The second session of the 12th Supreme People’s Assembly will be convened on April 9 in Pyongyang. The Korean Central News Agency reported on March 20 that the standing committee of the assembly decided on the parliamentary meeting on March 18. The news agency also reported on the assembly’s announcement about the delegate registration process scheduled for April 7 and 8. The Supreme People’s Assembly is North Korea’s legislative body, equivalent to the National Assembly in South Korea. It draws up basic principles of the nation’s domestic and foreign policies and introduces major economic policies. It also examines budget spending in the previous year and deliberates and approves budget for the coming year, while carrying out reshuffles in the Cabinet and the National Defense Commission. Mr. Hong Hyun-ik from the Sejong Institute explains why we should take note of the North’s parliament.

North Korea will soon convene the second session of the 12th Supreme People’s Assembly. To add some democratic elements to the one-day meeting, the premier and ministers hear reports and approve personnel appointments instructed by the Workers’ Party at the rubber-stamp parliament. In fact, all the decisions have already been made by the Workers’ Party. Usually, we are not well informed with the Party’s major decisions because they are not made public. Through the Supreme People’s Assembly, however, we can learn North Korea’s policy lines, personnel shifts in major organizations and the creation or revision of the constitution and other laws. That is why we are paying attention to the parliamentary session.

North Korea elected delegates to the 12th Supreme People’s Assembly in March last year before holding the first session of the assembly and revising the nation’s socialist constitution the next month. Under the revised constitution, the chairman of the National Defense Commission is defined as the “supreme leader,” with the authority of the commission strengthened further. Also, the parliament reappointed North Korean leader Kim Jong-il as the chairman of the National Defense Commission, which was bolstered by additional members, marking the official launch of Kim’s third term. North Korea has yet to reveal details of the agenda for the upcoming session, but experts predict it will focus on economic issues, considering the nation emphasized the importance of improving the livelihoods of people in its New Year’s joint editorial earlier this year.

Upon the launch of Kim Jong-il’s third term, the power of the National Defense Commission was reinforced considerably. For example, the chairman of the commission took over the right to ratify treaties as well as the amnesty right, which the president of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly had previously exercised. With the constitutional revision and a major personnel shakeup last year, the basis for the communist regime started to take shape. During the second sessions of each parliamentary meeting, the government budget or economic issues are usually on the table. With a goal of building a prosperous nation by 2012, North Korea has been seeking economic revival. We have to watch what economic policies North Korea will introduce at this year’s parliamentary session.

Experts are also noting whether North Korea can suggest a solution to the failed currency reform during the April convention. The nation suffers from serious side effects of the unsuccessful monetary policy, as an increasing number of people are starving to death and commodity and food prices are skyrocketing. While discussing these issues intensely, the delegates may also censure some economic officials for the failed reform. Key economic officials, including Premier Kim Yong-il, still assume the major roles, but experts do not rule out the possibility that North Korea may carry out a reshuffle of those personnel in an effort to quell public jitters. Through the parliamentary meeting, the experts also expect to confirm the rumor that Park Nam-gi, former head of planning and economy at the Workers’ Party, was shot to death in Pyongyang in March. In addition, many will be watching whether the assembly will make an announcement about the official power succession to Kim Jong-il’s third son, Kim Jong-un.

Kim Jong-un is still in his mid-20s. The younger Kim has little experience in politics and the three-generation hereditary power transfer runs counter to socialist principles. Therefore, Kim Jong-il must approach the power succession issue very carefully, step by step. It is highly likely that North Korea will delay introducing the younger Kim as the nation’s next leader unless current leader Kim Jong-il suddenly collapses due to his illness. Most experts agree that the North Korean leadership will proceed with the power succession scheme but it will unlikely assign the younger Kim a major post officially this time. However, the nation is expected to put supporters of Kim Jong-un in important positions in the Cabinet and the Workers’ Party in order to strengthen the current leader’s support base and throw weight behind the future leader.

