There is no change of tack in N. Korea's foreign policy and budget
(From The Japan Times April 29 issue)

北朝鮮の政策方向、大きな変化なし

North Korea's rubber-stamp legislature ended its latest session on April 9 in Pyongyang. The day before, the 12th Supreme People's Assembly approved the government activities report, this year's budget and last year's settlement of accounts, a constitutional review and a number of personnel and organizational changes.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Il failed to show up at the session. Although it was speculated that Mr. Kim Jong Un, the leader's third son and heir apparent, would attend, he did not.

No clues emerged as to North Korea's basic foreign policy. The assembly made no mention of the country's diplomatic stance toward South Korea, the United States or Japan. It also continued its habit of keeping mum on other important issues. There was no mention of the redenomination of its currency, the won, on Nov. 30, 2009, an event that caused great confusion among North Korea's people. No details were available as to the nature of the constitutional review. Although it was reported that industrial production in 2009 exceeded that of 2008 "greatly," no figures were given.

This year's budget projects that revenue will grow 6.3 percent and expenditure 8.3 percent from last year.

The expenditure breakdown shows defense accounting for 15.8 percent of the total budget, the same as last year. Spending on agriculture will increase by 9.4 percent (compared to a 6.9 percent rise last year), and spending on light industry rises by 10.1 percent (compared to 5.6 percent last year). These increases reflect North Korea's policy of "improvement of people's lives."

But Premier Kim Yong Il made it clear that North Korea will stick to "the socialist principle in economic guidance and control," and also pursue a policy of "improvement through self-reliance." The legislature session introduced no law designed to increase foreign investment.

North Korea has a goal of becoming a "powerful and prosperous country" by 2012. One wonders how it can achieve that goal if it remains economically isolated, and does not work to improve relations with the United States, South Korea and Japan.

北朝鮮の第12期最高人民会議第2回会議が開かれ、政府の活動報告、今年度予算案、昨年の決算報告、憲法の一部改正と人事･組織変更を採択し、形式的な議会の会期が終了した。金正日総書記は欠席、後継者とされる3男の正銀氏の出席が注目されたが姿を現さなかった。

日米韓など対外関係や、通貨呼称単位の変更失敗に関する言及もなかった。憲法条文の改正内容は語られず、工業生産額が前年度を上回ったとしているがその数値は示されなかった。

予算に関しては農業と軽工業の予算増加率が拡大、｢人民生活向上｣政策が反映された。しかし金英逸首相は｢経済指導管理で社会主義の原則｣を固守し、「自力更生」の政策を追求することを明言している。会議では外資誘致関連の法令整備も行なわれなかった。

北朝鮮は2012年に「強盛大国」達成を目指しているが、経済的に孤立したままで、日米韓との関係改善もなく目標を達成できるのだろうか。