KOREA TODAY No. 9, 2017 51 Mega Event in the 5 000-Year-Long History of Korea
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Adam Cathcart, Christopher Green, and Steven Denney
Articles How Authoritarian Regimes Maintain Domain Consensus: North Korea’s Information Strategies in the Kim Jong-un Era Adam Cathcart, Christopher Green, and Steven Denney Te Review of Korean Studies Volume 17 Number 2 (December 2014): 145-178 ©2014 by the Academy of Korean Studies. All rights reserved. 146 Te Review of Korean Studies Pyongyang’s Strategic Shift North Korea is a society under constant surveillance by the apparatuses of state, and is a place where coercion—often brutal—is not uncommon.1 However, this is not the whole story. It is inaccurate to say that the ruling hereditary dictatorship of the Kim family exerts absolute control purely by virtue of its monopoly over the use of physical force. The limitations of state coercion have grown increasingly evident over the last two decades. State-society relations in North Korea shifted drastically when Kim Jong-il came to power in the 1990s. It was a time of famine, legacy politics, state retrenchment, and the rise of public markets; the state’s coercive abilities alternated between dissolution and coalescence as the state sought to co-opt and control the marketization process, a pattern which continued until Kim Jong-il’s death in 2011 (Kwon and Chung 2012; Hwang 1998; Hyeon 2007; Park 2012). Those relations have moved still further under Kim Jong- un.2 Tough Kim’s rise to the position of Supreme Leader in December 2011 did not precipitate—as some had hoped—a paradigmatic shift in economic or political approach, the state has been extremely active in the early years of his era, responding to newfound domestic appreciation of North Korea’s situation in both the region and wider world. -
Tradition and Legitimation in North Korea: the Role of the Moranbong Band
Article Tradition and Legitimation in North Korea: The Role of the Moranbong Band Pekka KORHONEN and Adam CATHCART The Review of Korean Studies Volume 20 Number 2 (December 2017): 7-32 ©2017 by the Academy of Korean Studies. All rights reserved. 8 The Review of Korean Studies Introduction North Korea continues to maintain its position in the global media spotlight, having attained an almost magnetic status more central than the size and wealth of the state would ostensibly warrant. Much of this has to do with the fact that it is both an agent and the target of continuous propaganda war, the Korean peninsula being one of the main theatres where the increasing military tension in East Asia is played out. Rounds of tightening multilateral and unilateral sanctions by the United Nations and individual states create continuous speculation of a possible collapse of the North Korean regime, but its staying power has been surprising over the decades. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) was officially founded in 1948, making it now 69 years old. There must be reasons why it does not easily collapse, and the usual propagandistic explanations of repression, surveillance, information control, and harsh punishments are not satisfactory as the sole reasons (Eberstadt 2013). Significant changes are taking place in the society. This is what observers of North Korean economy have been arguing already for years (Smith 2015, 260- 93; Lankov and Kim 2008; Lankov 2015), but changes are occurring also in the cultural sphere. North Korea as a distinct society already has traditions spanning over three generations, and with them the state has a proven order and a certain legitimacy, which helps in understanding its resilience even against the collective will of the rest of the world. -
Cedaw/C/Prk/2-4
CEDAW/C/PRK/2-4 Distr.: General 15 April 2016 Original: English English, French and Spanish only ADVANCE UNEDITED VERSION Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women Consideration of reports submitted by States parties under article 18 of the Convention Combined second, third and fourth periodic reports of States parties due in 2014 Democratic People’s Republic of Korea* [Date received: 11 April 2016] * In accordance with the information transmitted to the States parties regarding the processing of their reports, the present document has not been edited. CEDAW/C/KOR/4 Forward 1. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) hereby submits its Combined Second to Fourth Periodic Report on the Implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (the Convention) in accordance with its obligations under Article 18 of the Convention. The present Report is prepared following the guidelines adopted by the CEDAW Committee regarding periodic reports to be submitted by States Parties to the Convention. 2. The present Report, covering the period of 2002-2015, describes the legislative, administrative and other measures adopted by the DPRK for the advancement of women and protection and promotion of their rights in all fields of social life, and the progress achieved. 3. The reporting period was a period in which women in the DPRK, under the wise leadership of the great Comrade Kim Jong Il and the supreme leader Comrade Kim Jong Un and as full-fledged masters of the society, fully exercised equal rights with men in all fields of politics, the economy, social and cultural life, performing great feats in the efforts for the prosperity of the country. -
