XXX Международный конгресс ИИСАА. 19–21 июня 2019 г. Т. 2

Секция XVII 196 XXX Международный Конгресс по источниковедению и историографии стран Азии и Африки the humanist underpinnings for the “Technological Revolution”; Kim Il-sung had written that his goal was to “release people from the heavy burden of labour” and that “economic construction and technological revolution are not ends in themselves, but are means to give people, as masters of their state and society, a luxurious life” 1 . This harks back to themes first raised in Karl Marx’s 1844 Manuscripts, where he wrote at length on how a future communist society would release people from the burdens and alienation of work. Kuriki also writes about feminism, arguing that until women have been released from the burden of housework, gender equality would not be achieved. The people’s political revolution restores to them initiative in making changes for themselves, but freedom cannot be complete until man has been released from natural limitations and material burdens. Yet material success is predicated upon ideological victory. Kim Il-sung’s greatness lies in the fact that he has furnished the exact blueprint for every step in the revolution towards total liberty, from the anti-colonial struggle, to anti-feudalism, to the consolidation of democracy, and the materialization of communist society, where man will once again fully realise his potential 2 . It is therefore unfortunate that, as a result of the massively expanded imports and a sudden fall in 1974–1975 in international prices for zinc and lead, which North Korea exported in large quantities, the country’s worsening balance of payments culminated in a default in 1976. South Korea’s GDP also overtook that of North Korea around the same time. Japanese assistance to North Korea became haphazard afterwards, although it did not totally cease 3 . By the 1980s Juche’s international appeal appeared to lose steam, as the ideology was increasingly modified for home consumption to serve Kim Jong-il’s needs of succession and came to incorporate absurd myths about the birth of Kim Jong-il amongst other things. Kim Jong-il succeeded Kim Il-sung as leader of North Korea in 1994. In need of scape goats amidst economic collapse 4 , Kim Jong-il launched in 1997–2000 a purge of elder officials inherited from his father’s era. This was known as the Simhwajo-sageon. he quotes Kim Il-sung’s essay “For the Self-Determination and Peaceful Reunification of the Motherland”, where Kimwrote that “Man is the master of everything, man decides everything. This is the basis of Juche Ideology. The transformation of nature and society is for man, and is done by men. The most precious thing in the world is man, and the most powerful existence is also man.” Kuriki, “Zhuti Sixiang”, 11. 1 Kuriki, “Zhuti Sixiang”, 8–11. 2 Kuriki, “Zhuti Sixiang”, 12–18. 3 The default amount between Japan and North Korea reached 80 billion yen, and in August 1979 an agreement was reached whereby the debts to Japan would be repaid before those to Western Europe. Kimura, Hidden Aspect, 105–107. 4 This is due to the cessation of trade and aid from the Soviet bloc, and to the lack of fuel needed by the many power plants, pumping stations and tractors in collective farms across the country. The electrified railways carrying fuel, food and other supplies grounded to a halt, whilst flooding decimated the crops, causing widespread famine.