North Korea: History

History

The Korean peninsula wasn't always divided along the 38th parallel, but the divide has been the driving force behind the policies, government and current culture of North Korea. The northern half of the peninsula dates its history back to the Choson dynasty. The Choson dynasty (literally meaning "morning freshness or morning calm") has ruled as early as the fourth century B.C. from which the North Koreans adopt the name of their people and the name of their country (Choson Minjujuui Inmin Konghwaguk, that is, The Democratic People's Republic of Korea). Choson was ruled by a succession of Confucian monarchs supported by the nobility class. Much of the Old Choson dynasty's rule appears to have carried over into present day's dictatorship. The Choson dynasty ruled though the centuries until 1910 when Korea was annexed by the Japanese.

Japanese rule was devastating to the people of North Korea and left a lasting impression on their attitudes towards the outside world. The Japanese were cruel to the North Koreans; they raped their women and used Korean labor to build up Japanese social and industrial infrastructure to supply the Japanese islands with goods. During their 35 year occupation of North Korea, Japan not only took political control of the country but also tried to uproot Korean culture. Koreans were forced to worship at Shinto shrines, a burden to all Koreans because most Koreans were Christian and Christianity forbade them from worshiping any non-Christian images. Japanese became the national language, and to this day, some Koreans refuse to speak it. The Japanese modernized Korean industry and bureaucracy but not Korean leadership. Thus when the Japanese fell in 1945, and were forced out of the Korean peninsula, their departure created a political vacuum in Korea. The Japanese rule, however, bred a strong feeling of Korean nationalism in the people; they were anxious for freedom and independence and vowed to never again to be dominated by another country.

The fall of Japan marked the beginning of modern North Korea. When Japan fell and was forced to leave many people scrambled for power in the north and south. The American and Soviet troops tried to impose some social and political order in their respective jurisdictions. In the southern half, 70 year old Princeton and Harvard educated Syngman Rhee, received support from the Americans to rule. To the north, 33 year old Captain Kim Il Sung of the Soviet Army was backed by the Russian's to form a communist state in Korea that is compatible with Soviet interests. Many North Koreans consider Kim Il Sung to be the person that liberated North Korea; their savior. Thus they use the year of his birth, 1912, to mark, quite litteraly, the beginning of time. For example, in most of the world, the year is 2005, but in North Korea the year is Juche 93 because Kim Il Sung was born 93 years ago. The love and admiration of Kim Il Sung by the people was real and genuine because he was viewed by the people as their savior.

Through his astute political maneuverings Kim Il Sung managed to gain absolute control over North Korea within a matter of months (Rhee was unable to gain the same measure of control). By the time that Rhee established his leadership position; Kim Il Sung had already consolidated his control and was planning to extend his control over the entire peninsula. June 25, 1950 North Korea attacked the south in the "Fatherland Liberation War" with a laudable goal to liberate and ultimately save the South Koreans from what they felt was an oppressive foreign government, the United States (the United States still occupies South Korea today). Kim Il Sung underestimated the American loyalty to the South and the entry of the United States in the Korean War was devastating to the North. Finally a million Chinese soldiers entered the war protecting the North and ultimately saving the DPRK. Failing to unite the Korean peninsula, Kim Il Sung had to settle for a signed armistice.

After the war the two Koreas harbored deep distrust in each other and both devoted a large amount of the national income to maintain a large army. The south was guaranteed support from the United States the north however could not count on aid from China or the Soviet Union so, through necessity, they instated a policy of self-sufficiency in politics and national defense. Also, to secure his own power, Kim Il Sung, directly after the war, consolidated his control by executing high party officials who allegedly were plotting against him along with numerous domestic political factions with links to the Russians and the Chinese. Once his leadership role was secured, he concentrated his attention to rebuilding North Korea.

Like other communist governments, farms were collectivized. Collectivizing farms puts food production and distribution into the hands of the government which is a tool governments use to control its' people. The peasants were quickly herded into the collectives by a regime impatient to gain rigid control over their food consumption so that the resulting grain could be channeled towards renewed struggles for taking communism to the south. The post-armistice years were largely dedicated to rebuilding and aggrandizing heavy industry which promised that the resulting machine tool plants would be used to build consumer goods factories later on (the production of consumer goods was set on a permanent minimal basis in 1958). In 1955, a campaign was launched to promote self-sufficiency. To perpetuate the idea of self-sufficiency, Juche (Korean for self-reliance) was implemented to be fused with Socialism. Juche Socialism, as expounded by Kim Il Sung, was a unique way of carrying out military build up and heavy industry simultaneously and endlessly (he repressed those who didn't believe in or understand this theory). Kim Il Sung's son, Kim Jong Il (Kim Il Sung's successor) later reinterpreted Juche Socialism to mean that North Koreans were to live in seclusion and sacrifice themselves in absolute filial piety towards Kim Il Sung, pending hegemonic reunification. Thus the Kim family and their mission marched on as leaders of North Korea.