There is little possibility that North Korea’s parliament will make a surprising statement about relations with the U.S. and inter-Korean ties. While China and the U.S. have already engaged in consultations about North Korea’s return to the six-party nuclear talks, Pyongyang is unlikely to express a new opinion about foreign relations right now. North Korea could touch on the strained relations with Seoul, as the communist state is now employing strong measures to prod South Korea into resuming the Mt. Geumgang tour business. But such a possibility seems to be low as well, given that inter-Korean relations have seldom been mentioned at the parliamentary meeting. Mr. Hong predicts that a possible China visit by North Korean leader Kim Jong-il and the economic policy line set by the Supreme People’s Assembly will be an important factor that could affect the diplomatic climate in the region.

There is speculation that Kim Jong-il may visit China in early April. If that happens, Kim and the Chinese leadership will hold negotiations, and North Korea may subsequently improve its policy of reform and openness. If Kim’s China visit does not materialize, we have to carefully watch the economic policies announced by the Supreme People’s Assembly. Through the policies, South Korea can measure how sincerely the North will deal with economic cooperation with Seoul. In regard to the six-party talks, the possibility is high that the multilateral negotiations will reconvene in a month or two months at the latest. The question is whether or not additional talks between North Korea and the U.S. may take place. I think Kim Jong-il will pursue the policy of reform and openness in consideration of all these diplomatic factors.

It remains to be seen what will be discussed during the meeting of North Korea’s highest legislative organ, which is held every spring. Hopefully, the parliamentary session this year will produce some positive results so the struggling North Korean economy will be able to recover from the aftermath of the botched currency reform.


[Interview] Singing Class for N. Korean Newcomers
On a lively weekend afternoon, laughter fills an office located in Jongro, downtown Seoul. While listening to the instructor, a group of housewives from North Korea are laughing and chatting. They are participating in the singing class designed for North Korean defectors, which started on March 11. About 30 people, ranging from young women in their 20s to 60-something senior citizens, are attending this special singing class arranged by the Organization for One Korea, a private group providing assistance to North Korean newcomers. Here’s the executive director of the group, Kim Eun-seok, to explain the purpose of the event.

Many North Korean defectors are suffering from depression due to the difficulty in finding jobs in South Korea and the strong nostalgia for their family members who still live in North Korea or in other third world countries. We organized this event in the hope of giving them more energy and helping them develop enthusiasm for their lives. Today, we’re offering the first class. We will continue to operate this singing class three or four times a month.

The instructor is Han Ok-jeong, a former lead vocalist of the “Dallae Band,” which is the first music group consisting of female North Korean defectors in South Korea. She was willing to volunteer to teach singing in this class, with the belief that this is exactly what she can do for North Korean newcomers. Being a former North Korean defector herself, Han knows what the women defectors want better than anyone else.

Actually, I hardly ever thought about volunteer work in North Korea. After arriving in South Korea, I was wondering what I could do. I found myself feeling happy to see other people enjoy listening to my songs, and I realized I could use my singing talent. So I volunteered to teach singing. I’m glad to see my fellow North Korean expatriates very often. While singing together, we sympathize with one another and ease our homesickness. I love that feeling.

Today, the women are learning a song “Soft Persimmon” that they used to sing in North Korea as well as a theme song of a South Korean drama. Ms. Han carefully selects songs in consideration of the learners who experienced extreme difficulties in the course of escaping North Korea and often feel alienated in South Korean society. The North Korean women are quickly getting into the familiar tune they wanted to sing.

Most North Korean songs feature ideological themes, while many South Korean songs are more about love. So I’m hoping to extract only good elements from songs of the respective sides. I imagine South Korean people can simply choose any North Korean songs they want and enjoy them. For defectors from North Korea, however, I refrain from selecting songs about nostalgia, since they may hurt those home-lost people. They may not like too cheerful songs, either. I was very careful in selecting songs.

Apart from learning singing, the women defectors share their painful experiences and stories with one another. In doing so, they console and encourage each other. Some say they can forget everything while singing. Through music, they can relieve stress and find peace in their minds. They also say this amusing event gives them strength and courage. When they are singing, their faces are beaming with bright smiles. It is our task to provide many more North Korean newcomers with various interesting cultural programs to help them enjoy South Korea.