창작 현황과 남북한 문화예술교류 방안

김정은 시대 공연예술 창작 현황과 남북한 문화예술교류 방안

김정은 시대 북한 대중정책 연구(2012-2022): ‘위협인식’과 ‘동맹 딜레마’를 중심으로

본 연구는 김정은 정권 시기 북한의 대중정책에 대한 연구이다. 연구 결과 김정은 정권 시기 북한의 대중정책은 위협인식과 동맹 딜레마의 변화와 연동되며 크게 세 시기로 구분되어 나타났다. 첫 번째 시기는 2012년~2017년이다. 해당 시기 북한은 미국과의 갈등으로 인해 위협인식은 높은 반면 중국의 대미 동조로 방기의 우려 역시 높은 상황이었다. 이에 북한은 대중 갈등을 감수하고 자율성을 추구하는 ‘자주성 견지’ 정책을 선택하였다. 두 번째 시기는 2018년부터 2019년 8월 이전 시기로 대미 관계 개선으로 위협인식은 낮아졌으나 미중 갈등의 고조로 인해 장기적으로 중국과의 이해가 불일치할 연루의 우려가 높아졌다. 이에 북한은 이해관계에 따른 선택적, 부분적 협력을 의미하는 대중국 ‘전략적 협력’ 정책을 추진했다. 마지막 시기는 2019년 8월 한미 연합훈련 이후 북미관계가 사실상의 장기 교착에 들어선 시기로 위협인식은 다시 높아진 반면 중국과의 동맹 딜레마는 완화되었다. 이에 북한은 사회주의 국가로서의 공통의 정체성과 가치를 강조하며 중국에 대한 포괄적이고 전면적인 지지를 공식화한 ‘상호 연대’ 정책을 취해왔다.

Assessing regional economy in North Korea using nighttime light

North Korea is one of the most restrictive countries in terms of data accessibility, especially at the regional level. This research assesses the regional economy in North Korea using the nighttime light data. It estimates GRDP per capita at the county level in 2012–2020, the Kim Jong-Un era, and assesses the inequality of North Korean regions. The results reveal that cities such as Sinuiju have a comparable level of GRDP per capita with Pyongyang and that the spatial distribution of low-income counties changes from regions near South Korean borders to regions near Chinese borders as sanctions are implemented. Also, it appears that substantial county-level inequality exists. It calls for a need for the county-level economic research of North Korea despite the lack of regional data.

북한 김정은 시대 인간상과 부패 억제에 관한 연구

This study examines how North Korea in the Kim Jong-un era responds to the corruption problem prevalent in society. In particular, we would like to analyze the approach to the corruption problem by paying attention to the newly presented human type in the Kim Jong-un era. What is unique about the presentation of the human form during the Kim Jong-un era is that there is a fundamental difference in the human form presented to the people's public and party executives. While the people are trying to curb the corruption issue by emphasizing morality like the Chinese Leifeng type, party officials are emphasizing the role of dedication and the provision of incentives by presenting the Soviet Stahanov type. It can be interpreted that the dual form of human form presentation in the Kim Jong-un era have been unfold. One is aimed at suppressing corruption by providing incentives to the North Korean power elite to gain interest by providing loyalty to Kim Jong-un and compensation through achievements. On the other hand, for the people's public, they try to suppress corruption that is prevalent in everyday life by cultivating the moral character of everyday life. Based on this awareness of the problem, this study aims to analyze the current status and degree of corruption in North Korea's bribery economy and to compare and analyze the characteristics of communist human figures to determine whether the presentation of human figures in the Kim Jong-un era is effectively working to curb corruption in North Korea.

김정은 시기 북한의 경제발전 전략과 B2B 플랫폼을 매개로 한 남북경협 구상

This study asserts that North Korea's economic development strategy in the Kim Jong-un era has the following three core elements. First, economic development led by science and technology. Second, economic development by attracting foreign capital. Third, economic development based on the active use of the market. In the case of the first two strategies, namely, the strategy through science and technology initiative and the attraction of foreign capital, although there may be a difference in degree, the Kim Jong-il era also witnessed Pyongyang's emphasis on them for economic development. However, the 'persistent' pursuit of the market as a facilitator to economic development is a unique feature only in the Kim Jong-un era. South Korea needs a new method to promote inter-Korean economic cooperation that matches the three core elements and, for this aim, this paper proposes a new method of a B2B platform connecting both Koreas to each other to facilitate inter-Korean economic cooperation.

