North Korean Identity

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (hereafter referred to as North Korea) is a fascinating state. With an absolute dictatorship that controls all aspects of their peoples’ lives, it is hard for anyone in the western world to understand why. Why would a government that is so strapped for basic necessities reject foreign aid? Why would they willingly attack a relatively peaceful nation for no reason other than who they are? A robot certainly wouldn’t make those irrational decisions, why would any human? The short answer: Humans are irrational. We place so much stock in abstract ideas that we make foolish (or seemingly foolish) decisions. Ideas like “National Pride” or “Ethnic Identity”. You can’t eat an “Ethnic Identity”, or live in a “National Pride”, so why is it that people are willing to kill and be killed over them? These are the basic questions of Social Theorists. In North Korea’s case, it is a mix of both their national identity and their inherent militarism that drives their actions. These grew from a complex history, and a cult of personality around the Kim family.

The history of civilization on the Korean Peninsula can be traced back thousands of years. In its history, it has been invaded, occupied, and abused many times by countries much larger than their own (state.gov). The history of North Korea as a state, however, only reaches back until the sensitive years immediately after World War II (state.gov). After the occupying Japanese forces were kicked out, the nations of the world realized that something needed to be done about the power vacuum left in Korea. Initially, an effort was made to create a single nation on the peninsula, but those negotiations quickly dissolved into the product of Cold-War era politics (state.gov). The decision was made to split the land in half, with the north being backed by the USSR, and the south by the US (state.gov). The north would adhere to Communist ideals, while the south would develop a Capitalistic society. In the north, a Soviet-supported leader was put into power, a man by the name of Kim Il-Sung (state.gov). Soon after the establishment of North Korea, border clashes and other violence broke out, eventually leading to the Korean War (state.gov). With Communist revolution in China complete, many Chinese volunteers went to North Korea to help fight of the south and her allies, which consisted of the first coalition force of the United Nations (state.gov). A few years of fighting and millions of deaths ended with an Armistice Pact in 1953 (state.gov). To this day, no other document has replaced this cease-fire agreement, thus leaving the two nations still technically at war (state.gov). So, where does North Korea stand today? After “The Eternal President’s” death in 1994, his son, Kim Jong-Il took over (state.gov). Now, it seems that the wheels of succession are turning again, with his son Kim Jong-Un poised to take the top spot. Last year, North Korean forces bombarded the small South Korean island of Yeonpyeong with artillery fire. Peter Foster notes that this attack could be intended to show the world, and the North Korean civilians themselves, that Kim Jong-Un is more than capable of being a strong leader, and one who will continue the Kim regime for years to come (telegraph.co.uk).

This history sheds some light on the central question of why the North Korean government does some of the things it does. For one, while the South Koreans have moved on from the Korean War and tried to better themselves like the rest of the world, North Korea is still fighting that war. Militarism is defined in our textbook as “the glorification of war, military force, and violence through TV, films, books, political speeches, toys, games, sports, and other such avenues” (Goldstein and Pevehouse 107). North Korea certainly fits easily into that category. Since the government controls all aspects of the media, most, if not all, of what is produced is pure propaganda (state.gov). For example, Miles Burke shows that after the shelling of Yeonpyeong, the Korean Central News Agency (a state run North Korean news station) started reporting that the North would continue to strike the South if South Korea violated their territorial waters by “even 0.001 millimeter” (telegraph.co.uk). Another common form of propaganda is the simple poster. One of which displays a giant North Korean soldier literally punching through the Capitol Building. These images and threats are undoubtedly militaristic, and are effective in spurring nationalism in the populace. They also continually reinforce the notion that the country is at war, further pushing the people to think that they are in danger all the time, and that their problems do not come from poor governing, but from outside sources. That is one of the reasons why North Korea will attack Yeonpyeong, or shoot missiles over Japan, or any of the other aggressive things it does: it is an inherently militaristic society brought on by the indefinite “end” of the Korean War, and promoted through effective propaganda and fear campaigns.

