Publication
HSF Korea’s Contribution to KORUM Special Edition 2022
According to the new article by Dr. Bernhard Seliger in the current issue of KORUM magazine, handling all sorts of crisis is nothing new to North Korea – the country had to face many major hurdles in the past. However, this time something is different: The COVID-19 pandemic has left its mark on most of the world and North Korea has been no exception. While the country tried to prevent the spread of the virus through self-isolation and, among other things, by stopping their trade with everyone, even China, great economic losses could not be avoided. Unexpectedly, these were also acknowledged by the government.
The biggest difference to crises in the past, however, is the changed society. Unlike in the 1990s, North Korea’s population is now better informed about circumstances in other countries - the effects of this change can be seen, among other things, in rigorous laws and drastic penalties for any contact with South Korean cultural items. North Korea's ruler is aware and is desperately trying to impede it by implementing countermeasures such as a selective opening system. Other steps to improve life, such as the local development of IT and the substitution of imports with domestic products, have also been taken. Yet, these measures alone cannot replace the import of necessary inputs and food stuff. The country's leadership faces a major hurdle – It remains uncertain how they are going to manage it this time.