hankyoreh

The "joint editorial" traditionally published by North Korea’s newspapers on New Year’s Day has talked a lot about the economy in recent years. This year, the specific goals it gives for "constructing an economically strong nation" are making sure the masses get enough to eat; a revolution in the country’s light industries; strengthening North Korea’s performance in the power, coal, metal, and rail transport industries; and expanding the country’s energy development. It shows you exactly what the North’s concerns are about its economy, since this means it is experiencing a shortage of food and needed materials and that its basic industries are weak. The joint editorial said the country needs to "manage its economy based on Korean strength, technology, and resources" in order to construct a "socialist paradise prospering thoroughly on its own strength." It’s the same old party line of "juche," or self-reliance.

The best way for North Korea to strengthen its economy would be to build an economic community on the Korean peninsula together with South Korea. The South is capable of giving the North substantive assistance in all areas mentioned in the joint editorial and without much difficulty. The Gaeseong (Kaesong) Industrial Park is a concrete example of the possibilities that exist. In his New Year’s address to his ministry, Unification Minister Lee Jae-jeong said the South has to be ready to "share responsibility for the North’s poverty as a country that exports US$300 billion a year, that ranks among the world’s top ten economies, and as a country composed of the same Korean people." If North Korea wants to be a nation of economic strength, there needs to be a deepening of inter-Korean relations.

The biggest obstacle is the nuclear issue. The joint editorial made no mention of the nuclear issue or the six-party talks, and repeated only the same old claim that it has come to possess a nuclear deterrent for defensive purposes. Some observers say the North is probably trying to be prudent in regards to the ongoing talks, or that it is also hinting at its intention to keep its nukes.

It should be clear there is not going to be landmark progress in relations between North and South Korea unless there is progress at the six-party talks. Naturally, that also means Pyongyang will have a hard time achieving a breakthrough for its economy. Most Southerners are going to remain unimpressed with the North’s "three principles" of "independence, peace, and Korean unity" or its "among us Koreans" rhetoric unless there is resolution to the nuclear issue.

The North is reportedly giving serious consideration to the ideas of the leadership of the United States, as conveyed to Pyongyang’s negotiators at the most recent round of six-party talks. As South Korean foreign minister Song Min-soon said in his New Year's press conference, the North will find it to its advantage to see to it there is as much progress as possible right now. Financial sanctions like the freeze on Banco Delta Asia are going to resolve themselves soon enough once there is some progress on the nuclear issue. The six-party talks and inter-Korean relations need to be put on a positive track so that North and South prosper together; if this is what the North wants, it is going to have to make the right decision.

Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]