The two purposes of the study are identifying the differences between China and North Korea through comparing and analysing their military-ruling thoughts and military command systems and understanding characteristics of China and North Korea. Moreove...
The two purposes of the study are identifying the differences between China and North Korea through comparing and analysing their military-ruling thoughts and military command systems and understanding characteristics of China and North Korea. Moreover, it can be significant that the study on the changes of North Korean military, military defense, command and ruling system by time period. This study covers from Mao to Hu for China and from Kim Il Sung to Kim Jong Il for North Korea. The reasons why I chose this issue are as follows.
First, we should study on Chinese control organization to understand North Korean's. Korea, which pursues peace and stability in Korean Peninsula, considers China’s influence over Korean Penninsula crucial as much as enhancing the relationship with North Korea. These come from regional, historical and strategic characteristics in China-North Korea relationship.
Second, in terms of North Korean control organizations, they applied Chinese model as they share similar experiences; guerrilla struggle against Japan, Maoism and Kim ilsungism which came from Marx-Leninism, the Great Leap Forward and Chunlima Campaign, etc. Therefore, I focused on the changes and relations on Chinese and North Korean military-ruling thoughts and military command systems. With the historical institutionalism point of view, comparative method is applied by researching the literature.
For analysis, I divided the factors about Chinese and North Korean military-ruling thoughts, party-military relationships and military command systems into two main groups. For the detailed analytical point, first, ① the origin of military and the founding thought of the armed forces, ② military instruction thoughts and the role of military, and ③ percepting relations between party and military are applied for military-ruling thoughts and party-military relations. Second, ④ the change of military, military defense, command and ruling system, ⑤ party center military committee, ⑥ political department(General Political Bureau) and ⑦ national central military committee are chosen for a military command system. The outcomes of the study from this statement are as follows.
First, China and North Korea have a similarity in the foundation of its military as they named it as the people’s military before the establishment of a government. However, it is differentiated by the fact that Chinese military was established based on its capability to engage in armed struggle, whereas North Korean military was established through the support of Soviet Union. Also, Chinese military has the characteristics of Party's military while North Korean military holds the characteristics of leader's and his successors' forces.
Second, China and North Korea have a similarity in making a role of military and military affairs guidelines followed by the traditional communist military affairs guidelines; then, they developed the theory of the revolutionary forces struggle. China promotes its military with ideas on limited warfare aiming at military instrution thoughts and intelligence, instead of focusing on "People's War Strategy". However, it is determined that North Korea focuses on military ideas based on self-defense and offenses under its "military first" policy with basis on its "Four Military Lines".
Third, China and North Korea have a similarity in making a relationship between the Party and the Military as they recognized the military as a center of gravity. Military authorities did not challenge party presidency, and top military leader concurrently held a position as a leader in party office to prevent feud. Difference also arises on the fact that Chinese government empowers the regional forces as well as the government holds the superiority. However, North Korea holds the centralization of power.
Forth, China and North Korea military organizations have a similarity in separating the military administration and the military command to fulfill all the conditions of unified military and various command systems in the aspect of political, military and administrative system. China has also developed its military defense command/guidance system based on three strategies (normalization, liberalization and modernization). On the other hand, North Korea has developed its military based on the goal to establish "one-man" ruling system ever since the establishment of the military forces.
Fifth, China and North Korea have a similarity in the Party's Central Military Committee having an actual authority over the military aspect. After its formation, Chinese Party's Central Military Committee directed its military in all aspects of a permanent organization. However, North Korea Party's Central Military Committee existed as a temporary organization until 2010. When it became permanent organization in the Third Party Representative's Conference, it was followed after the official announcement of "Kim Jong-Eun" system.
Sixth, General Political Department of China and General Political Bureau of North Korea have similarities in functioning the executive role in the party committee to construct the party's military. General Political Department of China executes its mission as an affiliation to Party Military Committee, whereas North Korea General Political Bureau is a government agency under direct control of its Party Central Military Committee. These are the differences between China and North Korea.
Seventh, Chinese National Central Military Committee and North Korean National Defense Committee have a similarity in executing party’s policies as a national institution and their the power is concentrated to the chairman. Chinese National Central Military Committee and Party Central Military Committee have the similar characteristics as their party's and nation's organization as they are composed with same personnel. However, North Korean National Defense Committee contains the different characteristics than its Party Central Military Committee and adheres to the status of Chairman of National Defense of North Korea who institutionalized "military first" policy during the reign of "Kim Jong-il". The outcome of the research on changes of North Korea's wartime, peacetime command and ruling system is as follows.
First, Establishment of Army and Korean War is a period(1948 ~ 1953) in which KPA(Korean People's Army) was established and people-oriented military command system was formed. During this period. North Korea caused the Korean War under the command of KPA Headquarter. During the wartime, Supreme Command executed the Korean War under the guidance of Kim Il-Sung(Chairman of Central Committee, Supreme Commander, and Speaker of Cabinet).
Second, ‘Making "one-man rule" system(1954 ~ 1972)’ is a period in which Kim Il-Sung’s one man ruling system was formed. During this period, North Korea unfolded independent military policies such as the adaptation of Four Military Lines. In this period, People's Party Committee and General Political Bureau of North Korea were newly composed to the command/ruling system. Also, before Party Representative Committee(1967), Kim Il-Sung was the Chairman of Central Committee(KWP). However, he became the Secretariat of Central Committee(KWP) which is the highest position in the party. And until the revision of constitution in 1972, military command system was composed by Kim Il-Sung the Secretariat of Central Committee(KWP), Military Chairman of Central Committee, Supreme Commander, and Speaker of Cabinet.
Third, 'Reinforcement of "One-party Rule" System'(1973~1992) is a period which Supreme Commander made a foothold to the successor of the military forces in the presence of military. In this period, Kim Il-Sung organized National Defense Committee of Central People Committee which is the highest military organization after announcing socialized constitution. Also, he reorganized military organization by deactivating two army groups in order to command corps directly. As of 1982, North Korea changed the name from Central Committee(KWP) Military Committee to Central Military Committee and Kim Il-Sung transferred his authority as a supreme commander to Kim Jong-Il.
Fourth, 'Building Successor System and Powerful Military Nation Period(1993~2011)' is the time of the reign of Kim Jong-Il.. During this time, it can be seen as the military-defense command/ruling system of the oriented central military committee(KWP) which is based on Kim Jong-Il's only guidance. If Central Military Committee makes a policy decision, Military Committee and Supreme Command enforce the policy. North Korean military command system altered to Kim Jong-Eun's military defense system command after Kim Jong-Il's death. In conclusion, by comparing and analysing military instruction thoughts and military command systems between China and North Korea, it is considered that China is adhere to party's military value while they are keeping party's collective ruling system as well. On the other hand, North Korea has built one-ruling system by Kim Il-Sung and Kim Jong-Il. It can be seen as that North Korea is ruled by one supreme commander and successor's military. In addition, it's very hard to discover North Korea's big change, however, there is a possibility of a small change of military command organization by applying Chinese model to the Kim Jong-Eun's ruling system.