Change in North Korea? (북한의 변화?)

There have been quite a lot of things happening in North Korea lately. Things that have never happened before. Many experts on North Korean issues are saying that these events are signs of change within North Korea that may lead to reform. Others argue that these changes will not be enough to open up North Korea. Of course, I can’t offer any answers to these debates and it is not OneKorea’s purpose to do so. But instead, I’d like to take a look at some of these changes so that you might be able to form an opinion of your own.

Since Kim Jong Un succeeded his father, Kim Jong Il, to be the leader of the world’s most isolated nation in the world, he’s been doing things a bit differently from the way his father liked things done. For one, he introduced his wife to the world. With Kim Jong Il, the leader’s wives were never officially revealed to the world. We may have had some information about them but you would never see them strutting around the country on the arm of their husband. The previous Kim was well known for his secrecy when it came to his personal life. However, this has not been the same for Kim Jong Un so far. We have been seeing Kim Jong Un and his wife in the news quite often lately as they visit various sites together hand in hand such as amusement parks and preschools. 

Experts are speculating that these are attempts at building an image as a friendly, modern leader, no different from the heads of other countries. Kim Jong Un’s marital status was confirmed almost as an afterthought by state TV in an understated report on Wednesday about the opening of the amusement park: "As a welcoming song resonated, dear respected Marshal Kim Jong Un, supreme commander of our party and people, appeared at the inauguration ceremony together with his wife, comrade Ri Sol Ju." Analysts say the disclosure of his marital status was aimed at sending the message that the 20-something Kim was mature and stable, someone people can relate to despite having only seven months of experience as leader following the death of his father in December. Marriage would ease worries among Kim’s people and the much older officials serving under him "about the youth question," said Daniel Pinkston, a Seoul-based analyst with the International Crisis Group. It also helps ordinary North Koreans feel that their new ruler is an average guy, not an eccentric, said Ahn Chan-il, another political analyst.

Other than changes in the leader’s image as it comes to his marriage, there have also been some changes in regards to what is and is not acceptable for women to do. Specifically in bike-riding. Cycling for women was banned in 1996 because the activity wasn't regarded as sufficiently feminine by the male-dominated North Korean regime. I actually never knew that such a law had existed, but now that I think of it I have never seen a picture from North Korea with a woman actually pedaling a bike. But it’s good to know that the women of North Korea may be able to look forward to some rights.

Like I mentioned before, I do not know what these changes mean for the future of North Korea. And even experts can only make speculations. Maybe these changes will bring about some good in this impoverished country. We can only hope.

북한의 변화?

요즘 북한에서는 많은 변화가 일어나고 있다. 많은 북한 전문가들은 이러한 변화들이 북한의 개혁을 뜻하는 것일 수도 있다고도 하고, 또 다른 이들은 아직 개혁까지는 갈 수 없을 것이라고도 말한다. 물론 나는 요즘 북한에서 일어나고 있는 일들이 무엇을 뜻하는지 알 수 없다. 하지만 독자들이 스스로 판단할 수 있도록 요즘 북한의 변화들을 이야기하고자 한다. 

아버지 김정일의 뒤를 이어 북한의 지도자가 된 후 김정은은 아버지와는 다른 행보를 보이고 있다. 큰 변화 하나는 세상에 부인을 소개했다는 것이다. 김정일은 한번도 자신의 부인과 함께 공적인 활동을 한적이 없었다. 하지만 김정은은 놀이공원과 유치원 방문과 같은 공적인 자리에 꼭 부인과 함께하고 있다.  

이러한 활동들은 김정은의 이미지를 더 친근하고 세련된 지도자로 만들기 위해서라고 전문가들은 설명하고 있다. 김정은의 결혼 여부는 얼마 전 북한의 방송으로 확인되었으며 이 사실을 밝힌 이유는 젊은 김정은에게 성숙하고 안정된 지도자의 이미지를 전달하기 위해서라고 한다. 김정은의 어린 나이를 걱정하는 시민들과 당원들을 안심시키기 위해 결혼을 밝힌 이유도 있을 것이라고 분석가 Daniel Pinkston은 말한다. 또한 결혼은 김정은이 시민들과 같은 평범한 사람으로 다가갈 수 있는 기회이기도 하다. 

북한의 또 다른 변화는 여성들의 권리가 조금씩 변하고 있다는 것이다. 그 변화는 자전거에 있다. 북한에서는 1996년에 여성이 자전거를 타는 것은 여성스럽지 못하다고 여겨 탈 수 없도록 하였다. 나는 이러한 법이 있는 줄 몰랐으나 생각해보니 북한에 대한 사진에서 단 한번도 여성이 자전거를 직접 몰고 있는 사진을 본적이 없는 것 같다. 하지만 지금이라도 북한 여성들이 작게나마 권리를 누릴 수 있게 되었다니 기쁜 소식이다.

위에서 말했듯이 이러한 변화들이 무엇을 의미하는지 정확히는 알 수 없다. 그리고 전문가나 분석가들 또한 그저 추측 할 수밖에 없다. 하지만 지금 일어나고 있는 변화들이 모두 좋은 소식이기를 희망한다.