DPRK’s economic zone decision a signal for peace

On Saturday, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea released its Dec 21 decision to build the “Kangnam Economic Development Zone” in Pyongyang, where foreign investors will be offered preferential land and tax policies. The construction of an economic development zone to attract foreign investment might be Pyongyang’s way of signaling it wants to help restore peace on the volatile Korean Peninsula.

This should be seen as a welcome move, as in recent times tensions have risen sky-high on the peninsula, raising fears of even a nuclear war either due to the DPRK’s nuclear and missile tests or owing to the joint military drills of the United States and the Republic of Korea.

The peninsula has been caught in a vicious circle of the United Nations (and the US and some other countries) imposing stricter sanctions on the DPRK as punishments for its continued nuclear and missile tests, and Pyongyang responding by conducting more such tests, apparently to thwart a military attack from the US.

On Dec 22, the UN Security Council unanimously passed a resolution to impose tighter sanctions on the DPRK, which would reduce its exports and imports to the barest minimum and could cripple its economy. But the resolution also reiterates that greater efforts should be made to prevent war, by intensifying talks to reduce tensions on the peninsula.

Since the international community wants a peaceful resolution to the crisis, it should regard Pyongyang’s announcement to build an economic development zone as a positive gesture aimed at restoring peace on the peninsula. It is also important that the international community sees DPRK leader Kim Jong-un’s emphasis on the economic zone being part of Pyongyang’s parallel goals of achieving economic and nuclear development as an attempt to enhance unity at home.

Because of the tightening sanctions, the DPRK is facing a severe economic slowdown. And if the DPRK’s Korean Central News Agency said on Monday that the world has seen the rising power of the country, implying Pyongyang had become a nuclear power, it also highlighted the importance of the economic development zone, saying it would strengthen the DPRK’s economy.

But the development of the economic zone will be anything but smooth. UN Resolution 2397 caps the exports of refined petroleum products and crude oil to the DPRK at 500,000 barrels and 4 million barrels a year, respectively. The resolution also imposes caps on the exports of food and agricultural products, machinery, electrical equipment, wood and vessels to the DPRK.

Pyongyang plans to attract foreign companies engaged in the industrial, agricultural, hightech and tourism sectors to participate in the economic development zone, but given the strict trade limitations imposed by the UN, it is difficult for the DPRK to realize that goal.

The “Kangnam Economic Development Zone”, however, is located in an area that has great potential, as its natural conditions are suitable for producing agricultural products and it has easy access to the DPRK’s largest steelworks, road network and largest port, which connects Pyongyang with the ports in other East Asian countries, including China and the ROK.

If Pyongyang takes serious measures to improve its relations with the international community, and succeeds in its efforts, it can turn the Kangnam Economic Development Zone into a strong engine for the economic growth of not only the DPRK but also Northeast Asia as a whole. But as of now, the prospects do not appear promising.

... it should regard Pyongyang’s announcement to build an economic development zone as a positive gesture aimed at restoring peace on the peninsula.

The author is a researcher at the Northeast Asia Studies Institute at Jilin Academy of Social Sciences.