Watch Report No.22 April 24, 2020
§Self-sustaining Development of National Industries is what “The Offensive for Making a Breakthrough Head-on” Means; however, the Situation in which Denuclearization Hinges on US Withdrawal of Its Hostile Policy Remains Unchanged.
At the 5th Plenary Meeting of the7th Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea of last year, Chairman Kim Jong Un declared, “the offensive for making a breakthrough head-on”[1]. Subsequently, attention has been paid to the actions of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). Although, since last month, the DPRK has repeatedly conducted missile drills and test-fires, the situation remains unchanged as to whether denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula can be realized peacefully or not and is dependent on US actions.
Regarding the 5th Plenary Meeting of the7th Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea, in Japan, Kim Jong Un’s statement that, “the world will witness a new strategic weapon to be possessed by the DPRK in the near future” [2] drew attention [3]. However, the main points of Kim Jong Un’s speech are based on the assumption that the US will not roll back its hostile policy towards the DPRK. And thus, Kim proposes that the DPRK must “break through head-on” the tough sanctions imposed by the international community and develop socialism through “self-reliance” and “self-sufficiency.” As well, his speech emphasizes problems to be tackled by each front to realize that goal.
Specifically, Kim Jong Un said that, “if there were not the nuclear issue, the US would find fault with us under other issue, and the US military and political threats would not end.” He said, “We should launch an offensive for making a breakthrough head-on aimed at neutralizing the sanctions and pressure by the hostile forces and opening a new avenue for social construction,” and he clearly stated that, “the key front in the offensive for frontal breakthrough today is economic front,” and especially, “the agricultural front is the major thrust area in the offensive for making a breakthrough head-on” [4]. Kim Jong Un’s following statement at the end of the Plenary Meeting reveals most clearly the meaning of “the offensive for making a breakthrough on-head.”
“The basic idea, the basic spirit of the 5th Plenary Meeting of the7th Central Committee of the WPK is to conduct the offensive for frontal breakthrough, not to wait for the situation to turn better. In other words, we should never dream that the US and the hostile forces would leave us alone to live in peace, but we should make frontal breakthrough with the might of self-reliance to tide over the difficulties lying in the way of advancing the socialist construction” [5].
In fact, by reading the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the DPRK state-run news agency, we can learn that Kim Jae Ryong, Premier of the Cabinet, which is positioned as headquarters of the economy, has frequently visited some industrial facilities [6], and “responding to the declaration of “the offensive for making a breakthrough on-head,” the workers of the DPRK have “strived” and “made innovation in production.”
For instance, “In hearty response to the important tasks set forth at the 5th Plenary Meeting of the 7th Central Committee of the Workers Party of Korea, officials and workers of the Sangwon Cement Complex strive to boost the production,” [7] and “Workers of the Pyongyang Kim Jung Suk Textile Mill make innovation in production.” [8]
The KCNA also reported that on the agricultural front, the major thrust area in the offensive for making a breakthrough on-head, “the tasks and ways for attaining the new goal of grain productions set by the Workers’ Party of Korea this year, the first year of the offensive for making a breakthrough on-head,” was discussed in “the conference for reviewing the work in the field,” [9] and construction of a new phosphatic fertilizer factory and tideland reclamation have been vigorously conducted [10]. The phosphatic fertilizer factory seems to be intensely focused upon as not only Kim Jae Ryong, but also several senior officials of the DPRK government have visited there [11].
Military aspects mentioned by Kim Jong Un in his speech were only intended to identify the need to provide a guarantee that promotion of those industries will not be hampered by foreign aggression. The KCNA [12] reported that Kim Jong Un said in his speech that, “There have to be powerful political, diplomatic and military guarantee in order to ensure victory in the offensive for frontal breakthrough to brave unprecedented harsh challenge and difficulties.”
Regarding repeated missile drills and test-launches by the DPRK, the DPRK government refuted the criticism of five European nations which expressed “grave concern” about the actions of the DPRK after the UN Security Council meeting. The stance of the DPRK government is that those actions are conducted for self-defense purposes against US and South Korean forces aimed at the DPRK ever since the beginning of the Korean War. In response to the statement of the five European nations, the spokesperson of the DPRK Foreign Ministry released the following statement.
“If even a routine drill of multiple launch rocket system by artillerymen should be a target of condemnation and alleged as ‘violation of resolutions,’ then with what do we hold in check the military forces of the US and south Korea in front of us and how do we defend our state…if they blindly call our self-defense acts into question as now, it is, in the long run, tantamount to asking us to abandon the defense of our own state” [13].
