North Korea

[Ander]

I rarely ever see talk of North Korea on these boards, but they are considered worldwide as one of the "last remaining 'communist states.'" What are your opinions on the country and Juche, its official ideology?

[bezdomni]

Juche has nothing to do with communism, nor does the DPRK.

There isn't much talk about them on here because they are full of shit. The DPRK is neither revolutionary nor leftist.

[chimx]

books worth reading:

Two Koreas by Don Oberdorfer
Korea's Place in the Sun by Bruce Cumings
North Korea by Bruce Cumings, though some argue too apologetic to the regime.

[BobKKKindle$]

I hate it when people criticize ideas that they do not understand. The Juche idea actually contains some concepts that are of great use to, and connected to, Socialism as a whole CPA. For example, allow me to quote you from Kim Jong il's premise on the Juche idea:

"Unlike the Capitalist economy which is geared towards making money, the socialist economy is always aimed at meeting the demands of the people and the country"

"Developed technology provides the possibility to free the working masses from backbreaking labour, narrow down the difference physical and mental labour and resolve independently the difficult and complex problems involved in economic construction"

Furthermore, the idea of self-reliance is not, as you seem to think, a load of rubbish. Do you think that after the revolution, Capitalist states will be willing to trade with us when we socialise the propety of multi nationals? Without imports of raw materials, it is impossible to construct a socialist economy, yet "Depending on others for Raw materials and fuel is leaving ones economic lifeline in the hands of others". You have seen the aggression of the US following Venezuela's nationalisation of its oil industries - they have gone so far as to commit an arms embargo. You see, then, that it is neccessary to have some degree of National independence so as to defend the revolution. Until other states become socialist and therefore support the first revolutionary states, self dependence is necessary.

"Building an independent National economy does not mean national isolation. An independent national economy is opposssed to Imperialism and subjagation, yet it does not rule out economy cooperation. Close economic and technichal cooperation between socialist countries and newly emerging nations can ensure resistance against the Capitalist bloc"

It is clear that Juche is not represented by North korea, in the same way that the USSR did not represent Socialism. The country is far from independanat, and survives on a drip line of international food aid and fuel from China.

The best book on North Korea is 'North Korea - The paranoid peninusla' by Paul French. it is very honest and balanced, especially in the economy section.

[Ali.Cat]

Could someone explain Juche to me, very simply. I was reading about it yesterday - how ironic it was brought up the day after - and I am beyond confused.

[chimx]

http://www.redapollo.org/wiki/index.php/Juche

[bezdomni]

The Juche idea actually contains some concepts that are of great use to, and connected to, Socialism as a whole CPA.
Well, since the Juche doctrine contains the word "communism" in it, it's hard to say that it really has nothing to do with communism...but it doesn't add on anything terribly productive, from what I've been able to tell.


"Unlike the Capitalist economy which is geared towards making money, the socialist economy is always aimed at meeting the demands of the people and the country"
This is not unique to Juche. Socialism 101.


"Developed technology provides the possibility to free the working masses from backbreaking labour, narrow down the difference physical and mental labour and resolve independently the difficult and complex problems involved in economic construction"
Once again...a basic idea derived from Marx and Lenin.


Do you think that after the revolution, Capitalist states will be willing to trade with us when we socialise the propety of multi nationals?
No, but as I've been saying...self-reliance is not unique to Juche. Marxism-Leninism aims to create self-reliance through international revolution and industrailization.


Until other states become socialist and therefore support the first revolutionary states, self dependence is necessary.
Trotsky said that WAY before Kim Jong Il.

[Janus]

First of all, North Korea could only be considered a Communist state in the sense that the Communist party controls the government. It is certainly not classless and definitely not stateless.

As for the government itself, it is quite authoritarian and is basically a one man dictatorship.

[Body Count]

I really like the people of North Korea.

I am torn on the government, they could probably be much better off if they didn't spend so much money on weapons and the military, yet on the other hand...what else can they do really? Imperialist pressure is constant.....

[Body Count]

http://www.revolutionaryleft.com/index.php...ST&f=32&t=51511 (http://www.revolutionaryleft.com/index.php?act=ST&f=32&t=51511)

^^^ I just recently made a topic that links to tons of pictures from North Korea, if anyones interested.

[bloody_capitalist_sham]

I am torn on the government, they could probably be much better off if they didn't spend so much money on weapons and the military, yet on the other hand...what else can they do really? Imperialist pressure is constant.....

they really cannot do anything other than what they are doing.

The DPRK is a shithole.

Luckily, most people in the west dont think socialists/communists actually want a society of that nature.

To those who think they are in anyway communist/socialist, on the DPRK website they has advertisments inviting the capitalists into their country.

DPRK is anti-imperialist only in rhetoric these days.