Tears in the eyes of Chairman Kim Jung Eun?
The reason is?
October 17, 8:32
North Korea ’s Kim Jong-un, the chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea, has an occasional tearful expression.
And what came out of that mouth was a remorse that "it's really unpleasant."
Kim's speech, which was given before the military parade that coincided with the 75th anniversary of the Workers' Party of Korea on the 10th of this month, was unusual in that it repeated words of remorse and gratitude.
And in the military parade, new weapons, which are also called "the world's largest", have appeared, which is truly unusual.
I interviewed what was in the background.
(Directorate General of China, Yoshimitsu Nagano, International Department, Takahide Nagasago)
“Tears” Chairman Kim Jung Eun
"Even though I receive the great trust of the people, I have never been rewarded and
I am
really disappointed."
"I have a heavy responsibility to lead the country, but I am not able to get out of the hardships of my life.
" The dedication of the soldiers in Japan cannot
be helped
without tears of gratitude. "
" Thank you very much for being healthy without being infected with the new coronavirus. "(Chairman Kim Jung-eun)
Chairman Kim's speech in front of the military parade lasted 30 minutes.
In that process, Chairman Kim repeated words of remorse and gratitude to the people.
And what caught my eye was the occasional tearful expression on many occasions.
In the background of "tears"
What is behind Kim's tearful expression?
As I proceeded with the interview, what emerged was the "triple pain" that North Korea is facing.
These are UN Security Council sanctions, response to the new coronavirus, and flood damage.
North Korea continues to face a difficult economic situation, with sanctions not being eased and trade not being possible as expected.
Under such circumstances, the border was closed as a countermeasure against the new coronavirus, and the value of trade with China, which is the mainstay of trade, has fallen sharply to 70% year-on-year.
Furthermore, this summer, typhoons hit North Korea one after another.
The full extent of the damage has not been clarified, but when asked by the people concerned, as of the end of September, "Because the border was closed, supplies did not come into the disaster area, so there was not enough restoration materials. Before the severe winter It's a situation where we can't see ahead. "
Associate Professor Atsuhito Isozaki of Keio University, who is familiar with North Korean politics, pointed out that the background of the unusual speech reflects the harsh domestic circumstances of North Korea.
Associate Professor Isozaki
"The
reason
why I used to call" Thank you "and appeal to the people's feelings such as" It hurts my heart "was that I couldn't show the economic results in a visible way even though it was a party anniversary. In other words, it is a very difficult financial situation due to "triple pain". The appearance of Chairman Kim wiping his eyes was projected, and many people were actually weeping. I think it was a place to greatly direct the unity of leaders, parties, and people in order to overcome this. "
Midnight parade
The military parade that followed Chairman Kim's speech was also unusual.
First, the start time is midnight.
The night view of skyscrapers and the illuminated venue were projected on North Korea's national television, and colorful fireworks were set off.
Associate Professor Isozaki believes that the aim was to create a parade like a "show."
Keio University Associate Professor Atsuhito Isozaki
"I went there
at
night and the content was elaborate. It was a military parade like a" show. "As far as I saw the video, I went to the night for purposes other than directing. I can't think of it. "
New weapons also appeared
Also prominent in the military parade were many new weapons.
One of them is the new submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM).
SLBMs shoot from submarines underwater, so it is said that it is difficult to catch signs of launch.
North Korea has named the SLBM it is developing "Pole Star" and announced in October last year that it had succeeded in launching the "Pole Star Type 3".
The missile that appeared this time was marked as "Pole Star 4", and the state television introduced it as an "underwater strategic ballistic missile."
What kind of missile is this?
We asked Yu Koizumi, a military analyst and assistant professor at the Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, the University of Tokyo, to analyze it.
Specially Appointed Assistant Professor Koizumi
"The length is clearly shorter than the" North Star Type 3 ". The" North Star Type 3 "was finally large enough to fit in a submarine. On the other hand, the size of this ballistic missile It may fit more compactly. Now, North Korea is experimentally building a submarine that can carry ballistic missiles, but the miniaturization of ballistic missiles means that it can carry more missiles than before. You may be trying to build a submarine that can. "
The world's largest intercontinental ballistic missile?
And it was a new giant ballistic missile that appeared while Chairman Kim smiled in contrast to the time of the speech.
It is larger than the intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) "Hwasong-15," which North Korea claims can attack the entire continental United States.
Also, the missile was mounted on a large vehicle with 11 wheels on one side.
The size of this new missile did not hide the surprise of Assistant Professor Koizumi.
Yu Koizumi, Assistant Professor, Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Tokyo
"It's extremely big. I think it's definitely one of the largest mobile ICBMs in the world. It's almost the same size as the super-large ICBMs once made by the United States and the former Soviet Union. I think it's about the same. Mobile ICBMs have the largest number of wheels on vehicles, even in Russia, with nine on each side, but far beyond that. ”
“ Traditionally, with multiple bullets, etc. I think that it is a type that has greatly improved some ability than that. Modernizing strategic weapons is probably the default route, it has a longer range, and it is possible to load multiple nuclear bullets with one shot. I think we are thinking of evolving deterrence in that direction. "
American criticism of self-restraint
While North Korea showed off its military power at this military parade, Associate Professor Isozaki, who is familiar with North Korean politics, paid attention to the fact that Chairman Kim did not criticize the United States by name.
Keio University Associate Professor Atsuhito Isozaki
"The speech by Chairman Kim was a very restraining tone. North Korea will continue to negotiate with the United States following the failure of the US-North Korea summit meeting held in Hanoi last February. We are trying to strengthen our defense capabilities, thinking that it may not work. On the other hand, there is also a speculation that we do not want to completely cut the thread with the United States in anticipation of the re-election of President Trump.
" I can't wait until the results of the US presidential election next month are known, and I can't even launch a test. But I'll show the US that the new weapons are being developed properly. "
" This is the meaning of this parade. think"
Stay alert to North Korean trends
How will Chairman Kim, who has been forced to manage strict national affairs, rethink his negotiation policy in the future in anticipation of the future of the US presidential election?
Countries continue to be vigilant about the movement of North Korea showing off its new weapons.
Yoshimitsu Nagano
Reporter
,
Directorate General of China
Joined in 2006
After working at the Seoul branch office, he is
currently in Beijing
covering the
situation in North Korea and
China-
North Korea
relations.
Takashi Nagasago, British Interdisciplinary
Reporter
Joined in 2007 In
charge of coverage of North Korea in Beijing
from 2014 to
2018
Currently
in charge of coverage of the Korean Peninsula in the
International Department