PK2014-06-OCR.Pdf
CONTENTS Δ Re-election of Kim Jong Un as First Chairman of the DPRK NDC ...............1 Δ First Session of the 13th SPA of the DPRK Held ....................................2 Δ Mega Event of the Nation, Unshakeable Will .................................4 Δ Hall of Wax Replica Open to Public .....5 Δ Brilliant History, Immortal Exploits • Achieving Invincible Single-hearted Unity ...................................................6 • Giving Priority to Improving People’s Living Standards ..................8 Δ History of Friendship ............................10 Δ The 29th April Spring Friendship Art Festival ..................................................16 Δ I Am Sure of Bright Future of Korea ....19 Δ It Was Impressive Days ........................19 Δ Voice of the World Aspiring to Independence .......................................20 Δ Aerospace Exploration in the DPRK ....21 Δ Putting Great Efforts into Technical Innovation ............................................22 Δ For Clean Environment ........................24 Δ Pencil Drawings Mirror Juvenile Mind .....................................................26 Δ Happy Children.....................................28 Δ Tours of Korea Get Brisk ......................30 Δ Special Foods of Pyongyang ................33 Δ International Marathon Race Held in Pyongyang............................................34 Δ Calling for Implementation of North-South Joint Declaration .............36 Δ History Tells Who Started Korean War .......................................................38 -
Korea-Today-2021-0306.Pdf
Monthly Journal (777) C O N T E N T S 2 Second Plenary Meeting of Eighth Central Committee of WPK Held 12 Kim Jong Un Sees Lunar New Year’s Day Performance with Party Central Leadership Body Members 14 Appeal to All Working People Across the Country 15 By Dint of Scientifi c Self-reliance 16 Harnessing of Renewable Energy Propelled 17 Electric Power Management Gets Upgraded 18 By Tapping Local Materials 19 Secret of Increasing Production 20 Ideals for New Victory 21 Guidance for the People’s Well-being Monthly journal Korea Today is available on the Internet site www.korean-books.com.kp in English, Russian and Chinese. 22 Education Highlighted in DPRK 23 Immortal Juche Idea (10) Self-reliance in National Defence 24 Pride of Medical Scientist 24 Authority on Burns Treatment 26 With Sincerity and Devotion 28 True story Front Cover: On March Life and Promise 8 International Women’s Day 30 Vinalon Inventor and His Descendants Photo by courtesy 32 E-commerce Gets Expansive of the KCNA 33 Efforts for Correct and Prompt Weather Forecast 34 How Mun Has Overcome Disability 35 Liquefi ed Rare Earth Draws Attention 36 Small Institute in Woods 37 People Who Strive to Increase Forest Land 38 Songchon County Changes 40 Pacesetter of Costume Culture 41 For Conservation of Water Resources 42 Kimchi, Distinctive Dish of Korea (1) Kimchi and Folklore of Korea 44 Mt Chilbo ( 2 ) Back Cover: Rhododen- 46 National Intangible Cultural Heritage (51) dron blossoms in the snow Ssolmaethagi Photo by Song Tae Hyok 47 Ho Jun and Tonguibogam 48 History Denounces 13502 Edited by An Su Yong Address: Sochon-dong, Sosong District, Pyongyang, DPRK E-mail: fl [email protected] © The Foreign Language Magazines 2021 1 ► amine the plans for this year in detail and fi x and work for implementing the decisions made at the issue them as the decisions of the Party Central Party congress starts and what kind of change is Committee. -
The DPRK Demonstrates Its Might As a Space
CONTENTS Δ The DPRK Demonstrates Its Might as a Space Power .....................................................1 • NADA Report on Satellite Launch ....................2 • Successful Satellite Launch Celebrated .............4 Δ Ennobling Affection for Younger Generation .........6 Δ Songun Commander and National Dignity .............8 Δ Artist of Happiness for the Korean People ..............10 Δ To Greet the Seventh Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea with Labour Feats • Quality Cloth, Living Colours .........................14 • Innovation, Key to Better Quality ...................16 Δ Benefits from Natural Energy Resources ................18 Supreme leader Kim Jong Un gives a written order on the launch of the earth observation Δ Ogasan Nature Reserve ...........................................20 satellite Kwangmyongsong 4 on February 6, Juche 105 (2016) Δ Learning Hard to Keep Pace with IT Era ................24 Δ Rising Back to Fame ...............................................26 TThehe DDPRKPRK DDemonstratesemonstrates Δ Colossus of Pedagogical Science ............................28 IItsts MightMight asas a SpaceSpace PowerPower Δ Ryugyong Rose House ............................................30 Δ Ace Gymnast ...........................................................32 Δ Giving Impetus to Developing National Foods .......34 Δ Utmost Sincerity, Medical Skills .............................36 Δ Tradition of Kimchi-Making Listed as World Heritage ....................................................38 Δ Traditional Musical Instrument -
