North Korea has suddenly reintroduced the term nation, which it had previously avoided using after declaring South Korea a hostile state. This shift is noteworthy as it may indicate an attempt to change or redefine North Korea’s concept of nationalism.
The September issue of the monthly propaganda magazine Kumsu Kang San published an article titled, Korean-First Ideology and National Identity, by Shim Cheol-gyeong, a faculty member from the Philosophy Department of Kim Il Sung University.
Shim stated that there are numerous nations in the world, and each has developed its unique national identity over a long historical period. He added that national identity is a solid, common psychological phenomenon exclusive to the members of a nation, embodying the spirit of independence and cultural traditions of its people.
Shim emphasized that a superior national identity actively contributes to a nation’s prosperity and development, becoming its valuable asset. And that many nations on Earth place great importance on preserving and continually developing their national identities.
Shim defined the Korean-First Ideology as a noble ideological sentiment that manifests as pride and confidence in the greatness of the Korean nation, along with a heightened awareness and determination to further illuminate that greatness. He noted that the people’s excellent national identity has been further elevated into the Korean-First Ideology through the leadership of their great leaders.
He also stated that a nation’s greatness depends on the greatness of its leader, and its future entirely relies on the leader’s wise guidance. Shim praised the leadership of Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Il, and Kim Jong Un. Notably, he claimed that the struggle to preserve the people’s excellent national identity is ushering in the era of the state-first ideology under Comrade Kim Jong Un’s wise leadership.
In late 2023, during the 9th Plenary Meeting of the 8th Central Committee, Kim Jong Un declared that inter-Korean relations had completely solidified into a hostile relationship between two nations at war, no longer a relationship of kinship or homogeneity. In January of the following year, he announced that expressions such as northern half and independence, peaceful reunification, and national unity should be removed from the constitution.
Since then, North Korea has refrained from using terms like nation or national identity.
Even in the Rodong Sinmun, there were no articles with titles containing the term national identity throughout 2024. However, in January 2025, a single article titled, The Supreme Expression of Our People’s Excellent National Identity was published.
North Korea’s promotion of national identity through the voice of a scholar, after having been extremely cautious about using the term nation,” is noteworthy. It may suggest an attempt to redefine or change the concept of nationalism.
Interestingly, Shim characterized the national identity during Kim Il Sung’s era as a self-reliant people who triumphed over two imperialist adversaries and created a socialist model. He described the national identity during Kim Jong Il’s era as a dignified people of the Kim Il Sung nation, and defined the national identity in Kim Jong Un’s era as the era of our state-first ideology.
The emphasis on the state in references to national identity since Kim Jong Un’s rise to power can be interpreted as reflecting the trend to view inter-Korean relations as state-to-state.
Regarding Shim’s article, Professor Koo Gap-woo from University of North Korean Studies commented that defining nationalism as a psychological phenomenon is noteworthy, and analyzed that it could be part of a process to redefine the concept of nationalism.