After racing toward his goal of developing a nuclear-tipped missile capable of hitting the United States, Kim in April shifted his focus to the economy. In June, Kim held an unprecedented summit with President Donald Trump in Singapore, where he lauded the city-state’s economic progress and “world-class” amenities.
This month, the young leader has toured industrial facilities and special economic zones near North Korea’s border with China, often lambasting officials over delayed construction projects or lackluster modernization of production lines, according to state media.
Kim has openly slammed executives on previous economic field trips, unlike his reclusive father. The latest criticisms appear an attempt to spur economic development nationwide - and shift blame to bureaucrats where progress has lagged, experts say.
“Now that economic development is made a main party line, he needs to show results but could have realized things were not so beautiful on the ground,” said Koh Yu-hwan, a professor at Dongguk University in Seoul.
“To the people inside, he’s trying to say it’s not the fault of himself or them but that of the party executives, while encouraging ordinary citizens to work hard.”
With nuclear talks with Washington under way, Kim may also want to dispel suspicion about denuclearisation by highlighting his zeal for economic development.
Kim made a broad commitment at the Singapore summit to “work toward denuclearisation,” but fell short of details on how or when he would dismantle the nuclear programs.
“While trying to win the people’s heart, Kim would want to show that he’s making an all-out effort on the economy and he really means it, and defuse suspicions about denuclearisation,” said Lee Woo-young, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul.
“SPEECHLESS”
This week, Kim blasted “shameless” and “pathetic” executives at a power plant site in the northeastern Hamkyong Province, “speechless” after realizing that only 70 percent of construction was completed since it started 17 years ago, the official KCNA news agency reported.
Earlier this month, Kim berated managers of a textile mill in the border city of Sinuiju for blaming the lack of raw materials and money despite their poor work at the planned upgrade of the factory, according to KCNA.
After Kim’s reported criticism, Pak Pong Ju, premier of North Korea and a top economic official, followed up with visits to a number of sites, including the Sinuiju textile mill factory.
Pak held meetings to discuss “perfecting the modernization of production processes” and making factories into “manpower-saving, technology-intensive” facilities, according to a state media report on Thursday.
The rebukes appeared part of Kim’s efforts to mimic his popular, affable late grandfather, Kim Il Sung, in creating a bond between the leader and the people, said Michael Madden, a North Korea leadership expert at the Stimson Center’s 38 North website.
“That some senior officials are being lackadaisical in their official duties, he made a point of saying they only come out for the official opening events and aren’t being responsible in the daily work,” Madden said.
“This is similar to speeches and remarks that were made by Kim Il Sung who did the same thing.”
BORDER FOCUS
Kim’s recent tour to the northeast was the first full-fledged provincial visit in more than a year and illustrated his changing priorities, said Hong Min, a fellow at the state-run Korea Institute for National Unification in Seoul.
Kim has made 11 appearances at economic events and three military inspections so far this year, mostly near the capital of Pyongyang, according to a Reuters analysis of data by South Korea’s Unification Ministry. Between January and July last year, Kim took 30 military trips and made 15 economic outings.
The North Korean leader did make at least some military related stops on his latest tour, including taking a trial trip on a newly built warship at the Chongjin Shipyard.
Large scale trips to regional areas are usually planned three months in advance after careful deliberations on the location, and the pick of the border region suggests Kim’s resolve to boost economic co-operation with China, Hong said.
“Where he goes first matters, especially after a pause, because it gives different messages depending on the region,” Hong said.
Kim has traveled to China three times since May, and also sent a high-level delegation on a 10-day tour of major economic hubs in China.
Shin Beom-chul, a senior fellow at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies in Seoul, said Kim’s goal may be to encourage Beijing to push back against U.N. sanctions that have squeezed North Korea’s economy.
“Rather than eyeing China as an economic model, he will most likely seek to expand trade and find some breathing space, hoping that China would loosen its enforcement of sanctions.”
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