North Korean House of Cards Leadership Dynamics Under Kim Jong-Un
North Korean House of Cards Leadership Dynamics Under Kim Jong-un Ken E. Gause H R N K North Korean House of Cards Leadership Dynamics Under Kim Jong-un Ken E. Gause H R N K Committee for Human Rights in North Korea Copyright © 2015 Committee for Human Rights in North Korea Printed in the United States of America All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior permission of the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. Committee for Human Rights in North Korea 1001 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 435 Washington, DC 20036 P: (202) 499-7970 ISBN: 9780985648053 Library of Congress Control Number: 2015954268 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Gordon Flake (Co-Chair) Chief Executive Officer, Perth USAsia Centre, The University of Western Australia Co-author, Paved with Good Intentions: The NGO Experience in North Korea Katrina Lantos Swett (Co-Chair) President and CEO, Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice John Despres (Co-Vice-Chair) Consultant on International Financial & Strategic Affairs Suzanne Scholte (Co-Vice-Chair) President, Defense Forum Foundation Seoul Peace Prize Laureate Helen-Louise Hunter (Secretary) Attorney Author, Kim II-Song’s North Korea Kevin C. McCann (Treasurer) General Counsel, StrataScale, Inc., Counsel to SHI International -
Being in North Korea
Praise for Andray Abrahamian’s Being in North Korea “By far the most informative book I’ve read on life in North Korea. Andray Abrahamian writes very entertainingly and knows what he’s talking about. This is a rich and surprisingly revealing portrait of a super-secretive society.” — Michael Palin “Quite simply, a must-read for anybody going to North Korea. For everybody else, it is a literary excursion of the best kind — humane, funny in ways you will never expect, grim when it should be, and rich beyond belief with hard-won expertise.” — Evan Osnos, Staff Writer, The New Yorker “Each page of Being in North Korea is a fresh revelation. Andray Abrahamian has spent more time in North Korea than anybody I know and he’s such a knowledgeable and amusing guide that you’ll feel like you’ve had the privilege of an exclusive tour by the time you finish reading his book.” — Barbara Demick, Los Angeles Times “Few North Korea watchers have the breadth and depth of experiences like Andray Abrahamian. Ranging from running a nonprofit training North Koreans on entrepreneurship to undertaking academic studies as a PhD-trained scholar, the author’s work highlights his valuable perceptions about North Korea’s society and markets. Being in North Korea captures Abrahamian’s experiences in a way that informs and entertains.” — John S. Park, Harvard University “What is it like over there? This simple but at the same time immensely difficult question is what Abrahamian seeks to answer. Having worked in North Korea and speaking the language, he is the right person for such an endeavor. -
Understanding Korea 6 Culture
UNDERSTANDING KOREA 6 CULTURE PYONGYANG, KOREA Juche 106 (2017) UNDERSTANDING KOREA 6 CULTURE Foreign Languages Publishing House Pyongyang, Korea Juche 106 (2017) CONTENTS 1. Character of Culture................................................1 2. Classification of Culture .........................................1 3. Essence of Education..............................................1 4. Education System ...................................................2 5. Development of Free Compulsory Education System ...................................................3 6. Universal 12-Year Compulsory Education .............4 7. Education for Gifted Children ................................5 8. Kyongsang Kindergarten ........................................6 9. Pyongyang Middle School No. 1 ............................7 10. Educational Bases for Extracurricular Activities ................................................................7 11. Mangyongdae Schoolchildren’s Palace ..................8 12. Children’s Camps ...................................................9 13. Songdowon International Children’s Camp............9 14. Universities and Colleges .....................................10 15. Kim Il Sung University........................................11 16. Educational Network ............................................12 17. Distance Education...............................................12 18. Grand People’s Study House ................................13 19. Giving Priority to Science and Technology.......... 14 20. Sci-Tech Power................................................... -
Understanding Korea 6 Culture