Another reason why North Korea acts the way it does is the cult of personality built up around the Kim family. Kim Il-Sung, North Korea’s first president, is exalted to a godlike status. He was named “Eternal President” after he died, and any backtalk against him is punishable by death. The same goes for his son, Kim Jong-Il. Even though he is not officially president, since his father still occupies that role, he is still the “Dear Leader” and is given credit for everything good that happens in North Korea. His word is law, and anyone who tries to change that fact will face dire consequences. But, despite this harsh reality, Kim Jong-Il is central to North Korean identity. Good Magazine points out that there are many obvious exaggerations and outright fabrications about Kim Jong Il’s official biography (good.is). For one, in the official version of his birth (the one that is taught in textbooks all across the country) he is born on the sacred Mount Paektu, a legendary mountain in Korean mythology (good.is). When, on the other hand, Soviet records indicate that he was born in a refugee camp near the remote village of Vyatskoye (good.is). The story goes on to say that many other mythical events occurred right after his birth, among them: a new star appears in the sky, a frozen lake near the cabin where he was born breaks in two releasing a mysterious sound, and a double rainbow appears in the sky, showing that the earth is rejoicing at the arrival of the new leader (good.is). These mythical events did not stop at his birth, however. Julian Ryall notes that the “Dear Leader” also claims to have been, “walking at three weeks and talking at eight weeks. He wrote six operas in three years at university, as well as no fewer than 1,500 books. [Kim Jong-Il] is also credited with 11 holes-in-one and a 38-under par the first time he picked up a golf club and is equally a genius at architecture and directing movies” (telegraph.co.uk). Why would anyone believe any of this stuff? Because this is what is ingrained in every North Korean from the time they are born until the time that they die. They are told that all of this is fact. And if it was true, why would anyone go against a man that had seemingly divine powers? This is such a successful propaganda campaign that the people are kept in control, and are willing to look the other way when they see obvious abuses of power because Kim Jong-Il is a god, and god certainly knows best. Since he is essentially a god, he is central to the North Korean identity. The people believe, or at least are forced to “believe”, that without him, North Korea would fall. He is the source of all good things and of the government itself, so people are willing to do extreme things for him.

In the end, North Korea is a rogue state with an agenda that very few people know. As the world moves forward toward a more open and liberal order, North Korea remains in the dark. Its highly militaristic attitude and elevation of Kim Jong Il are only two of many reasons why this is. The question now is how long can this last? How long can the North Korean government cover up famines and injustices, while remaining stable enough to control millions of people? Some would argue forever, some would argue that collapse is right around the corner. But the fact remains, North Korea has a long way to go before it ever catches up with the rest of the world.

Works Cited

Burke, Miles. "Video: North Korea Broadcasts Propaganda Response to Yeonpyeong Island Shelling - Telegraph." Telegraph.co.uk - Telegraph Online, Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph - Telegraph. Telegraph, 23 Nov. 2010. Web. 07 Oct. 2011. .

Goldstein, Joshua S., and Jon C. Pevehouse. International Relations. Boston: Pearson Longman, 2012. Print.

Foster, Peter. "North Korean Attack on Yeonpyeong Island Is Worst against Civilians in 20 Years - Telegraph." Telegraph.co.uk - Telegraph Online, Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph - Telegraph. Telegraph, 23 Nov. 2010. Web. 07 Oct. 2011. .

"North Korea." U.S. Department of State. 29 Apr. 2011. Web. 07 Oct. 2011. .

Ryall, Julian. "Analysis: North Korea's Bizarre Personality Cult and Why It Has Worked – so Far - Telegraph." Telegraph.co.uk - Telegraph Online, Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph - Telegraph. Telegraph, 31 Jan. 2011. Web. 07 Oct. 2011. .

The Two Births of Kim Jong Il: Myth vs. Fact. Ani. James Sumner. Good Magazine, 2007. Web Video.