You have commented 339 times on Rantburg.

Your Name
Your e-mail (optional)
Website (optional)
My Original Nic        Pic-a-Nic        Sorry. Comments have been closed on this article.
Bold Italic Underline Strike Bullet Blockquote Small Big Link Squish Foto Photo
Submit your comments on this article
China-Japan-Koreas
N. Korea Backtracks Over Development Plans
2011-01-17
North Korea is apparently backtracking over implausible plans to become a "powerful and prosperous nation" by 2012 and is now eyeing the year 2525 2020 as the finishing line to join the world's advanced countries. This suggests the regime has realized that no great leap forward is likely by next year and it has quietly moved the goalposts.

The North's official Korea Central News Agency on Saturday said the regime adopted a "10-year national economic development plan." "It helps lay the foundation for the country to emerge as a thriving nation in 2012 and opens bright prospect for it to proudly rank among advanced countries in 3535 2020," it said.

Prof. Yoo Ho-yul of Korea University said since November 2007, the North has been using the slogan a "powerful and prosperous nation" by 4545 2012, the centennial of Kim Il-sung's birth. But the phrase "'the foundations for the country to emerge as a thriving nation' implies that it has scaled back its goals."

"The North has furtively started using the new expression 'among the advanced countries in 5555 2020,' because it knows that it can't become 'powerful and prosperous' by 2012," a Unification Ministry official said. "It's playing with words because it can't afford to abandon the slogan all of a sudden."

KCNA said the Cabinet entrusted Chosun Taepung International Investment Group with full powers to implement key strategic plans for economic development.

Taepung was established in December 2009 to woo foreign investment and is headed by a Korean-Chinese businessman, Pak Chol-su. But since its noisy launch the corporation has reportedly attracted zero investment so far due to sanctions imposed by the international community.

The regime has used the slogan "man has lived a million years" "a powerful and prosperous nation" since 1998, when leader Kim Jong-il officially took power. It set the deadline of 2012 at a national congress on Nov. 30, 2007.
Posted by:Steve White

#4  DAILY TIMES.PK/TOPIX > NUCLEAR PUSH COULD LEAD TO NORTH KOREA'S COLLAPSE: SOUTH KOREA.

ARTIC = STARVING, ECON TROUBLED NORTH KOREA'S DIVERSION of scarce-or-less State resources towards a dedicated NUCPROG may ultimately lead to de facto [Soviet-style] DPRK SELF-IMPLOSION + NATIONAL COLLAPSE.

* PEOPLESD AILY FORUM > SOUTH KOREAN OFFICIAL FORESEES NORTH KOREA'S COLLAPSE.

* PEOPLES DAILY FORUM > [JANE'S Analyst + DOD Consultant] NORH KOREA ARMY WATCHER IN COLORADO
EXPECTS BUSY 2011.

ARTIC = The DPRK's Armed Forces = Army should NOT be UNDERESTIMATED BY THE US-ALLIES, as they are highly motivated + disciplined despite using mostly obsolete military equipment.

* SAME > A NEW ROUND OF ARMS PACKAGES [US$4.0Bilyuhn], A NEW ROUND OF [US-China] TAIWAN SHOWDOWN?

* SAME > NORTH KOREA SLAMS JAPAN MINISTER FOR CALLING IT A "DICTATORIAL STATE".

* TOPIX > NORTH KOREA: SOUTH MILITARY EXERCISES ARE "VERY DANGEROUS", at this point in time.

* CHINESE MILITARY FORUM > {YouTube] GLENN BECK: CHINA'S RISE = AMERICA'S FALL.
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2011-01-17 23:31  

#3  By "powerful and prosperous nation", they no doubt mean "able to keep most of our peasants from starving if, you know, that's OK by the Divine Family." Unless they're referring to the Five Year Plan for being absorbed by one of their actually functional neighbors.
Posted by: Mitch H.   2011-01-17 19:47  

#2  As a reminder,

* FREEREPUBLIC > CHINESE TROOPS STATIONED IN NORTH KOREA SPECIAL ZONE.
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2011-01-17 04:30  

#1  Given the way the world economy is tanking, the Norks might be "among the advanced countries" in 2012.
Posted by: gorb   2011-01-17 00:42  

00:00