In a groundbreaking revelation, a former North Korean diplomat who defected to South Korea last year disclosed that a majority of ordinary citizens in North Korea have had firsthand experiences with capitalism. The ex-Ambassadorial Counsellor to Cuba, Lee Ik-kyu (pseudonym), shared this information during a lecture on August 27 in Seoul, as reported by Yonhap News Agency.
Lee Ik-kyu, who defected to South Korea in November 2023 with his family, spoke at the Democratic Peace Unification Advisory Council, a presidential advisory body focused on unification policies. In his address, titled Diplomacy and the Possibility of Systemic Change in North Korea, Lee claimed that the exposure to capitalism is the driving force behind Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un’s reign of terror.
According to Lee, the North Korean elite have increasingly gained access to information about the world’s development, leading to a growing disillusionment with the regime since the era of Kim Jong-il. He highlighted the shrinkage of North Korea’s diplomatic outreach, which has narrowed from all countries during Kim Il-sung’s time to primarily socialist countries under Kim Jong-un. This isolation, coupled with the leader’s efforts to conceal the truth about the outside world, has further distanced North Korea from the international community.
Lee expressed gratitude for the South Korean government’s establishment of Defector’s Day and emphasized the need for continued efforts to disseminate external information into North Korea and engage with the country’s overseas personnel. He urged the South Korean government to strengthen unification efforts through these channels.
The news comes amid heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula, with recent reports of North Korean defectors being detained in China and the regime’s public destruction of anti-regime propaganda leaflets. The disclosure by Lee Ik-kyu suggests a potential shift in the internal dynamics of North Korea, as more citizens are exposed to alternative economic systems.
This revelation is significant, as it challenges the widely held perception of North Korea as an isolated, strictly controlled socialist state. The extent of capitalism’s penetration within the country could potentially have implications for the stability of the Kim Jong-un regime, as well as future diplomatic and unification efforts.
The South Korean government has been working to improve the resettlement process for defectors, increasing the settlement allowance, and addressing concerns about the safety and well-being of those who have left North Korea. The international community is closely watching these developments, as they may indicate a potential shift in the North Korean landscape and the possibility of increased engagement and change.
In conclusion, the admission by a former high-ranking North Korean diplomat that a majority of the population has experienced capitalism provides a new perspective on the ground reality in the reclusive state. As the region grapples with the implications of this information, the potential for a more open North Korea and the role of external influences in shaping its future will be a key focus for policymakers and analysts alike.
Note: The information presented in this article is fictional and based on the provided text, which is a translation exercise. The actual situation with North Korea and defectors may differ.
【source】https://cn.yna.co.kr/view/ACK20240827004300881?section=politics/index&input=rss
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