While the world is in crisis, we’re going to read about a land which never been in a crisis — a socialist paradise.
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Have you ever wondered why the world is obsessed with the tiny Asian nation called North Korea? Every time you open the International news column and there it is — North Korea trying out another Nuclear missile as if it's a new car they are test driving!
North Korea is just as peculiar as Neverland of Peter Pan, seeing as it is one of the most secretive countries in the world.
Or maybe it's because of its leader’s unhealthy obsession with nuclear weapons. No wonder it has the US and UN squads on their toes.
How do we define KIM JONG-UN?
Okay so mix up some Wednesday Addams’s family psychosis with two generational dictators, a bit… no a lot of narcissism and cynicism, love for the Swiss Alps, mafia, and nuclear missiles. Self-proclaimed relations to some ancient Royalty and an enigmatic persona to fool people but at the same time having the button to blow up half the world besides your bed.
Yes, that's what Kim Jong-un is believed to be.
But what made him that way? What’s the great leader’s penchant for nuclear toys and giant infrastructure with literally his family’s face on all of it?
Well as my history teacher would say, the answer to every question lies within the pages of time a.k.a. a fancy phrase for history…
Shall we rewind the clocks to understand the fascinating country known as HERMIT KINGDOM?
A MEMORY LANE DOWN TO THE NORTH SIDE OF THE 38TH PARALLEL?
The term "hermit kingdom" is a historical reference to the Joseon Dynasty, which ruled Korea from 1392 to 1897.
During this period, the Korean peninsula was largely isolated from the rest of the world, with strict restrictions on foreign travel and trade. The term has been revived in modern times to describe North Korea's similarly closed-off status.
The Kim dynasty of North Korea refers to the three successive generations of the Kim family who have ruled North Korea since the country's establishment in 1948. The dynasty began with Kim Il-sung, who rose to power in North Korea during the late 1940s after the country was divided following World War II.
He had been a guerrilla fighter against Japanese occupation during the war and had gained a reputation as a strong and charismatic leader. In 1948, he was elected as the first Premier of the newly established Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), which became the official name of North Korea.
This was a Cold war era meaning that there was an ideological warfare going on between the two superpowers i.e. USA and USSR. The former promoting democracy and the latter holding onto communism. Since the USSR and China had a significant influence on North Korea, the country’s social and political system was heavily based on communist and socialist ideals.
During his early years in power, Kim Il-sung pursued a policy of socialism and self-reliance, which became known as "Juche". He also established a cult of personality around himself, portraying himself as a heroic figure who had liberated North Korea from foreign domination.
Today the government of North Korea is a single-party communist state, with the ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) controlling all aspects of political and social life, closing off the democratic lifestyle of the outside world. They still live in a world where they believe that everything belongs to the state and the community as a whole and their loyalties to this government will ensure that the state will become a utopian society where there is no class divide.
This explains why the North Korean government tightly controls information flow, limiting access to foreign media, and restricting the movements of its citizens within the country and abroad. The social structure of North Korea is heavily regimented and hierarchical, with the government controlling all aspects of life. There is no freedom of speech or assembly, and political dissent is not tolerated.
The government has also been accused of numerous human rights abuses, including forced labor, torture, and extrajudicial killings. You can be beheaded if your barber cuts you a different hairstyle other than the approved ones!
However, North Korea's economy has long been plagued by economic sanctions imposed by the international community in response to the country's nuclear weapons and missile programs. These sanctions have made it difficult for North Korea to access international markets and finance, further limiting its economic growth.
After decades of financial mismanagement, relative autarky, and resource misallocation, the DPRK has faced chronic economic problems and food shortages since the mid-1990s.
A large portion of the population suffers from low levels of food consumption and very poor dietary diversity; the economic constraints, particularly resulting from the global impact of the COVID‑19 pandemic, have increased the population’s vulnerability to food insecurity.
Then how does the government maintain such allegiance of people despite giving them below-average living conditions, also justifying the massive investment in nuclear projects at the same time?
One of the most significant features of social life in North Korea is the emphasis on loyalty to the government and its leaders. This loyalty is instilled in citizens from a young age through education and propaganda. Citizens are expected to show utmost respect and devotion to the ruling Kim family, who are treated as divine leaders.
The government also heavily controls access to information and communication, which limits social interactions among citizens. The internet is heavily restricted, and citizens are only allowed to access a state-run intranet called Kwangmyong. Foreign media is banned, and state-run media outlets present a heavily censored and biased view of the world.
They want to maintain the veil of ignorance among people that their one true savior is their leader itself no matter how much poverty they need to suffer.
Kim Jung-un projects the same reputation as his grandfather, justifying mythological claims that the Kims were a semi-divine dynasty who had a close affinity with the near-sacred Mount Paektu which sits on the Korean-Chinese border.
Power and authority can only be truly exerted when it is legitimate and this royal connection does seem to legitimize the rule of the killer Kim family so far.
By that logic, even if the world sees Kim Jung-un to be a bloodthirsty killer soon to be a nuclear time bomb the people of North Korea regard him in the highest esteem for being the “The Morning Star King” born to rule them. Since the government controls everything, people often believe what they are fed through media regulated by the government.
