How North Korea’s revival of communism goes hand in hand with ultranationalism

Analysis

How North Korea’s revival of communism goes hand in hand with ultranationalism

Uptick in communist rhetoric during pandemic highlights peculiar ideological mix regime uses to stay in power

Benjamin R. Young June 15, 2022

How North Korea’s revival of communism goes hand in hand with ultranationalism

A giant flag showing the Workers' Party of Korea's logo, which features the communist hammer and sickle as well as an ink brush | Image: Eric Lafforgue (Sept. 12, 2008)

During the pandemic, North Korean propagandists have revitalized the term communism in official rhetoric, marking a shift in the country’s discourse after “socialism” or “our style socialism” became the customary post-Cold War way to refer to its socioeconomic system.

On the one hand, this sudden revival signals a push to strengthen ideological control over citizens amid the upheavals of the pandemic. At the same time, it appears to highlight something DPRK scholars and analysts may be inclined to minimize: a genuine desire by North Korean leaders to move back toward a Soviet-style planned economy.

About the Author

Benjamin R. Young

Benjamin R. Young is an Assistant Professor of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness at VCU (Virginia Commonwealth University). He is the author of Guns, Guerillas, and the Great Leader: North Korea and the Third World (Stanford University Press, 2021). He received his Ph.D. from The George Washington University in 2018. He has previously taught at the U.S. Naval War College and Dakota State University. He has published peer-reviewed articles on North Korean history and politics in a number of scholarly journals and is a regular contributor to NK News.

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