UNDERSTANDING KOREA 6 CULTURE PYONGYANG, KOREA Juche 106 (2017) UNDERSTANDING KOREA 6 CULTURE Foreign Languages Publishing House Pyongyang, Korea Juche 106 (2017) CONTENTS 1. Character of Culture................................................1 2. Classification of Culture .........................................1 3. Essence of Education..............................................1 4. Education System ...................................................2 5. Development of Free Compulsory Education System ...................................................3 6. Universal 12-Year Compulsory Education .............4 7. Education for Gifted Children ................................5 8. Kyongsang Kindergarten ........................................6 9. Pyongyang Middle School No. 1 ............................7 10. Educational Bases for Extracurricular Activities ................................................................7 11. Mangyongdae Schoolchildren’s Palace ..................8 12. Children’s Camps ...................................................9 13. Songdowon International Children’s Camp............9 14. Universities and Colleges .....................................10 15. Kim Il Sung University........................................11 16. Educational Network ............................................12 17. Distance Education...............................................12 18. Grand People’s Study House ................................13 19. Giving Priority to Science and Technology.......... 14 20. Sci-Tech Power................................................... -
North Korean Leadership Dynamics and Decision-Making Under Kim Jong-Un a First Year Assessment
North Korean Leadership Dynamics and Decision-making under Kim Jong-un A First Year Assessment Ken E. Gause Cleared for public release COP-2013-U-005684-Final September 2013 Strategic Studies is a division of CNA. This directorate conducts analyses of security policy, regional analyses, studies of political-military issues, and strategy and force assessments. CNA Strategic Studies is part of the glob- al community of strategic studies institutes and in fact collaborates with many of them. On the ground experience is a hallmark of our regional work. Our specialists combine in-country experience, language skills, and the use of local primary-source data to produce empirically based work. All of our analysts have advanced degrees, and virtually all have lived and worked abroad. Similarly, our strategists and military/naval operations experts have either active duty experience or have served as field analysts with operating Navy and Marine Corps commands. They are skilled at anticipating the “prob- lem after next” as well as determining measures of effectiveness to assess ongoing initiatives. A particular strength is bringing empirical methods to the evaluation of peace-time engagement and shaping activities. The Strategic Studies Division’s charter is global. In particular, our analysts have proven expertise in the follow- ing areas: The full range of Asian security issues The full range of Middle East related security issues, especially Iran and the Arabian Gulf Maritime strategy Insurgency and stabilization Future national security environment and forces European security issues, especially the Mediterranean littoral West Africa, especially the Gulf of Guinea Latin America The world’s most important navies Deterrence, arms control, missile defense and WMD proliferation The Strategic Studies Division is led by Dr. -
The Arirang Mass Games of North Korea
Rudiger Frank: The Arirang Mass Games of North Korea. The Asia-Pacific Journal, Vol. 11, Issue 46, No. 2, December 2013, http://japanfocus.org The Arirang Mass Games of North Korea Rudiger Frank1 Purpose and focus Having grown up in East Germany, from early on I have been familiar with all kinds of mass performances, including organized parades, meetings, or so-called mass games or mass gymnastics. All of them involved large numbers of people, often in the thousands or tens of thousands. 2 The performances were characterized by a high level of synchronism and uniformity. They included music, artistic components, dancing and marching. They brimmed over with symbolism. The 대집단체조와 예술공연 아리랑 (Mass gymnastics and artistic performance Arirang), in the West usually known as Arirang Mass Games (henceforth Arirang) of the DPRK, or North Korea, thus do not strike me as particularly “breathtaking”, which seems to be the typical reaction of most visitors. This does not mean, however, that Arirang is less worth of our attention. Technically speaking, Arirang is a visual and acoustic artistic and gymnastics performance that takes place in a large stadium. It is said to involve 100,000 participants who either perform on stage or as “pixels” in a large “living” screen, a human canvas on which various images and slogans are shown. I look at Arirang as part of my attempts at understanding the North Korean system through the lens of its own public statements, often referred to as propaganda. I will thus not discuss the aesthetics or explore how the mass games relegate the individual to the role of a tiny piece in large machinery, how they suppress individuality and show that usefulness is only in the group.