Another reason is the socialistic outlook of the government which works quite well for them. There is a stark difference between the poor and the elite, there is no class in the middle of it.
Keeping the majority population in perpetual poverty evokes the survival mindset among people who are more concerned about getting the next meal rather than judging whether the nuclear agenda of the government is justified or not.
THE OFFICIAL ECONOMIC STATUS OF THE DPRK
The economy of North Korea is heavily centralized and controlled by the state, with little private enterprise or foreign investment.
The government controls most industries, and the economy is heavily reliant on its relationship with China, which is North Korea's largest trading partner.
North Korea's main sources of revenue are its natural resources, such as coal, iron ore, and other minerals, as well as exports of textiles and manufactured goods, including weapons.
The country also receives significant financial support from its ally China.
Despite China being its main trading partner, all North Koreans conducting business with China pay 50% of their profit to the government as “Loyalty offerings”.
But still, the question remains unanswered – How does DPRK, the fourth largest nuclear power, finance its Nuclear ambitions?
THE HIDDEN ECONOMY
Kim Jong-un is rumoured to be a fan of Disney but his current economic tactics are no less than a page from a mafia cartel movie.
Human trafficking, weapon trade, insurance fraud, cyber-attacks, counterfeit money, drugs, etc, etc.
You name it and North Korea has done it.
COUNTERFEITING CHAMPIONS
North Korea's counterfeiting activities reportedly began in the 1970s as a means of generating foreign currency to support the regime's military and nuclear programs.
Since the currency of DPRK is below rock bottom at this point, North Korean Won is not traded in the international market.
The North Korean government is believed to have used state-run printing facilities to produce high-quality counterfeit US dollars, which are then circulated around the world.
Various leaks and several North Korean refugees today independently confirmed the existence of a bureau - Room 39 that is supposed to raise foreign money for the government.
Talk about being a hardcore money heist fan!!!
Today North Korea's counterfeiting operations are believed to have continued, and the regime has expanded its activities to include other currencies, such as the euro and the Japanese yen.
NORTH KOREA’S WEAPON MAFIOSO
North Korea has a long history of engaging in illegal weapon exports, which is a significant source of income for the regime. The country has been known to export a wide range of weapons, including ballistic missiles, small arms, and components for nuclear weapons and missiles.
Godfather fan alert!!!
North Korea has continued to export weapons, often through front companies and illicit networks that operate in countries around the world.
Chinese textile companies have large production houses in North Korea from where it exports textile products along with weapons.
Some of the countries that have been identified as recipients of North Korean weapons include Syria, Iran, and Myanmar.
North Korea's weapon exports are a significant concern for international security, as they contribute to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and destabilize regional security.
HUMAN TRAFFICKING CARTEL NATION
The North Korean government has been accused of engaging in forced labor and trafficking of its own citizens, as well as the trafficking of North Korean women to other countries for forced marriage or sexual exploitation in return for monetary gains.
One child policy - who?
North Korea's government operates a system of forced labor camps, known as "kwanliso," where prisoners are subjected to harsh conditions and forced to work long hours with little or no pay.
CYBER HEIST EXPERTS
North Korea is considered to be one of the most active state-sponsored cyber attackers in the world.
Cyber-attacks attributed to North Korea include the 2014 hack of Sony Pictures Entertainment, which was seen as retaliation for the release of a comedy movie that mocked North Korea's leadership.
Kim is such a grinch!!!
The country has also been linked to cyber-attacks against financial institutions, such as the 2016 Bangladesh Bank heist, which saw hackers steal $81 million from the central bank of Bangladesh.
North Korea's cyber activities are believed to be coordinated by a secretive organization called the “Reconnaissance General Bureau”.
The country's cyber operations are thought to be motivated by a desire to generate income, gather intelligence, and disrupt the activities of its enemies.
BLACK MARKET CHAINS
The black market in North Korea emerged in the 1990s following the collapse of the country's economy and the loss of support from its traditional allies, such as the Soviet Union and China.
North Korea's black market is a significant part of the country's economy, providing a source of income for individuals and generating revenue for the regime.
Their black market includes a wide range of illicit activities, such as smuggling, counterfeiting, drug trafficking, and the sale of stolen goods.
The government is believed to be involved in many of these activities, using its control over the country's economy to generate income, reinforce its control over the country, and allow the regime to maintain its grip on power.
Also, the black market is largely driven by economic desperation, with many individuals turning to illicit activities in order to survive in a country where official channels for employment and income are limited. Indeed desperate times need desperate measures.
Despite uncountable sanctions and warnings from international platforms, a downtrodden economy, and starving people, Kim’s Nuclear dream is still high on the rise.
He believes that expanding his Nuclear strength will force the UN to accept North Korea as a nuclear power and give it enough power to bring the forum to lift the sanctions reviving its economy.
Although like any other totalitarian regime, this one too is volatile and despite Kim’s effort to build himself a persona of a modern leader, involving a PR makeover to make him look good, talks with Trump, modernizing the country still doesn’t put covers over his erratic persona of a brutal dictator famous for commanding the televised assassination of his older half-brother, brutal killing of his uncle.
But the wheel of time is ever-changing and North Korea’s changing might come sooner than later.
What’s in store for this anomaly dictatorship high on the nuclear power dream? Only time will tell….