朝鮮的戰略資源 – 自力更生經濟基礎

朝鮮的戰略資源 – 自力更生經濟基礎
DPRK’s Strategic Resource–Foundation of the Self-Reliant Economy

The First Session of the 14th Supreme People’s Assembly of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea which was held in April this year adopted a decision on further consolidating and developing the country’s self-reliant economy.
The foundation of the self-reliant economy can be called a strategic resource unique to the DPRK.
The DPRK has aspired after building a self-reliant national economy from the early times of its founding.
Establishing a many-sided economic structure, building firm bases of raw materials, equipping all the fields of the national economy with modern technology and training its own native technical cadres–this is the line of building a self-reliant national economy the DPRK has consistently adhered to; it turned down the demand of the Soviet Union to join the COMECON.
It achieved industrialization and developed the rural economy by its own efforts.
The metal industry, the backbone of the economy, relies on domestic raw materials and fuel, and the high-standard machine-building industry which produces CNC equipment is also based on its own technology.

Same is true with the chemical, building-materials and light industries and agriculture.
The foundation of the self-reliant economy has made the DPRK a country strong in independence.
Today different countries in the world are linked to each other economically through globalization. This link, in case a certain country experiences an economic crisis or some countries engage in a trade war, sets off a chain reaction, affecting other counties and regions. To make matters worse, a small number of speculators with huge capital can drive the economy of a country or a region into crisis.
Some countries that have a bigger say in the world arena seek their political, military and economic gains in other countries through withdrawal of investment, economic sanctions and artificial creation of economic crisis.
In particular, it is very common to see one country forcing other countries to make political concessions by using aid, loan and trade war as a weapon.
These economic phenomena, however, cannot work in the DPRK which has a firm foundation of its self-reliant economy.
This is the reason why the DPRK, though it has its own voice and does not make any concessions with regard to its independence in the international arena, is not influenced by any other countries.

The foundation of the DPRK’s self-reliant economy guarantees sustainable development and prosperity of the country.
It guarantees a peaceful environment in the country. A peaceful environment is prerequisite for the development of a country.
As it has a strong foundation of its self-reliant national economy, the DPRK could build a strong defense industry by its own efforts. No country in the world would dare ignite a war against it, which has attained the status of a strategic state, and its people are creating their life without fear of any crisis.
The foundation of the self-reliant economy of the DPRK guarantees the development of its political system.
As they have this foundation, the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea and the DPRK government are satisfactorily executing such socialist policies as free education, free medical care and free housing and are going to further expand the benefits of these people-oriented policies, further consolidating the people’s support and trust in the Party and socialist system. To see from another point of view, the people’s material life is stable and accordingly there is no social unrest, chaos or disturbance because the self-reliant economy is not affected by worldwide economic upheavals.
The foundation also guarantees sustainable development of the country’s economy and culture.
The hostile forces are trying to make its economy collapse through harsh sanctions unknown in the history of humankind. However, the reality shows that the foundation of the country’s self-reliant economy is firm and the level of its modernization, scientification and informatization is being raised day after day. The economy continues to grow while some of its sectors that used to rely on imports are being equipped with production lines based on domestic resources. The development of the economy is giving strong impetus to the development of culture. Investment in education, public health, sports and arts is increasing, bringing remarkable successes.
The future of the DPRK that depends on the foundation of the self-reliant national economy, a strategic resource unique to it, is bright.


Source: Consulate General of Democratic People's Republic of Korea in Hong Kong