North Korea has emphasized the principle of self-reliance, asserting that in building socialism, the country can rely solely on its own strength, rather than on external support or assistance.
The Workers’ Party’s official newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, published an article on Saturday titled “Strategic Line for Building Socialism and Communism”.
The newspaper reported that, in line with the state-building ideology of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, the country must strengthen the people’s government and advance the three revolutions — ideology, technology, and culture — while upholding the principle of self-reliance. It added that this links the current ethos of Kim Jong Un’s leadership with that of his predecessors.
The concept of self-reliance first appeared in Kim Jong Un’s New Year’s address in 2016. It conveys that North Korea should pursue national development through its own strength, technology, and resources, echoing the Juche (self-reliance ideology) ideology established by Kim Il Sung.
The newspaper also stated that the foundation of self-reliance lies in the revolutionary thought of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, who maintained that their revolution must be carried out with their own strength.
It emphasized that in building socialism and communism, the country can trust no one but itself, arguing that strengthening national power and relying on its own capabilities is the only way to advance socialist construction under any circumstances.
The article urged the people to become champions of self-reliance and pioneers of self-sustenance, stating that all problems must be solved based on the country’s own strength, technology, and resources.
North Korea’s repeated emphasis on self-reliance aims to foster ideological unity among its citizens ahead of the year-end. The country is currently reviewing its economic sectors in preparation for the upcoming year-end plenary meeting.
Additionally, this focus appears to be a response to the recent series of U.S. sanctions on North Korea.
On November 3, the U.S. State Department announced that it had designated seven vessels involved in exporting North Korean coal and iron ore to China as targets of UN sanctions. The following day, the U.S. Treasury Department announced additional sanctions against eight North Korean nationals and two North Korean entities accused of laundering proceeds from the regime’s cybercrime operations.
