Question: Occasionally we will see a press release that a particular organisation or citizen's group will have made a donation to a body of the state. It may be a gift of buses to a transport service or a statue for a municipality etc. Can you please explain the role of donations within the DPRK? Since the workers collectively control the surplus, why don't they use their democratic power to request a state planning body to execute their wishes? Why shouldn't the costs of these means of production, which are owned in common, be borne by the people in common rather than a group of individuals that 'donate'?
There is a long history of donations in People’s Korea , this goes back to the period after liberation in the 1940s . The great leader President KIM IL SUNG led the struggle to carry out land reform which made the peasants masters of the land . After the first harvest under the new people’s democratic system a patriotic peasant named Kim Je Won donated 30 straw bags of rice to the country . The donation of Kim Je Won was used to help found the first people’s university , KIM IL SUNG university .
In the DPRK donations play a useful role in helping to strengthen the country . Moreover they are an expression of patriotism and people’s lofty devotion to the socialist country . Donations are made through mass movements to donate . The movement for donations is also an important ideological means to mobilise people to do good things for the country .For example the Children’s Union’s donate tanks , this a positive way to encourage patriotism among schoolchildren .
It would not make sense to include donations as part of the national economic plan under socialist economic planning because they would not be donations but would become compulsory because in the DPRK the national economic plan is a basic law . Moreover, including donations in the national economic plan could dampen down people’s patriotic enthusiasm .
To me, the DPRK is a very collectivist society so there is no contradiction between the whole of society and an organisation such as the Socialist Women’s Union or Childrens Union or a group of individuals .
Donations are a way of encouraging people to go the extra mile for socialism .
Question: The DPRK is often misrepresented as being ultra-nationalist, 'Korean-supremacist' even. The historical record demonstrates the DPRK's commitment to internationalism but it also emphasises pride and love for the nation. Can you please summarise the DPRK's view on Nationalism as espoused in Kim Jong Il's "On Nationalism" in plain and simple terms?
Hired hack academics such as BR Myers and also some fake Left elements try to falsely paint the DPRK as ‘ethno-nationalist . Of course the DPRK rejects erroneous conceptions of ‘supra-nationalism ‘ and ‘cosmopolitanism ‘advocated by Trotskyites but instead stresses socialist patriotism and independence and also recognises that nationalism can be progressive .
It is worth pointing out the DPRK Law of Nationality of October 9th 1963 states that 'foreigners can acquire DPRK nationality by their request regardless of nationality and race '(Article 6 ) . The right of DPRK citizens to marry foreigners is protected by Article 7 of the DPRK Nationality Law which stipulates that DPRK citizenship is retained if someone is married to a non DPRK citizen. It is a myth that mixed marriages are forbidden in the DPRK and in fact some Japanese women married to DPRK citizens settled in the DPRK , some of them have been admitted to the Workers Party of Korea , the ruling party of People's Korea. The famous US defector the late Joe Dresnok lived in the DPRK from the 1960s and was married to a DPRK citizen. The sons of Joe Dresnok actually serve in the Korean People's Army.
Comrade KIM JONG IL in 1989 pointed out that “We do not assert that Korean's biological constitution is more developed than those of other races. Defining the superiority of a nation according to biological or ethnic characteristics is the practice of reactionary bourgeois 'Ethnology””
The work “ On Correctly Understanding Nationalism “ of comrade KIM JONG IL was published in 2002 and clarifies the DPRK’s stance on nationalism . However some of it refers to inter-Korean joint declarations and great national unity which has now become superseded by the recent decisions of the 9th Plenum of the 8th Central Committee of the Workers Party of Korea .
To summarise the work as follows ; firstly comrade KIM JONG IL explains what nationalism is and gives a historical overview of nationalism. He says that “Nationalism came into being as an ideology for defending the interests of a nation in the course of the latter’s formation
and development. Although nations differ from one another in
the period of their formation, every nation is a social
community which has been formed and consolidated
historically on the basis of a common kinship descent,
language, residential area and culture, and is composed of
various classes and strata. There is no person in any country or
in any society who exists outside his or her nation, separate
from it. Every person belongs to a class or stratum, and at the
same time to a nation, endowing that person with both a
national and a class character. Class character and national
character and the demands of classes and nation are inseparable
from each other. As a matter of fact, the classes and strata of a
nation entertain different demands and interests owing to their
different social and economic functions. However, all the
members of a nation have the same stake in championing the
independence and character of the nation and attaining national
prosperity without distinction of the interests of their classes
and strata. This is because the destiny of a nation is precisely
the destiny of its individual members; in other words, the latter
is dependent on the former. None will be happy with the
sovereignty and honour of his or her nation being trampled
upon and national character disregarded. It is the common
ideological feeling and psychology of the members of a nation
to love their nation, cherish its characteristics and interests, and
yearn for its prosperity. Nationalism reflects this feeling and
psychology. In other words, nationalism is an ideology that
advocates love for the nation and defence of its interests. Since
people carve out their destiny while living within the nation-
state as a unit, genuine nationalism constitutes patriotism. The
progressive nature of nationalism lies in the fact that it is a
patriotic ideology which advocates the defence of national
Interests.”
