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Kim Jong Un seeks self-rehabilitation plan amid lasting sanctions

Kim Jong Un seeks self-rehabilitation plan amid lasting sanctions

Posted March. 18, 2019 07:37,   

Updated March. 18, 2019 07:37

한국어

“Nothing will be done if we see others, while just wishing them to help us with something,” North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reportedly said. North Korea’s official Rodong Sinmun cited his message Saturday to stress the Stalinist country’s self-rehabilitation. After North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui indicated possible suspension of talks with the U.S. on Friday, watchers say that Pyongyang could be preparing for long-term extension of sanctions against the North by the international community.

“Whether we will seek self-rehabilitation or dependence on overseas forces is the serious political question or make-or-break question of whether we will live as self-relying people or become slaves,” the daily reported. “The party and labor group members should strengthen programs to train ideology to ensure that party members and workers will continue to step up efforts to increase power on their own however the situation changes, and resolve the problem through the spirit of self-reliance.”

“Today our party is emphasizing our push to further intensify competition between provinces (provincial administrative districts) in compliance with the new realty in the course of constructing a socialist nation,” the Rodong Sinmun also suggested specific methodology in its editorial. “It represents images of provinces completely transforming and the nation prospering, and the speed at which the provinces are developing and at which our revolution is advancing.”

The daily went on to say that competition between provinces: this is a campaign to make comprehensive advancement meant to accelerate general and full-scale progress of this nation, and is a movement of competition at an unprecedentedly advanced form in terms of scale and content.

Pyongyang has apparently started a campaign to generate achievements by force by region, as it has become uncertain whether it will be able to secure any achievements from its five-year national economy development plan, which will end next year, while sanctions remain intact after the collapse of the second U.S.- North Korea summit held in Hanoi, Vietnam.


In-Chan Hwang hic@donga.com