The popularity of the light comedy during the late era of Kim Jong-il

AbstractThis paper examines the political and cultural context of the popular 2010 revival of the light comedy theatre productionSanullimin North Korea. The play, originally written and performed in 1961, portrays the spirit of revolutionary optimism as the characters resolve an unhostile conflict and unite to expand socialist production to contribute to overcoming the (real-life) political and economic crisis of the Chollima era. The 2010 revival of this propaganda responded to similar political and economic crisis, and was designed to instil confidence that the present crisis would be overcome as successfully as in the first Chollima era, provided that people could conjure the same revolutionary optimism. This paper examines why this particular play was revived over others from the Kim Il-sung era, and its particular potential to serve as effective propaganda during the transition from military-first to party-first policy in the Kim Jong-un era, in reference to parallels between 1961 and 2010. The play immerses the audience in the dramatic situations through verisimilitude to the lives of the audience, though the emotional excess of the characters is often exaggerated. Such laughter ignited by dramatic irony contributed to creating a heightened ideological thought of the audience who would spontaneously (re-)internalise the communist human character. The revival of the play was the most appropriate choice according to the object of justification of the succession of power from Kim Jung-il to Kim Jung-un.

Why the media gets it wrong when it comes to North Korea: Cases of ‘dead’ North Koreans in the Kim Jong-un era

Journalists are more capable than ever of covering places they cannot visit in person. The same news environment that makes such reporting possible, however, can also facilitate a global cascade of journalistic errors. This article zooms in on the opportunities provided by a unique cluster of journalistic errors to understand factors influencing journalistic errors in international stories. It focuses on erroneous death reports of seven prominent North Koreans between 2012 and 2019. Existing research shows that domestic interests and ideology greatly influence international reporting, with journalists routinely relying heavily on elite sources. However, this article finds limited impact of national interests and political leanings, with the journalistic errors occurring across the ideological spectrum. News outlets developed a habit of quoting other – particularly international – sources without additional verification, citing lack of direct access to North Korea as a major reason. The clicks and revenue generated by salacious North Korea-related stories make them especially susceptible to distortion. Even after such stories were proven erroneous, corrections were rarely issued, with journalists conceding they do not think of North Korea as a subject worthy of clarification. This article thus concludes that in addition to national interest and the Cold War-era commercialization of fear, a culture of negative exceptionalism contributed to erroneous coverage, an idea that existing journalistic standards on ethics and fact-checking do not apply in dictatorial regimes like North Korea.

Evaluating the Second Half of the Kim Jong-Un Era: Evidence from Nighttime Light

Evaluating the Second Half of the Kim Jong-Un Era: Evidence from Nighttime Light

Research topics in intellectual disabilities in North Korea: A scoping review.

Research outcomes on intellectual development and related disabilities in North Korea are not widely known. Therefore, the current scoping review aimed to provide preliminary insight on research topics concerning intellectual disabilities in North Korea. A six-stage framework for scoping review was adopted to examine research trends. Articles were categorised based on the era of supreme leader and research topic. There is a greater amount of research regarding intellectual disabilities in the recent Kim Jong-un era compared to the period of the previous leader where research outcomes on general intelligence were the focus. Significant qualitative progress was similarly found. The current analysis on research outcomes provides meaningful insights to aid in understanding the atmosphere in North Korea surrounding intellectual disabilities. Follow-up studies and open discussions are necessary for further progress.

