North Korean Perception of International Relations How NK sees the world How NK sees Northeast Asia

Diverse Interpretations of world Politics The hegemony of American IR Japanese IR South Korean IR

Diverse Interpretations Chinese IR Tianxia Russian IR Civilizations The Self/Other dialectic The Islamic tradition The Umma

North Korean IR Universities and state-run research institutes A unique NK view Increasing interest in international politics, international economic relations, and international laws

Socialism and International Relations Social formation (사회구성체론) Political economy Domestic politics Imperialism

Kim Il Sung University 김일성종합대학 Open September 1, 1946 7 schools and 24 departments

Kim Il Sung University College of Law: Department of International Law, Department of Political Science School of History School of Philosophy School of Economics

Kim Il Sung University Humanities and social sciences (currently) 력사학부(김일성동지혁명력사학과, 김정일동지혁명력사학과, 조선력사학과, 세계력사학과, 당정책사학과, 종교학과) 철학부(철학과, 김일성주의로작과, 주체사상학과) 문학대학(조선문학과, 조선어학과, 한문학과, 도서관학과, 신문학과, 보도학과, 창작학과, 도서정보학과, 민족고전학과)

Kim Il Sung University 외국어문학부(로어문학과, 중국어문학과, 영어문학과, 독일어문학과, 불어문학과, 에스파니아문학과) 지리학부 경제학부(정치경제학과, 재정학과, 대외경제학과, 통계학과) 법률대학(법학과, 국제법학과, 정치학과)

Academy of Social Science (사회과학원) Center for Trade Center for International Law Center for International Relations Center for Unification

University of International Relations (국제관계대학) Founded in 1956

University of People’s Economy (인민경제대학) Founded in 1946

General Characteristics

State and Nation Normative: nationalism, patriotism Chosun nation first, Koryeo nation first Nation: blood, language, and region Nation > class Daedong River Culture, Pyongyang Dangun Jaju (autonomy)

Two opposing camps Dualism: NK vs. US, anti-imperial force vs. imperial force Anti-imperial, independent force=socialist force + international communist movement + national liberation movement + non-alignment movement + peace-loving force Good and evil: neocons, Islamic fundamentalism

Power Songun Politics = military-first politics Kim Il Sung’s military struggle Independence Gangsugndaeguk Economic policy: defense industry first, light industry and agriculture simultaneously

Why Military-first politics? The collapse of Communism, American unipolarity, economic difficulties The chief force of the revolutionary movement: the military, not the workers Working class?

Ideology Tangible vs. intangible elements Juche ideology

Close to realism Cooperation < conflict, state-centered, the importance of military force

Different from realism Imperialism, class-based, revolution North Korea-centered Revisionism: uncomfortable with the current world order and seeking new order Old international relations: unilateralism, product of imperialism, space of exploitation and plunder Stress democratization of international relations, connects with critical theory

Post-Cold War order The collapse of the world socialist system The balance of power shifted unfavorably 21st century, comeback UN Security Council

Unipolarity US at the apex Cold War era: bipolarity Unfair and unjust Arena for exploitation Cold War era: bipolarity Take interest in the rise of Europe NK seeks good relations with Europe Prefers multipolarity

Kim Il Sung Era Kim Il Sung Century The first century of the independence era The first socialist state appears Multiple socialist states The wind of anti-socialism

Kim Jong Il Era (Kim Jong Il century) New era of Juche revolution Songun period A new, high stage of the revolutionary development 6.15 period

NK’s view of Northeast Asia Confrontation still intact Threat: US and Japan US-ROK and US-Japan alliance Stress amicable relations with China and Russia Exclude Japan and US Conflict of interest between land powers and sea powers

Northeast Asia US at the apex, US-Japan-Korea triangle US occupies SK SK: politically, economically, culturally under US influence (sea power?) Ambivalent about US Japan: the abduction issue

Northeast Asian Security Regional security organization Unrealistic Exclude US and Japan Bilateral interaction The withdrawal of US forces Continental powers vs. maritime powers

New Thinking? North Korean IR – reflection of its past The fortress state: failing and yet threatening Military first to wealth first

New Thinking? Economic cooperation, yes; but security dimension Gorbachev: balance of interest, peaceful coexistence China: peaceful rise, harmonious world North Korea: peace by deterrence

New Thinking? A revisionist power From the fortress state to a bridge state