[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] During Kim Jong-un's 10 years in power, the proportion of the private economy in North Korea has been gradually increasing.
The Ministry of Unification stated in the "Reference Materials Related to Kim Jong-un Regime's 10 Years" released on the 16th, "The long-term trend shows an increase in the proportion of the private economy, and the number of vendors in comprehensive markets has also continuously increased." It analyzed that the economic activities of North Korean residents are dualized into state-run economy and private economy.
Looking at the proportion of workers engaged in different sectors of North Korea's economy, the share of private economic activities was 31.3% from 2011 to 2015, which increased to 37.6% from 2016 to 2020. On the other hand, state-run economic activities decreased from 27.5% to 24.7% during the same period.
One indicator of the scale of the private economy, the number of vendors in comprehensive markets, averaged 287 before 2000, but was recorded at an average of 768 from 2016 to 2020.
The economic situation during Kim Jong-un's 10 years in power was found to have deteriorated.
Rice prices and exchange rates were generally stable during the period from 2016 to 2019, but volatility increased after last year when border closure measures began due to COVID-19.
Annual economic growth rates recorded slight positive growth until 2016, but from 2017 onward, they consistently shifted to negative growth, showing -4.5% last year.
Grain production last year was 4.4 million tons, the lowest since Kim Jong-un took power, due to prolonged sanctions against North Korea, border closures caused by COVID-19, and massive flood damage.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Unification noted that Kim Jong-un's public activities generally decreased during his tenure, but increased this year due to the Party Congress and subsequent events.
The top 1st and 2nd most active fields during his tenure were mainly economic and military sectors. However, in 2018, when summit meetings were actively held, military activities were at their lowest, while since last year, political activities have significantly increased.
Since taking power, the Party Charter has been revised three times. In the most recent revision, Kim Jong-un was elevated to "Party General Secretary" and referred to as "Supreme Leader," solidifying his status.
Additionally, the socialist constitution has been amended five times in total. The latest amendment introduced provisions such as the appointment and recall rights of foreign representatives by the Chairman of the State Affairs Commission, strengthening the state's representative authority, according to the Ministry of Unification.
Kim Jong-un has secured the highest positions in the Party (General Secretary), State (Chairman of the State Affairs Commission), and Military (Supreme Commander), and the governance system appears to be consolidating in the way the state is operated.
An official from the Ministry of Unification said, "Considering comprehensively the titles and rhetoric used by North Korean media for Chairman Kim, as well as the emphasis on his differentiated governing ideology such as 'People First' and 'Our Nation First,' he has sufficiently secured a political status comparable to his predecessors."
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