김정은 시대 문학에 나타난 여성 형상화 연구 ― 『조선문학』(2016~2019) 수록 단편소설을 중심으로

북한의 여성들은 시대마다 사회적 필요에 따라 다양하게 호명되어왔다. 김정은 체제는 특히 초기부터 여성 관련 정책들을 변경하는 등 여성에 주목해오고 있다. 즉, ‘여성’은 김정은 시대의 북한을 읽어내는 데 중요한 키워드라고 할 수 있다. 2016년에는 제7차 당 대회가 36년 만에 열리기도 했지만, 1983년 제5차 여맹대회 이후 33년 만에 제6차 여맹대회가 열렸고, 이때 ‘조선민주여성동맹’이 ‘조선사회주의여성동맹’으로 그 지위가 승격되었다. 즉 2016년은 김정은 시대와 북한 여성들을 고찰하는 데에 중요한 분기점이 된다. 2016~2019년 󰡔조선문학󰡕에 수록된 단편소설들에 나타난 김정은 시대 여성들은 김정일 시대와 유사하면서도 변별되는 양상을 보인다. 먼저, 여성들이 일터로 소환된다는 측면에서는 김정일 시대와 다르지 않지만, 구체적으로는 가두여성(전업주부)이 직업을 갖게 되는 것이 아니라 근로여성이 남성들의 일터로 옮겨가는 특징을 보인다. 두 번째로는 여성들이 가사노동과 육아로부터 자유로워지는 양상을 보인다. 아내의 사회적 노동을 위해 남편이 집안일과 육아를 돕기도 하지만, 완전한 외조를 하기도 한다. 세 번째로 김정은 시대 여성들은 이전 시대에 비해 전반적으로 학력이 높아졌고, 중앙대학 출신의 전문연구직 여성들도 증가한다. 이들은 사랑보다 일을 선택하고, 인재를 필요로 하는 소외된 지역으로 자원하여 떠나지만, 그녀들이 포기한 사랑 즉 남성들이 그녀들을 선택함으로써 결국 일과 사랑 모두를 쟁취한다. 이는 곧 여성들의 자발적이고 주체적인 선택이 남성들을 이끄는 양상으로 볼 수 있다. 남성을 리드하는 여성은 구체적인 캐릭터로 그려지기도 한다. 문학작품에 나타난 여성 형상이 곧 현재 북한 여성의 삶이라고 볼 수는 없을 것이다. 그러나 현실을 반영하는 문학의 특성으로 볼 때, 달라지고 있는 여성 형상은 분명 북한 사회의 여성 인식의 변화를 반영하고 있다고 볼 수 있다.

In-depth Analysis of Marketization trend of Dental Health Care System in North Korea

Currently the unofficial health care system is growing in North Korea as the socialist public free medical treatment system is not working properly due to the prolonged economic recession.In the Kim Jong-Un era, the North Korean government has been making investments in the medical sector recommending policies for the devel-opment of the health care system. Suggestions such as the establishment of a health care system and large scale hospitals have been discussed, but the public and private systems are unbalanced in all the medical segments where the private sector seems to be growing at a faster pace. Such examples would be the pharmaceutical supply and medical delivery systems.A survey of in-depth interviews with 53 North Korean defectors who resided at Hanawon, South Korea in 2020 revealed that dentistry, particularly the prosthetic sector, is recognized mostly as private paying care and is rapidly growing. Overall oral healthcare, including dental care, is provided in private facilities of dental care providers outside the current public healthcare system. The growth and demand for dental care is supported in that it is observed very few patients who had missing teeth had received prosthetic treatment before 2010, while nearly half of those with lost teeth received prosthetic treatments at a personal private cost after 2018.Through this research, it is evaluated there is a strong growing demand for dental care in North Korea, and unofficial private dental care is filling the need as the current government system is inadequate.

Be the First Investor to Eat Crabs in North Korea: Tips for Bilateral Investment Treaties

Abstract As the last economic frontier in Northeast Asia, North Korea is a promising land but at the same time a risky land for foreign investment. The ‘dual-track’ policy of advancing both the political stability and economic development promoted by the present leader of North Korea, Kim Jong-un, has prompted the outside world to speculate that he is determined to gradually open the doors to the economy of North Korea to attract foreign investment as initial capital to mobilise domestic economic growth. By conducting a systemic and comparative analysis of the existing bilateral investment treaties (BIT s) signed by North Korea in the Kim Jong-il era, this article has put forward eight tips that can better prepare those daredevils who are interested in seizing the future opportunity to invest in North Korea in the present Kim Jong-un era. It is predicted that denuclearisation will bring a new era for North Korean BIT s.

