N. Korea shuns economic engagement
Have you ever witnessed an unruly child who does not get what he wants and starts throwing a tantrum to try to annoy the adults into caving in? These tantrums can include throwing toys, holding his breath, and maybe even bullying his playmates.
This behavior usually results in the errant child being put into time out until he can behave civilly and interact in a socially responsible manner with the other children and the adults. At one time or other in our lives, each of us has probably acted this way, but with the correct discipline, most of us grow up to be responsible adults.
On the other hand, some people got their way when they were children by acting bad and having adults cater to their bad behavior. They then grow up to be adults who spend a lifetime causing problems for other people.
No, this is not a child psychology column, but doesn’t what I describe above remind you of North Korea’s situation? The communist dictatorship that has been passed from father to son to grandson routinely exhibits bad behavior that has international consequences, such as its attempts to test fire missiles that rattle its neighbors in Asia. Other times, it has fired upon South Korean sea vessels or captured some of its citizens. Even scarier are its efforts to develop a nuclear weapon.
Almost on a monthly basis it threatens the U.S. and its allies. Just recently, North Korea issued a bizarre propaganda video that depicts one of its citizens having a fantasy in which New York City is destroyed by a nuclear bomb while the song “We Are the World” is being played.
It usually engages in this type of behavior as a substitute for international diplomacy when it wants something. And in the past, its bad behavior usually has brought nations scurrying to negotiate with this renegade country in order to maintain the peace. In reality, the dictatorship holds its own citizens hostage in order to maintain power and to negotiate for foreign aid. The average per capita income in North Korea is approximately $2,000, making it one of the world’s poorest countries. Its population is kept away from any informational tools that could lead to advancement, such as the Internet. At times, millions of destitute North Koreans have perished due to famine.
China, which is practically its only real ally, often weighs in on North Korea’s side during crises that this country causes. China’s intent in maintaining North Korea as an ally is to balance U.S. influence in Asia, mainly due to the strong U.S. relationship with Japan. Usually when a country is in such an impoverished condition as North Korea, it reaches out to the rest of the world in order to develop trade relationships for its local products or to attract badly needed foreign investment and tourists. This has not been the case.
In comparison, Cuba, branded another renegade country by the U.S., has made attempts during the past 20 years to open up the country to foreign investment. It also has allowed limited doses of capitalism to seep into its communist economic system. Meanwhile, North Korea seems content to perpetuate the Cold War, which even China and Russia have put behind them.
Sadly, there appears to be no enlightenment in North Korea’s future. The communist dictatorship has developed one of the largest militaries on earth available to keep one of the most controlled and oppressed populations on Earth unempowered and dependent on the central government. At the same time, the government hands out rewards to select party officials and families to buy loyalty.
Most of the major democracies in the world have resigned their approach to North Korea to be one of containment, not one of active efforts to engage this country in diplomacy and trade. This is understandable given the country’s past and present unpredictable behavior. However, the attitude of simply tolerating North Korea creates the vicious cycle leading to its periodic outbursts. But on the other hand, what is the alternative, given its aggressive nature?
North Korea remains an anachronism, surrounded by wealthy neighbors whose economies have provided their citizens with opportunities unimaginable 40 years ago.
In the meantime, we can sympathize with North Korea’s citizens and youth, many of whom are living in Stone Age conditions while their neighbors prosper and fulfill their dreams.
Jerry Pacheco is the executive director of the International Business Accelerator, a nonprofit trade counseling program of the New Mexico Small Business Development Centers Network. He can be reached at 575-589-2200 or at jerry@nmiba.com.