source: DailyNK
Less emphasis on nuclear development, but no mention of denuclearization either
The
words "nuclear development" have not been mentioned in any recent
public announcements made by North Korea. At the 13th Supreme People’s
Assembly (SPA) held on April 11 in Pyongyang, Choe Ryong Hae, vice
chairman of the Central Party Committee, asserted North Korea’s position
as a “global military power”, and “strategic power”. This was in
contrast to previous meetings of a similar nature during events last
year when North Korea referred to itself as a "nuclear power."
In
the April 11 issue of North Korea’s state-run publication Rodong
Sinmun, rather than referencing the regime’s policy for simultaneous
nuclear and economic development (known as the Byungjin Line), a new
type of strategy was proposed. With no references to nuclear development
during the SPA session nor the Rodong Sinmun from the same day, it
appears that the North Korean government is deliberately avoiding any
mention of the topic altogether.
With
Kim Jong Un having expressed a desire for denuclearization towards the
Special South Korean delegation that visited North Korea in March, and
discussing the possibility of a "phased denuclearization" on his visit
to China, it is very likely that the North Korean leader is
intentionally avoiding the use of the words "nuclear development" in
advance of a scheduled meeting with the United States. With negotiations
on the table between the two countries, there is no reason to risk
angering the US by mentioning nuclear weapons.
However,
the North Korean government has made no mention of denuclearization
either. The only mention of an alleged intent to pursue denuclearization
has been during meetings with South Korea, the United States, and
China. There has yet to be an official statement made to the North
Korean people regarding the issue.
In
reality, Choe Ryong Hae’s statement about becoming a "strategic power"
is all but the same as being a nuclear power in meaning, and the "new
approach" mentioned in the state-run newspaper is likely another way of
referring to "simultaneous nuclear and economic development." "Nuclear
development" wasn’t directly mentioned in the central party’s plenary
meeting (the Supreme People’s Assembly), which has the power to amend
the constitution, while wording in the constitution about North Korea
being a "nuclear power’ (2012) and related laws such as one requiring
North Korean to "remain strong in its conviction of becoming a nuclear
power as a justifiable act of self-defense" (2013) remain unchanged. To
its domestic audience, North Korea has not shown any signs of intent
towards changing their stance on becoming a nuclear power.
For
North Korea, who until last year was broadcasting its intent to develop
intercontinental ballistic missiles to the world, suddenly mentioning
denuclearization to its domestic audience could be burdensome. On
February 23, North Korean media published an article stating that,
“desiring North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons is more foolish
than waiting for the ocean to dry out”.
However,
it remains uncertain whether North Korea is shying away from publicly
mentioning "denuclearization' solely on the basis of it being a
difficult endeavor. If North Korea uses roundabout politics while
emphasizing that "it is the wishes of our ancestors for us to succeed in
denuclearization," it may be able to ensure security for the Kim regime
through a groundbreaking compromise with the countries involved.
With
a summit with the United States concerning denuclearization fast
approaching, the fact that there hasn’t yet been a public statement made
within North Korea on the issue could be interpreted as evidence that
the Kim regime has yet to make a final decision on the matter. The
international community cannot be confident that there will be an
acceptable compromise with the United States, nor whether
denuclearization will actually happen.
How and
when North Korea decides to inform its citizens regarding its alleged
plans for denuclearization will be heavily dependent on how the
scheduled summit meetings proceed with South Korea and the United
States. If the negotiations go favorably for Kim Jong Un, then mention
of denuclearization may begin gradually, but if the reverse is true,
there may never be any mention of denuclearization. In some ways, talk
of the word denuclearization being publicized inside North Korea can be
seen as a litmus test to judge what Kim Jong Un thinks about the
negotiations that are taking place.
*Views expressed in Guest Columns do not necessarily reflect those of Daily NK.
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