The objective of this paper is to consider the change of the military influence based on the political role of North Korean military under Kim Jong Il's period. This article focused on the political role of military in socialism, enlargement of the po...
The objective of this paper is to consider the change of the military influence based on the political role of North Korean military under Kim Jong Il's period. This article focused on the political role of military in socialism, enlargement of the political role of military in Kim Jong Il's period, and the possibility of political role of military after death of Kim Jong Il. The abstract of the result derived from this study is following.
The political role of North Korean military has the characteristics like these.
First, the political role of North Korean military is bigger than the one in the other nations in socialism.
Secondly, Kim Jong Il absolutely needed cooperation of the military in the process of the succession of the power, and he built up the military strength for this and the military also gave positive aid to the succession of the power for strength of their power.
Third, the enlargement of the military role symbolized by 'Military-first politics' was appeared by the background of crisis of the system such as the problem of food in the early and middle 1990's, 'Military-First politics' has contributed to the breakthrough of the crisis.
But, the political influence of the military has the limit like this.
First, the connection of Party-Military is not changed by the result of 'Military- first - politics'. Military is still faithful to the leader and the Party as the tool of the Party and it is functioning under the system of the Party as long as North Korea has the system of Party-Nation .
Secondly. ascending level of the military staffs is caused just by the ruling system of Kim Jong Il and it is different from the strengthening the personal political ability of the military staffs themselves.
Third, they prohibit the military staffs from forming the personal network through the dispersion of the power by Kim Jong Il and the controlled system.
Fourth, the strengthening of the military status means just absolute loyalty to Kim Jong Il's the only controlling system but do not inhibit or threaten Kim Jong Il's status.
If Kim Jong Il died without arranging next leader, the change of the North Korean military attitude is prospected like this.
First, there are many difficulties in keeping the only leader system by the military. Equality system and Restraints between military staffs will work as an obstacle to make the only controlling system under powerlessness by the death of Kim Jong Il.
Secondly, the military has very little possibility to take the positive political role like military coup de-tat happened in Poland and Soviet Union but it will take the role of the military of the party to protect it by the demand of the party.
Third, in the case of the uprising of the people, the Military will take the role to protect the people as the military for the people rather than controlling them.
Fourth, it is possible for the military to lead revolution as the political power itself if disability of the party and national chaos are continued.
In conclusion, the political role of the North Korean military under Kim Jong Il's period was strengthened so much but the military leading system of the party is maintained under Kim Jong Il's fixed only leader ruling system.
North Korean Military is doing well their role as an army of Sooryung and the tool of the party. North Korean military will take the role first as an army of the party in the emergency such as Kim Jong Il's death. But now the problems such as financial difficulties and discoloration of socialism ideology in North Korea has been expressed. There is the possibility that political chaos can be deepened and in that case, North Korean military can take the role to participate in the real politics under the name of the military of the people.