Not having to worry about the well being of the people, Kim Il Sung and North Korea could begin an arms build up in preparation for an invasion of South Korea timed for the date that the United States would withdraw from the south. By the 70's however, North Korea experienced shortages in energy. Food was scarce and production of machinery like tractors, used to farm, was low. Children were found to have stunted growth due to malnutrition (a staggering 62% of children under the age of 7 are said to have stunted growth of about 3 inches). This did not sway the central task of the state; military build up. The people were on their own for survival. The people adopted a Darwinian mind set; survival of the fittest, leaving the non-essential people in shortage areas to starve or die away. The "Hermit Kingdom" was forced to come out of its shell to borrow millions of dollars from capitalist countries to import equipment needed to build hydroelectric power stations to end the power shortages and to hasten the production of war supplies. This goes directly against all things Juche (self-sufficiency) but Kim Il Sung justified it by claiming they were receiving aid simply because the other nations were willing to give it to them, not because they needed it. Not surprisingly, North Korea defaulted on all of its debts. As North Korea continued to slip into the depths of poverty it became more and more evident that North Korea was going to fall short of Kim Il Sung's dreams.

As the disparity between dream and reality widened Kim distanced himself from the day to day affairs of leadership leaving them to be attended by his eldest son Kim Jong Il who is now the leader of North Korea (Kim Il Sung died in 1994). When Kim Jong Il gained control, North Korea took a turn for the worst. Under Kim Jong Il, who has no formal education, no people skills, no military background and no respect from his people, the country turned to shambles and becomes more and more corrupt each day. Even though he has never served in an army he is titled "Marshal" and (self) appointed supreme commander of the Korean Peoples Army. He has rarely made himself available to visiting dignitaries nor has he traveled widely. Kim Jong Il is said to be quick tempered and at times even violent. He is known for ordering the execution of people he doesn't like or bother him; in one case he allegedly carried out the execution on the spot himself. Floods hit the Korean Peninsula in 1995 and devastated North Korea. During these famine years Kim Jong Il is reputed to have spent almost $900 million renovating the Kumsusan Palace to house his father's remains (26), mind you, out of a population of 23,061,000, 23 million people suffer from long term starvation and malnutrition. He appears to have little to no concern for the people he governs. As a result North Korea is still suffering from the affects of the flood and famine in 1994 because it had already used up most of its pre-flood grain reserves and had no credit standing in the world market to finance emergency food imports. The losses pushed North Koreans to near starvation. Humanitarian groups volunteered help, but Pyongyang (the capital) fought tooth and nail to restrict its territorial opening to the donor representatives. However relief would not be given unless they opened up; Pyongyang relented and allowed the donors into 192 of their 220 countries. Under the new leader, Kim Jong Il, little progress has been made towards feeding the people or modernizing their politics but has in fact become even more of a problem.

There is no way of determining whether or not Kim Jong Il is respected by the people because they are trained in double-think and will never say how they truly feel about him. Kim Jong Il is a major let down to the people who actually loved and admired Kim Il Sung. Unfortunately, the people of North Korea have no way of rebelling against Kim Jong Il's oppressive government, only the elite have this power. To control the elite and even the military at times, Kim relies on what is called a transactional leadership. Transactional leadership strikes a deal with its followers: you follow me and I will see to it that you are rewarded-or in any case, not punished. The elite may not admire Kim Jong Il but the rewards he offers and the threats he makes wield strong enough that they support him.

Everyday hundreds of people try to flee from North Korea's oppressive government. Thousands of people are in forced labor prison camps for attempt escape or speaking out about the regime. Many try to flee to China but the Chinese government, breaking every international law, sends the North Koreans back where they face being sent to a concentration camp or immediate execution. The prisoners live in brutal conditions in permanent situations of deliberately contrived semi-starvation (prisoners are provided just enough food to be kept perpetually on the verge of starvation). The people too are enslaved by the government because they too are not allowed enough food to keep them well and are not allowed any information not screened by propaganda. Numerous human rights violations occur everyday.

Because so many people are attempting to escape from North Korea, the border between the DPRK and China has been named one of the most dangerous places on earth by President Bill Clinton. Since it has violated so many human rights it has been named one of the Axis of Evil countries by President Bush. It still maintains its heavy military build up and ignores the health of its people. North Korea remains one of the least understood countries in the world and such a country, with such violence and corruption could hardly be considered a morning calm.

To find out more information about the crisis in North Korea and the Human Rights violations occurring there visit:

http://www.hrnk.org/

http://www.linkglobal.org/

http://www.hrw.org/doc?t=asia&c=nkorea

http://www.amnestyusa.org/countries/north_korea/index.do

http://www.freenorthkorea.net/

http://www.seoultrain.com/

This web site was created by Anya Bogusky. Last updated April 27, 2005. Email the webmaster at: avbogusk@mtholyoke.edu.