Menu
close
Home › Forums › Short Online Seminars › Two Koreas, Fall 2019 › Session 4 - November 5, 2011-present
Billie Johnson.
cgaoHow has Kim Jong Un forged his own path for the Kim dynasty? How worried should we be about North Korea?
Video: The Two Koreas in the Kim Jong Un era (2011-)
Readings:
Billie JohnsonHow has Kim Jong Un forged his own path for the Kim dynasty? How worried should we be about North Korea?
First and foremost, Kim is the first North Korea leader to step foot in South Korea since the end of the war. Also, Kim meeting with President Trump was huge on a global scale as many agrued that this legitimized Kim garnering him more power. I think this shows that he is forging his own path by showing some signs as wanting to open up North Korea for business. He is at least flirting with the idea and now that the North Korean economy is suffering we may see even more of this in addition to the ramped up threats. There seems to be this push and pull between following the old way of running the country and leading in a new era. Inviting Dennis Rodman to the county, stepping foot into South Korea, meetings with US leaders, summit with President Trump, and the impromptu meeting with Trump at the DMZ were opportunities for Kim to gain favor globally. On one hand it looks as though Kim wants to dabble in politics as a regular politician and on the other there is something holding him back.
I think we should be worried about North Korea because as the imposed sanctions continue to squeeze the economy, Kim Jong Un could become more and more deserpate which could lead to some frightening circumstances. As a nuclear power this is very much a concern for the west and contries within the region. The ties between China, Russia, and North Korea are and should be a concern because of the trade war with China and sanctions that have been imposed on Russia as well. This is an incredibly volatile time, but I would argue that it so because the US is not doing business as usual anymore.
Angelique CallicoatEach of the Kim leaders desire their own path or to make their own mark on North Korea. I think this desire is common to most world leaders, dynastic or elected. And given the public personalities of Donald Trump "The Great Negotiator", Moon Jai-in, a former human rights lawyer and determined mediator, and finally the authoritarian, very pro-Communistic Xi Jinping Kim Jong-Un is undoubtedly attempting to figure out how to be who he wants North Korea to be. Does Kim Jong-Un want commerce? Does he want international fame? Does he want trade? Does he want nuclear domination?
I'd like to know more about Kim Jong-Un's influencers, like his mentors and education and activities (I know, I know...basketball). Could those reliably give us some insight into his goals for North Korea? Does he read or listen to outside news sources? Does he understand what nuclear aggression would lead to?
I have more questions than comments this week. I am looking forward to the discussion tonight.
Jennifer Jung-KimHi, Everyone,
I am looking forwrad to tonight's session. If you would like to read more about sanctions, here is a new article:
Best,
Jennifer
Jennifer Jung-KimHi, Everyone,
This also became news last week, and if you have a chance, see what the Chinese government is saying about it.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/30/world/asia/eastman-school-music-china.html
Best,
Jennifer
Duane JohansenHere's more information about Guy Delisle's book, Pyongyang: A Journey in North Korea: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/80834.Pyongyang
It's very accessible and is easy to excerpt for use in the classroom.
Angelique CallicoatI just picked this book up from a bookstore over this past weekend. It's gorgeous and meditative. And the translation--like the translation work in The Vegetarian is so strong and vibrant.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/25/books/review/han-kang-white-book.html
Jennifer Jung-KimI had never heard of this book. I'm ordering it right away. Thank you!
Jennifer Jung-KimI see Amazon has the hardcover for only $8.99! Thanks!
Jennifer Jung-Kim
Jennifer Jung-KimI cannot find the title of the book on North Korea that I mentioned I will keep looking.
Please remind me what else I said I would follow up on. Thank you!
Billie JohnsonHi Jennifer,
I really enjoyed this session because there are so many different dynamic personalities at play here. Also, I had some of the same thoughts and questions as some of the other participants. It does seem to me that Kim has one foot in the old world and one in the new world. He has traveled and is familiar with the world outside of North Korea and I am sure that he wants to open up North Korea more than it is but politics is holding back progress perhaps. I wanted to mention that Japan is a good example of retaining its culture and embracing the 21st century, or am I incorrect with that frame of thinking? If the concern is that opening up North Korea will lead to a revolt (of course I cannot read his mind) then he must know this this way of living is not right for his people.
Len KriegerThese are the notes and things I learned during the week 4 zoom session based on some of the questions I and my classmates asked.
President Trump mistakes with numbers when he stated US spends to much in SK claiming it was 5 billion spent instead of 1.25 billion in 2018, SK didn’t want to offend Americans by correcting him.
Ryugyong Hotel is made of concrete and rebar and was not coducive to making elevators go straight, so NK put elevators on exterior. NK, they won’t tear it down, because it might be considered a sign of admitting defeat. I also found it interesting, they do get some sort of use for it by conducting laser light shows.
A lot of Kim Jong Un and his dealing socially is staged to show good face, and not always an accurate depiction of what he or his regime is like behind the scenes.
NK needs China as an ally and they provide Kim Jong Un with new cars like the maybach and luxury goods through government officials and if not them through Chiese nationals.
North Koreans also flee into China, or to a third country for asylum, China are still worried about NKs nuclear capabilities as a nuclear state, and found it interesting that Russia has presence since they share a 10 mile border.
I.O.C has to approve all aspects of countries participation for Olympics, NK and SK couldn’t enter together, and half of the South Korean hockey team got booted to make room for North Korean players and the coach of the team was not even Korean.
The one talking point Jennifer made that stuck with me was, the US likes to have "hand in every pie around the world" which couldn't be more correct, seeing how almost everytime you turn on the news you hear about the USA delving into foreign affairs in other countries instead of working on and focusing on eternal issues our country is currently facing (food insecurity, debt, gun control, unemployment, etc.)
Billie JohnsonIn terms of the denial of visas, I'm curious what the benefit would be for the Chinese government or are they just being difficult. I found this quote interesting: “If, as people say, we are refusing to issue visas to South Koreans due to the Thaad issue, how did these several millions of people come?” Mr. Geng said at a regular news briefing in Beijing. What were the terms of these millions of South Koreans who visited China? Alson, if the visas denials were intentional as believed, how incredibly petty. Perhaps China knew that this denial would garner national attention because of these students' affiliation with an American institution. I think I am curious about the back story.
Billie JohnsonI looked this up and it is unfortunate that this project has gone uncompleted. Even based on the conversation we had in class it appears that it is all about the image of success but not actual success. For a building that was supposed to open in 1989 perhaps completing this project and opening it up for business could be symbolic of opening up North Korea...who knows. It would be nice to see more economic development and enterprise opportunities for the people of North Korea.