(EDITORIAL from the Chosun Ilbo on Sept. 30)

How Do Human Rights Fit into N.Korea's Constitution?

North Korea's Supreme People's Assembly in April revised the country's
constitution, deleting the word "communism" as the country's guiding philosophy
and replacing it with the "Songun" or military-first ideology and the "Juche" or
self-sufficiency doctrine.


It also included a clause guaranteeing "regard for and
the protection of human rights." It is questionable just how significant the
constitution is in a country that is governed by Kim Jong-il rather than a set of
laws, but the constitutional changes may still reflect the beliefs and plans of
North Korea's ruling clique.
Communism is an ideal state of society where socialism has progressed to a level
where only the proletariat is left. That type of society never existed on earth,
certainly not in the former Soviet Union, and will never exist either. North
Korean society has deteriorated to the point where there is a huge gap between
the living conditions of the ruling political and military classes and the
starving masses. Those differences go way beyond the imbalances of the early
stages of capitalism. Does the deletion of the word "communism" mean that North
Korea has acknowledged this reality? That is highly unlikely.
North Korea kept the word "socialism." That is why some experts say the
constitutional revision resembles moves in China to dilute the communist ideology
before reform and opening of the economy. It is possible that North Korea's
leadership wanted to ensure a certain degree of flexibility when it comes to the
economy.
If it wants to follow in China's footsteps, the North would be better advised to
give up its nuclear weapons program and gain the trust of the international
community rather than revise its useless constitution. But it has done just the
opposite by choosing the "Songun" ideology as its guiding principle, placing the
military above all else. No country in the world would be willing to trust a
country that seeks to turn itself into one vast military base.
There is no way that a country that places its military above all else can
respect human rights even if it is stipulated in the constitution. The only way
to look at the inclusion of the words "human rights," which North Korea hated so
much, is that it is probably meant to appease international pressure. Whatever
the reason, the international community should take a more aggressive line on the
North Korean regime's human rights violations, so that it cannot treat its own
people with impunity the way it is treating them now.
sam@yna.co.kr
(END)