The military policy of the DPRK, which has been modernizing the Korean People’s Army (KPA) based on “the Juche idea” proclaiming independence, self-sustenance and self-defense, is restrained in its scale and intention as compared not only to the policy of the US, a state of hegemonism, but also to the policy of Japan, which has strengthened its capabilities to attack enemy territory unconstitutionally while deepening cooperation with the US forces under the “US nuclear umbrella”. However, as long as a state of war with the US continues, the DPRK will have no other choice but to maintain responsive military measures which can deal with that situation.
Just because the DPRK has shown no interest in negotiations with the US and has made it clear that it will advance on the course of “self-reliance” and “self-sufficiency” and has started to put those practices into action, it should not be concluded that the way for the realization of 2018 Singapore agreement, in which both US and DPRK governments committed to peace and denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, has been completely closed off.
Kim Jong Un also stated in his speech at the end-of-last year:
“If the US persists in its hostile policy towards the DPRK, there will be never be the denuclearization on the Korean peninsula and the DPRK will steadily develop necessary and prerequisite strategic weapons for the security of the state until the US rolls back its hostile policy towards the DPRK and lasting and durable peace-making mechanism is built.” And further, “The scope and depth of bolstering our deterrent will be properly coordinated depending on the US future attitude to the DPRK.” [14]
If the US ceases its hostile policy towards the DPRK and shows its willingness to rebuild a relationship of trust with the DPRK as evidenced by its actions, the way for peaceful denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula through negotiations would be opened again. (Hajime MAEKAWA)
Regarding the 5th Plenary Meeting of the7th Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea, in Japan, Kim Jong Un’s statement that, “the world will witness a new strategic weapon to be possessed by the DPRK in the near future” [2] drew attention [3]. However, the main points of Kim Jong Un’s speech are based on the assumption that the US will not roll back its hostile policy towards the DPRK. And thus, Kim proposes that the DPRK must “break through head-on” the tough sanctions imposed by the international community and develop socialism through “self-reliance” and “self-sufficiency.” As well, his speech emphasizes problems to be tackled by each front to realize that goal.
Specifically, Kim Jong Un said that, “if there were not the nuclear issue, the US would find fault with us under other issue, and the US military and political threats would not end.” He said, “We should launch an offensive for making a breakthrough head-on aimed at neutralizing the sanctions and pressure by the hostile forces and opening a new avenue for social construction,” and he clearly stated that, “the key front in the offensive for frontal breakthrough today is economic front,” and especially, “the agricultural front is the major thrust area in the offensive for making a breakthrough head-on” [4]. Kim Jong Un’s following statement at the end of the Plenary Meeting reveals most clearly the meaning of “the offensive for making a breakthrough on-head.”
“The basic idea, the basic spirit of the 5th Plenary Meeting of the7th Central Committee of the WPK is to conduct the offensive for frontal breakthrough, not to wait for the situation to turn better. In other words, we should never dream that the US and the hostile forces would leave us alone to live in peace, but we should make frontal breakthrough with the might of self-reliance to tide over the difficulties lying in the way of advancing the socialist construction” [5].
In fact, by reading the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the DPRK state-run news agency, we can learn that Kim Jae Ryong, Premier of the Cabinet, which is positioned as headquarters of the economy, has frequently visited some industrial facilities [6], and “responding to the declaration of “the offensive for making a breakthrough on-head,” the workers of the DPRK have “strived” and “made innovation in production.”
For instance, “In hearty response to the important tasks set forth at the 5th Plenary Meeting of the 7th Central Committee of the Workers Party of Korea, officials and workers of the Sangwon Cement Complex strive to boost the production,” [7] and “Workers of the Pyongyang Kim Jung Suk Textile Mill make innovation in production.” [8]
The KCNA also reported that on the agricultural front, the major thrust area in the offensive for making a breakthrough on-head, “the tasks and ways for attaining the new goal of grain productions set by the Workers’ Party of Korea this year, the first year of the offensive for making a breakthrough on-head,” was discussed in “the conference for reviewing the work in the field,” [9] and construction of a new phosphatic fertilizer factory and tideland reclamation have been vigorously conducted [10]. The phosphatic fertilizer factory seems to be intensely focused upon as not only Kim Jae Ryong, but also several senior officials of the DPRK government have visited there [11].
