In 2007, North Korea made a pledge to its people: A Powerful and Prosperous Nation by 2012. The Stalinist state pledged a boosted economy and better lives for its people, through the usual Juche propaganda of self-reliance and more efficient processes such as the much hyped CNC. To downplay any real economical development in the last 4 years, North Korea has now announced a new broader vision: The “10-Year State Strategy Plan for Economic Development” headed by the “State General Bureau for Economic Development”. According to Korean Central News Agency:
This governmental body will handle all issues arising in implementing state strategy projects for economic development.
This step was taken at a time when miracles and innovations are being performed in the socialist economic construction everyday on the basis of a solid springboard laid for building a thriving socialist nation under the outstanding and tested Songun leadership of Kim Jong Il.
The above-said plan set a state strategic goal for economic development. It puts main emphasis on building infrastructure and developing agriculture and basic industries including electric power, coal, oil and metal industries and regional development. It, at the same time, helps lay a foundation for the country to emerge a thriving nation in 2012 and opens a bright prospect for the country to proudly rank itself among the advanced countries in 2020.
When the above-said strategy plan is fulfilled, the DPRK will emerge not only a full-fledged thriving nation but take a strategic position in Northeast Asia and international economic relations.
It seems likely that much of this “economic growth”, if any actually comes to fruition, will be partly attributed to nepotic leader-to-be Kim Jong-Un. The young successor, like his father Kim Jong-Il, but unlike grandfather Kim Il-Sung, has no real military background and no inputs into political ideology. Therefore, as with the succession from Kim Il-Sung to Kim Jong-Il, the propaganda machine will instead laud him as a “genius”, attributed to ideas and innovations to help boost the North Korean economy. However, the road ahead to a “Powerful and Prosperous” DPRK will be hard fought for either leader as the US and South Korea maintain a hardline approach by enacting economic sanctions and refusing previously consistent foreign food/supply aid.
Source: The Chosun Ilbo / KCNA
