[A] North Korean official explained, “Communism is meant to have a one-class society which does not distinguish the class that exploits from the one that is exploited. But it is hard for the system to exist as long as American imperialism persists.”
The official was responding to media reports that the communist state’s constitution revised in April droped the use of the term “communism” [Yonhap].
If I’m reading this article correctly, the new North Korean Constitution seeks to make song’un (military first policy) more of a priority in North Korean society -> even greater access and first dibs on resources (food, infrastructure, etc.).
Academically, both socialism and communism are based on the principle of goods and services production controlled by a centralized organization and output owned publicly. But under socialism, the output would be distributed according to individuals’ production capacity, whereas under a communist system, the output would be distributed according to individuals’ needs.
Since the military already has the greater means of production, this indicates that the state is actually codifying a system that will not send rations to the peasant population. This also means that the most vulnerable class, the peasants of the outlying NE provinces will not be getting even less rations from the Public Distribution System now. This may amount to a systemic weakening, and eventual terror famine, of the “hostile” class – coupled with evidence of the negligence and intent to starve the NE provinces during the great famine of the 1990′s, this may amount to classicide, folks.
The question of succession may have caused KJI to make the military even a greater priority to legitimate his rule (and by extension his heir’s). In any case, the regime can’t even maintain the illusion of an equal, class-free society where everyone’s needs are met. KJI makes the argument that “Western enemies” are causing this re-prioritization, because the Western powers’ policies are causing the North Korean people to starve. Let’s just forget about the decade of non-transparent aid that was diverted from the most vulnerable, which led groups like Medecins sans Frontiers to withdraw from the country.
I find it deliciously funny that KJI only now makes the argument that Christine Ahn has been making for years!
[edit 10:53AM 09.29.09]
News reports are also citing that the Constitution makes some provisions to protect the human rights. Let’s not kid ourselves and get excited. This is a nominal improvement at best.
