Ruling clique in North Korea to continue moving firmly towards 'free market'

[RedWorker]

In one of their latest news published (http://naenara.com.kp/en/trade/?news+1+1) in an official website they announced the creation of several new "free market zones".

It announced creation of "economic development zones" in: Chongjin City of North Hamgyong Province, Hyesan City of Ryanggang Province, Manpho City of Jagang Province and Sinuiju City of North Phyongan Province and industrial development zones in Hamhung City of South Hamgyong Province, Wonsan City of Kangwon Province, Wiwon County of Jagang Province and Chongnam District of South Phyongan Province.

Whereas Unjong District of Pyongyang, Sinuiju City of North Phyongan Province and Kangryong County of South Hwanghae Province were to become 'development parks'.

It even claimed they would try to establish them everywhere:

"The DPRK government decided to set up EDZ in every province and municipality conducive to improving its people's standard of living, developing the national economy and boosting the economic exchange with foreign countries."

They specified: "All those development projects would be carried out by means of establishing joint ventures with foreign companies or individual investors or setting up separate enterprises. Foreign companies and individuals can invest in any development zones they hope for."

80% of profits of each North Korean individual already come from the private sector of the economy. And many enterprises are individually owned under the guise of 'state ownership'.

Here are some extracts from the regulation on "economic development parks":

"The working day of employees in the EDPs shall be 8 hours a day, 48 hours a week on average"

"An enterprise shall give its employees 14 days of regular holidays"

Definitely the ultimate labor conditions. We have socialism right here, people.

[Creative Destruction]

lol

counting down to the moment when the western nations stop propagandizing about the hermit kingdom, disregard all the abuses because they started "opening up" markets.

[BIXX]

I have to admit the new economic zones would probably be a nice place to be compared to most of NK.

[RedWorker]

I have to admit the new economic zones would probably be a nice place to be compared to most of NK.

If this was really to result in some economic development it may as well improve the working class' conditions... which shows how ridiculous the notion of 'socialism' is for some individuals.

[John Nada]

NOOOOOOOOO! Capitalism has been restored! OhGodMarx, why GodMarx ,why?:crying: Who's left for anti-imperialist to defend now? Break my heart RedWorker. Next you'll tell me that Cuba has special economic zones, Venezuela re-privatized their oil, and Bolivia legalized child labor. Lenin forbid it!:glare:
If this was really to result in some economic development it may as well improve the working class' conditions... which shows how ridiculous the notion of 'socialism' is for some individuals.No, they must spread the global revolution, fuck this petty-bourgeois revisionist notion of "improved quality of life"!:lol:

But seriously, some of that shit is interesting. They show a picture of a liberated Korea! And they're not only making lights, but LED! On paper the worker's got more rights there than any job I've had. Paid leave, unions, vacations, 48 hour work week(Though to be fair I usually get pretty shitty jobs.:unsure: )

What's that boa extract? Sounds like something I'd want.;)

[RedWorker]

Yes, I'm sure the one legal, state-owned trade union does well to protect workers' rights.

In South Korea, the situation isn't much better: 9.9% of workers are unionized, down from 19.8% in 1989.

[Sinister Cultural Marxist]

In a global capitalist system, there will always be pressures on autarkic bureaucracies to open up to international trade. It offers a more efficient manner for them to exploit their labor. The bourgeois mentality and behavior of the bureaucracy does not seem to prevent people from characterizing these countries as "worker's states" nonetheless.

[Illegalitarian]

The last time I was in the country about 5 years ago they showed us Kaesong and it seemed kind of terrible in comparison to what I've seen of the rest of the country.

I got the impression that those who worked there somehow had it even worse than in the notheast where a lot of the industrial and heavy ag work took place.

[tuwix]

In one of their latest news published (http://naenara.com.kp/en/trade/?news+1+1) in an official website they announced the creation of several new "free market zones".


Their idiocy develops as free marker will never exist according to its own definitions.




Yes, I'm sure the one legal, state-owned trade union does well to protect workers' rights.


But as I remember a stet capitalism in Poland, the "state-owned trade union" did nothing to protect workers' rights.



In South Korea, the situation isn't much better: 9.9% of workers are unionized, down from 19.8% in 1989.

Nevertheless, it's better than in that quasi-feudal zone of idiocy.

[Hrafn]

But as I remember a stet capitalism in Poland, the "state-owned trade union" did nothing to protect workers' rights.

Which is what RedWorker is saying, yes.

[Half Commie]

Haha. 48 hours? FDR's USA was better :laugh: to hell with these asocial destructors of socialism.

[The Undecided]

Was NK really socialist to begin with? This is slightly off-topic, but while Kim Jong-un lives a great live, there are people starving elsewhere in the country. Redistribution of product? Equality? Where is it?

[The Intransigent Faction]

Was NK really socialist to begin with? This is slightly off-topic, but while Kim Jong-un lives a great live, there are people starving elsewhere in the country. Redistribution of product? Equality? Where is it?

True, but socialism isn't simple "redistribution of product". It's a change in the economic relationships in which things are produced.

[Tsiolkovsky on the Moon]

It's not a totally radical change. Although North Korea has a totalitarian command economy officially, much of the economy functions by extralegal local markets and capitalist black markets.

Free Trade Zones are nothing new, nearly every Socialist regime had them. The purpose of an free trade zone is to give your local industry access to new technology, new management philosophy etc etc., which you didn't perhaps focus on locally.

North Korea has had free trade zones for quite some time now, even under Kim Jong Il. The Pyongwa automobile in North Korea was made in a free trade zone as a North-South collaboration project.

[Ceallach_the_Witch]

I suppose I'll have to find some other crackpot regime to 'critically support' in some half-baked interpretation of anti-imperialism. Drat.

[jullia]

Just hope those crazy dictator will die as soos as possible;

[Mass Grave Aesthetics]

What we have here is the begining of a self- imposed Structural adjustment program.

I'm really looking forward to following the reactions of heartbroken and disillusioned tankies over this. Seeing them go through stages of anger, denial and grief will be beautiful, heartwarming and entertaining.

[OzymandiasX]

What we have here is the begining of a self- imposed Structural adjustment program.

I'm really looking forward to following the reactions of heartbroken and disillusioned tankies over this. Seeing them go through stages of anger, denial and grief will be beautiful, heartwarming and entertaining.

Basically the USSR over again. But the delusion here has obviously been much more intensive and ingrained. It will be fascinating to watch the North Korean exposure to the fanatical consumerism and materialism of the west when they have been so wholly deprived of even the most rudimentary necessities.