North Korea, 1945- Present Myths, Realities, Uncertainties
North Korea as Rorschach Ink Blot Three layers of propaganda. Kiringul Cave (Unicorn cave). Jang Seok T aek.
The Babel of Labels Theatre State, Communist Dynasty, Fascist, Hermit Kingdom, China s Puppet, Gangster State, Rational/predictable, Irrational/unpredictable, Garrison State, Failed State, Guerilla Dynasty, Kingdom of Racist Little Dwarfs.
The Totalitarian Monolith
Propaganda Village
North Korea as Threat
North Korea and its Neighbours
Resistance to America
Popular Culture
Prison Camps
Who are the North Koreans?
Contact with the Outside?
North Koreans in South Korean Popular Culture
Song Byeok
How to Think about North Korea Internationalism/nationalism. Dependency/independence. National division and anti-americanism. Ruling clique and the preservation of power. North Korea is a product of its history!
The Origins of North Korea State building, revolution, and the creation of Juche
Background to the North Korean State Factions. (Domestic, Soviet, Yannan, Manchurian). Foreign patrons.
Misaengdan Incident.
Misaengdan Incident CCP paranoia leads to massive purge 1932-1935. 2,000 Koreans killed, Kim Il Sung escapes.
Koryo Saram
Stalinist Purges of Koreans 1937,175,000 moved, 40,000 die.
Rampage, little preparation for Korea, communism weak in North. Early Soviet Occupation Jan 1946, inclined to separate state. Purge Christians, Tonghak leaders.
Cont Four Factions Why Kim Il Sung? 1945-1948, Two Interpretations.
Massive redistribution of land. 1946 Land Reform
1946 Land Reform Massive redistribution of land. Integration of peasants into party. Persecution of landlords and Christians.
Early Features of the North Korean State Korean Workers Party, two puppet parties. Soviet technology and aid. Mass surveillance. Volunteerism Class relations.
Post Korean War Reconstruction (1953-1960) Aid from communist countries. 800,000 Chinese troops. Industrialization.
Songbun Core class (25%) Wavering class (55%) hostile class (20%).
First Wave. Intellectuals and Southern Communists. major purge. Consolidation and Purges 1952 1955 1956 1958 Destalinization and criticisms of Kim.
Juche Ideology (1955-1971) Self-Reliance in the economy (highly dependent on aid). Juche Management Theory. State Ownership. Year Plans.
The World View of Juche Both in content and in composition, Kimilsungism is an original idea that cannot be explained within the framework of Marxist-Leninism. The Juche idea which constitutes the quintessence of Kimilsungism is an idea newly discovered in the history of human thought. Kim Il sung in 1976.
World View of Juche Hybrid of humanism, Korean nationalism, Marxist-Leninism, mysticism, Confucianism. Relentless personality cult. Race nationalism? Support?
1960s Militarization (songun) 1961, Park s Coup. 1962, Cuban Missile Crisis. 1964, 6%, 30% in 1967. Consequences? Economic/institutional/culture.
Break Time!
Recommended Readings Descendants of Cain, Hwang Sunwon The Real North Korea, Andre Lankov Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea, Barbara Demick The Cleanest Race, Bryan Myers. Tyranny of the Weak, Charles Armstrong.
How We Learn About North Korea Captured Documents. Eastern bloc states. Kremlinology South Korean intelligence sources. American technology. Defectors/migrants.
North Korea and its Enemies Relations with America and the ROK
Post-Korean War Relations Armistice terms and Geneva Conference. Mutual refusal of recognition. Shadow war abroad (Middle East/Vietnam).
Late 60s belligerence 1965 onward, escalation of incidents. Why? 1968 assassination attempt. 1968, Pueblo Incident.
70s Reconciliation? 1972, Nixon/Mao s meeting. Park, concerned with withdrawal. Kim conflicted. 1972, joint communique.
1990s-Present The Crisis Years
The Death of the Great Leader July 8, 1994: Death of Kim Il Sung. Rituals. Kim Jung Il. Predictions of collapse.
The March of Suffering ( 고난의행군
The Arduous March 1991, fall of Soviet Union. 75 decline in oil. Collapse of Juche agricultural system. 1995-1996, massive flooding. Rice: 3.24 million tons, 1989. 1997: 1.1; Corn: 4.24-1.0 Failure of public distribution system.
Class and Public Distribution Privileged Worker (900 grams) Ordinary Worker (700 grams) Retired citizen (300 grams) 2-4 year old (200 grams). 1997, only 6% are fed.
Consequences 500,000-1.5 million killed. 93/1000 children. Entrenchment of regime and military. World assistance. Black Markets (Dominance of women). Mass exodus. Reform? Collapse? Neither!
The Nuclear Issue Historical memory 1975 turning point. 1985, sign Non-proliferation treaty. End of Cold War precipitates shift.
Why go Nuclear? Madman theory? Reunification? Security? Extortion? Domestic?
Time Line 1990-1994, first round. 1994, agreed framework. Freeze for aid. US/South Korean perspectives? North Korean perspectives?
Second Crisis North Korea s cheating and Axis of Evil. 2003, US withdraws aid, NK leaves NPT. 2003, six party talks. China as key. Left in power in South Korea. Oct 2006, first nuclear test.
Present dilemmas Kim Jung Il s death in 2011 and issue of succession. Absorption into/estrangement from China? Nuclear Power. Trump factor?