북한 김정은 시대 문화정책 연구

북한 김정은 시대 문화정책 연구

김정은 시대 북한의 금융제도 변화 - 북한 문헌 분석을 중심으로 - (Changes in North Korea’s Financial System During the Kim Jong-un Era - Based on North Korean Literature)

Korean Abstract: 본고는 김정은 집권 이후 추진된 금융부문에서의 개혁조치에 주목하여 그 변화의 내용을 북한 문헌을 중심으로 분석하고 개혁수준을 평가하였다. 분석 결과, 김정은 집권 이후 북한은 중앙은행과 상업은행이 조직적·기능적으로 분리된 것으로 나타났다. 또한 기업은 은행계좌에서의 현금 인출 및 기업간 현금결제가 허용되는 등 종전의 무현금 화폐가 수동적 화폐(passive money)에서 구매력이 있는 능동적 화폐(active money)로 일부 기능 할 수 있게 되었다. 중앙은행과 상업은행이 조직적·기능적으로 분리됨에 따라 중앙은행의 발권이 상업은행을 통한 화폐공급 방식으로 변화되었으며, 화폐유통구조의 변화도 함께 이루어져 상업은행의 신용창조 기능이 구현될 수 있게 되었다. 종합해보면, 사회주의계획경제의 은행 및 화폐·지급결제제도가 시장경제의 방식으로 변화되고 있음을 의미한다. 금융부문에서의 개혁은 제반 경제제도 변화를 뒷받침하고 공금융의 기능 회복을 위해 필요했던 것으로서 개혁수준의 측면에서는 진일보한 것이나, 아직 그 수준은 사회주의 체제 내에서의 변화인 과거 구소련의 페레스트로이카 시기 또는 중국의 개혁개방 초기와 유사한 것으로 평가되었다. 또한, 계획경제 유지 등의 제도적 제약요인과 공금융에 대한 신뢰 결여 등은 변화된 금융제도의 실효성 및 발전성을 제한할 것으로 평가되었다. 본고의 분석결과는 북한에서 발간된 문헌에 기초하고 있다는 점에 유의할 필요가 있다. 즉, 최근의 변화가 김정은 집권 이후의 청사진으로 일부 지역에서 시범적으로 추진된 것인지, 전면적으로 추진되고 있는지에 대한 실상은 설명하지 못한다는 한계가 있다. English Abstract: This paper analyzes the changes in financial reform during the Kim Jong-un era based on North Korean literature. We find that North Korea has systematically and functionally separated the central bank from commercial banks since the Kim Jong-un era began. In addition, enterprises have been allowed to withdraw cash from bank accounts and make inter-enterprise cash payments. In other words, nowadays non-cash currencies with passive money can partially serve as active money with purchasing power. With the systematic and functional separation of the central bank and the commercial bank, the issuance of the central bank changed to a money supply method through the commercial bank, and changes in the currency distribution structure have allowed commercial bank’s credit creation function to be implemented. This means that the banking system and the monetary·payment system of the socialist planned economy are changing in the way of the market economy. Reforms in the financial sector are believed to have been necessary to support changes in the economic system and to restore the function of the public financial sector. These changes have progressed in terms of the level of reform, but they are still considered similar to the period of the former Soviet Union's Perestroika or to the early period of China's reform and opening. In addition, it is assessed that institutional constraints such as maintaining a planned economy, and the lack of confidence in public finances limit the effectiveness and development of the financial system. It should be noted that these results are based on literature published in North Korea. In other words, there is a limit in the fact that such recent changes have been carried out on a trial basis in some areas, or have been carried out in a full-scale manner with a blueprint, since Kim Jong-un's inauguration.

Searching for the Inter-Korean Forest Cooperation Considering Forest Restoration Strategy and limits of Kim Jong-un Era : Focusing on Literature Review and Experts Interview

This paper aims to propose ways for forest cooperation between South Korea and North Korea that can enhance congruence between South Korea’s intention to build a peaceful unification base and North Korea’s practical needs. To this end, this paper first examines North Korea’s forest restoration strategy in the Kim Jong-un era and summarizes its key features as increasing forest resources under the self-power first principle, enhancing forest management technology, and strengthening propaganda and control over people under ‘Kim Jong-il patriotism’. During this process, the North Korean authority strongly depend on the public mobilization method. Yet, in a situation where central distribution power has weakened and marketization has spread, people’s active cooperation is hardly found. Moreover, difficulty in procuring external goods due to tightened sanctions by the international community and COVID-19 have negative effects on the strategies. Per this analysis, this paper argues that various ways such as developing projects of mutual investment, a packaging business of resource exchange and technological support, projects for human development and knowledge sharing, and providing economic incentives to North Koreans should be considered as ways for forest cooperation. In-depth interviews with South Korean experts and North Korean refugee experts were actively utilized in conducting this research.