Secondly , in the work comrade KIM JONG IL makes a very clear distinction between bourgeois nationalism and genuine nationalism . Comrade KIM JONG IL denounces bourgeois nationalism and identifies it as basically toxic pointing that “ Bourgeois nationalism
reveals itself as national egoism, national exclusivism and big-
power chauvinism in the relationship between countries and
nations; it is reactionary in that it creates antagonism and
disagreement between countries and nations, and checks the
development of friendly relations between the various peoples
of the world”
I think that the above quotation shows that the DPRK is not an ethno-nationalist state.
Thirdly , comrade KIM JONG IL states that it is wrong to counterpose communism with nationalism like Trotskyites do . He says that “ Communism does not advocate only the interests
of the working class; it also advocates the interests of the
nation-hence it is an ideology of loving the country and the
people. Nationalism is also an ideology of loving the country
and the people, as it defends the interests of the country and the
nation. Love of the country and the people is an ideological
emotion common to communism and nationalism; herein lies
the ideological basis on which they can ally with one another.
Therefore, there is no reason or ground to pit one against the
other, and reject nationalism”
Fourthly , he states that nationalism does not conflict with internationalism saying that “Mutual help, support and alliance between countries and nations-this is Internationalism”
Fifth , comrade KIM JONG IL elucidates how the theories of President KIM IL SUNG correctly explained the relationship between nationalism and internationalism .
Sixth , and finally , comrade KIM JONG IL says that by their imposition of globalization on the world it is the imperialists who are actually opposing nationalism and the development of nations . Comrade KIM JONG IL stresses the need to oppose globalisation saying that “We should resolutely oppose and reject the manoeuvres of
the imperialists for “globalization” and “integration,” and
staunchly fight to preserve the excellent characteristics of our
nation and safeguard its independence.”
The following links are useful
As well as the following book
A refutation of the false pseudo-academic propaganda against People's Korea (lulu.com)
Question: In the early USSR, they had something of a piece-rate system that paid the percent of a basic wage up to a basic quota and which paid a higher rate for work above the quote. This was combined with an ideological Stakhanovite ideological movement which encouraged overperformance to lift up the nation. Does the DPRK have such a piece-rate/quota system or are wages fixed? If wages are fixed how are high performers rewarded extraordinarily for their high contribution?
The DPRK is based on the socialist principle of people being paid according to the quantity and quality of work done as society has not yet reached the stage of full communism in which everyone will contribute according to their ability and receive according to their needs . The DPRK is also based on the principle “He who shall not work , shall not eat “
In the DPRK there are both fixed rates of pay and piece work pay in some industries . In agriculture farmers receive both cash and grain according to the number of work points that they have received .
Article 38 of the Socialist Labour Law of the DPRK states
The State shall compensate workers for the physical and mental strength they spend in the labour process and shall determine a living expenses rating system from the principle of guaranteeing their standard of life. State organs, enterprises, and social, cooperative organizations shall correctly pay the living expenses of labourers, clerks and cooperative members grounded upon the living expenses rating system instituted by the State and the principle of payment of living expenses “
Article 39 of the Socialist Labour Law of the DPRK also states that “The basic form of living expenses applied to labourers, clerks, and cooperative members are the fixed fee system and the wages system, and the supplementary form of living expenses is the bonus system and the reward system. State organs, enterprises, and social, cooperative organizations must correctly impose the living expenses payment form to further raise the production will of the workers and so that their innovation and initiative can be actively promoted “
To explain further, workers in the DPRK receive basic pay or living pay which covers their living costs as well as social benefits for housing which is free and food is supplied at low cost ( in fact basically free)as well as social benefits for housing . Those who work hard and exceed targets receive bonuses and premiums . Moreover those who exceed targets or put forward innovations , can be awarded titles and certificates like Labour Innovator and Labour Hero which earn them preferential treatment in society .
I think it is necessary here to point out that the DPRK combines material incentives with political-ideological and political incentives, basically giving priority to political -moral incentives whilst not ignoring material incentives .
Income differentials are actually low in People’s Korea. When we visited the Ryuwon Footwear Factory in 2019 were told that the wage differential was 2 to 1, now compared to 10 to 1 in Cuba and 30 to1 in the former USSR, not to mention the capitalist countries which have massive disparities in wealth and income. Wage differentials in the DPRK simply reflect different levels of skill and experience and there are opportunities for workers to gain new skills and qualifications through distance learning. Visiting the Kim Jong Suk Textile Mill we saw a Sci-Tech learning space where workers could study university courses.
Can a person living in Europe become a international student in DPRK and is it possible for someone from Europe to move to DPRK
It is possible to study in the DPRK as a foreign student . KIM IL SUNG University accepts a small number of international students . Hardworking members of KFA can receive a recommendation from KFA to study in the DPRK.
As for living in the DPRK it may be possible to work as a foreign languages teacher in the DPRK . There is the right of asylum to those who fight for socialism , independence and peace.
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