Mick Hartley

Kim Jong-un's abandonment of the old policy of reunification of the two Koreas in favour of the new "two hostile states" line is getting te full state propaganda treatment:

North Korea has ordered propaganda officials in Pyongyang to intensify ideological crackdowns following recent moves to emphasize the “two hostile state” doctrine, Daily NK has learned.

A source in Pyongyang said recently that the propaganda department of the city’s party committee held a lecture for propaganda officials from district party committees and major factories on Nov. 6 at party headquarters.

The lecture followed Kim Jong Un’s recent constitutional changes that rejected shared national identity with South Korea and the concept of reunification, instead defining North and South as “two hostile states.” It aimed to reinforce regime cohesion by emphasizing “our state first” ideology and state symbols.

The city party committee’s propaganda department introduced new educational materials about the “our state first” ideology and national symbols, directing officials to focus on ideological activities for party members and workers.

“Propaganda officials must recognize that state symbols are not mere symbols but powerful means to inspire people’s identity and patriotism,” the source quoted from the lecture. Officials were ordered to teach the public about national symbols including the flag, emblem, national flower (magnolia), national dog (Pungsan), national tree (pine), and national language (Pyongyang dialect of Korean).

The lecture particularly emphasized teaching patriotism through the national anthem and making it part of educational and cultural life. “The propaganda department believes repeatedly teaching state and socialist creeds will help people understand that North Korea and South Korea are clearly two hostile states,” the source said.

This indicates authorities aim to move beyond promoting general hostility toward South Korea to firmly establish the concept of “two hostile states” in public consciousness. Propaganda activities emphasizing this message will continue through year’s end.

However, some Pyongyang residents have expressed doubt about this ideological shift. “Some question whether you can deny connection with people who share a language and traditions after decades of emphasizing our 5,000 years of shared history and culture,” the source said.

While the promotion of South Korea as a hostile state appears central to North Korea’s current strategy for regime cohesion, the rejection of shared Korean identity has met with some resistance.

In a way, Kim Jong-un has little choice. Great Leader Kim Il Sung's dream of reunification was predicated on the belief – not unrealistic at the time – that North Korea would be the stronger partner, and reunification would just be a matter of the South submitting to the North. Some seventy years on, that vision is dead and buried. North Korea is an economic basket-case and cultural desert only surviving through its links with China and Russia, while South Korea has become an economic and cultural powerhouse. The only conceivable reunification would see the North subsumed into the South. Clearly that is something the Kim dynasty cannot allow. So…two hostile states, and no reunification.

Not, I think, that the majority of South Koreans are that bothered. They're doing fine, and the costs of reunification would be absolutely horrendous – never mind that China would probably intervene before that could happen, should there be a threat to the Kim dynasty. The worry now of course lies in the new concord with Russia, and the sending of some 10,000 North Korean troops to fight in Ukraine. What will the North Koreans get in return?

Kim Jong-un likely has a new spring in his step with the way things are going. On the other hand North Korea's relations with China appear to be deteriorating – and that may be something they'll come to regret. It's also something that an astute US could use to their advantage. But Trump?? Who knows.