A Study on the Re-Enactment Pattern of Pyongyang Space in North Korean Novels in the Kim Jong-un Era - Conflict between socialist equality and private desires -

A Study on the Re-Enactment Pattern of Pyongyang Space in North Korean Novels in the Kim Jong-un Era - Conflict between socialist equality and private desires -

Surgical Diseases in North Korea: An Overview of North Korean Medical Journals.

Information regarding surgical diseases in North Korea is not fully reported despite their clear clinical significance. The current study aimed to indirectly assess the contemporary research trends and medical infrastructure related to surgical diseases in North Korea. We analyzed and categorized articles from the journal Surgery that were published during the Kim Jong-un era (2012–2018). The framework for categorization was primarily based on disease entities, surgical specialty, and research methodology. A total of 1792 articles in 28 issues were included in the current study. The frequency of detailed surgical cases and their associated characteristics based on their specialty were investigated. The types of medical imaging techniques and anesthetics that were commonly utilized in clinical fields in North Korea were also evaluated. A large proportion of essential surgeries were covered, with the exception of those for congenital diseases; however, a lack of surgical techniques and infrastructure was revealed. Going forward, further evaluation of the surgical system and a greater focus on non-communicable diseases in North Korea are needed.

Inter-Korean Health Care and Medicine Cooperation for Joint Response to Infectious Diseases

The purpose of this study is to examine the current status and problems of the North Korea s infectious disease response system during the Kim Jong-un era and to seek inter-Korean cooperation tasks in the health care and medicine field for joint response to infectious diseases. As can be seen from COVID-19, there are no borders on infectious diseases. Although the military demarcation line is blocked between the two Koreas, the dangers of moving large-scale areas of infectious diseases are increasing day by day. Accordingly, the necessity of inter-Korean cooperation in the field of health care and medicine for joint response to infectious diseases is raised. The existence of simultaneous threats between North and South Korea due to the COVID-19 incident can be a chance to change the paradigm of inter-Korean exchange and cooperation. This study proposes the following as a task of inter-Korean health care and medicine cooperation for joint response to infectious diseases. First, systematizing inter-Korean cooperation in health care and medicine and preparing detailed standards, second, signing inter-Korean health and medical agreements, third, establishing a response scenario for each infectious disease, fourth, establishing a dedicated organization for infectious diseases and fostering professional manpower, and fifth, considering the sanctions against North Korea And establishing a cooperation and support system.

Study on the North Korean Geography Textbooks of the Kim Jong-Un Era

North Korea’s education has been changed a lot when Kim Jong-Un taking power. This study is about textbooks among the changes in education in North Korea, and has been conducted mainly on geography textbooks used in high school. In Kim Jong-Un s period, the high school established Revolutionary History of Dear Sir Kim Jong-Un, an hour each week for three years. The period about Kim Jong-Un first appeared in Geography3, but the name of Kim Jong un was mentioned continuously in the textbook. The number of subjects and class hours in the field of political ideology learning these leadership activities has increased. In high school, geography textbooks consist of geography1, geography2, and geography3, and are assigned 1 hour per week for 3 years. Compared to Kim Jong-Il period, geography textbooks were printed in colour externally and the learning materials’ quantitative increase and qualitative improvement in content. In addition, there have been changes such as browsing and writing references, which reflects the leader s willingness to invest in education. The learning activities that were variously expressed in the existing geography textbooks were grouped using six picture symbols(icons), and attempts were made to improve the learning effect through linked learning with other subjects. In the future, research is needed to compare and understand each other, focusing on subjects commonly learned in the curriculum of South and North Korea. Through this study, if we grasp each other s teaching and learning categories and study the education system, the understanding between South and North Korea will be widened.