Military aspects mentioned by Kim Jong Un in his speech were only intended to identify the need to provide a guarantee that promotion of those industries will not be hampered by foreign aggression. The KCNA [12] reported that Kim Jong Un said in his speech that, “There have to be powerful political, diplomatic and military guarantee in order to ensure victory in the offensive for frontal breakthrough to brave unprecedented harsh challenge and difficulties.”
Regarding repeated missile drills and test-launches by the DPRK, the DPRK government refuted the criticism of five European nations which expressed “grave concern” about the actions of the DPRK after the UN Security Council meeting. The stance of the DPRK government is that those actions are conducted for self-defense purposes against US and South Korean forces aimed at the DPRK ever since the beginning of the Korean War. In response to the statement of the five European nations, the spokesperson of the DPRK Foreign Ministry released the following statement.
“If even a routine drill of multiple launch rocket system by artillerymen should be a target of condemnation and alleged as ‘violation of resolutions,’ then with what do we hold in check the military forces of the US and south Korea in front of us and how do we defend our state…if they blindly call our self-defense acts into question as now, it is, in the long run, tantamount to asking us to abandon the defense of our own state” [13].
The military policy of the DPRK, which has been modernizing the Korean People’s Army (KPA) based on “the Juche idea” proclaiming independence, self-sustenance and self-defense, is restrained in its scale and intention as compared not only to the policy of the US, a state of hegemonism, but also to the policy of Japan, which has strengthened its capabilities to attack enemy territory unconstitutionally while deepening cooperation with the US forces under the “US nuclear umbrella”. However, as long as a state of war with the US continues, the DPRK will have no other choice but to maintain responsive military measures which can deal with that situation.
Just because the DPRK has shown no interest in negotiations with the US and has made it clear that it will advance on the course of “self-reliance” and “self-sufficiency” and has started to put those practices into action, it should not be concluded that the way for the realization of 2018 Singapore agreement, in which both US and DPRK governments committed to peace and denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, has been completely closed off.
Kim Jong Un also stated in his speech at the end-of-last year:
“If the US persists in its hostile policy towards the DPRK, there will be never be the denuclearization on the Korean peninsula and the DPRK will steadily develop necessary and prerequisite strategic weapons for the security of the state until the US rolls back its hostile policy towards the DPRK and lasting and durable peace-making mechanism is built.” And further, “The scope and depth of bolstering our deterrent will be properly coordinated depending on the US future attitude to the DPRK.” [14]
If the US ceases its hostile policy towards the DPRK and shows its willingness to rebuild a relationship of trust with the DPRK as evidenced by its actions, the way for peaceful denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula through negotiations would be opened again. (Hajime MAEKAWA)
[1] “Fifth
Plenary Meeting of Seventh Central Committee of Workers' Party of Korea Held,”
KCNA, January 1, 2020
[2] See,
note [1].
[3] See,
for example, “’The world will witness a new strategic weapon," North
Korea's 4-day long Plenary Meeting ends,” Asahi Shimbun, January 3, 2020
(Japanese article); “Kim Jong Un says ‘the world will witness a new
weapon,’ ‘in the near future,’
threatening US: Central Committee of WPK,” Mainichi Shimbun, June 3, 2020
(Japanese article).
[4] See,
note [1].
[5] See,
note [1].
[6] See,
for example, “Kim Jae Ryong Inspects Various Fields of National Economy,” KCNA,
January 21, 2020, “Kim Jae Ryong Inspects Various Fields of National Economy,”
KCNA, February 16, 2020.
[7]
“Sangwon Cement Complex,” KCNA, January 9, 2020
[8] ”Kim
Jong Suk Textile Mill,” KCNA, February 20, 2020
[9]
“Conference for Reviewing Work in Agricultural Field in 2019 Opens,” KCNA, January
18, 2020
[10]
Regarding Phosphatic Fertilizer Factory: “Construction of Phosphatic Fertilizer
Factory Progresses Apace in DPRK,” KCNA, February 22, 2020. Regarding Tideland
Reclamation: “Tideland Reclamation in Full Swing,” KCNA, April 6, 2020
[11] For
example, “Kim Jae Ryong Inspects Various Fields of National Economy,” KCNA,
January 21, 2020; “Pak Pong Ju Inspects Various Units,” KCNA, February 3, 2020;
“Choe Ryong Hae Inspects Sunchon Phosphatic Fertilizer Factory under
Construction,” KCNA, February 5, 2020.
[12] See,
note [1].
[13]
“Spokesperson for DPRK Foreign Ministry Issues Statement,” KCNA, March 7, 2020
[14] See,
note [1].
