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| Military-first (Songun) policy | |
|---|---|
| Name | Military-first (Songun) policy |
| Introduced | 1990s |
| Founder | Kim Il-sung; Kim Jong-il |
| Country | North Korea |
| Status | State policy |
Military-first (Songun) policy is a political doctrine originating in North Korea in the late 20th century that elevated the role of the armed forces in state priority and resource allocation. It emerged amid leadership transitions involving Kim Il-sung, Kim Jong-il, and institutions such as the Workers' Party of Korea and the Korean People's Army, reshaping relations among the Supreme People's Assembly, National Defence Commission (North Korea), and state planning bodies.
The policy traces intellectual roots to directives and writings by Kim Il-sung and publicized speeches by Kim Jong-il, drawing on precedents from Joseon Dynasty military traditions, Soviet Union patronage under Joseph Stalin, and revolutionary praxis associated with Chinese Communist Party leaders like Mao Zedong. It was articulated in contexts including the post-Cold War collapse of the Soviet Union, the famine period associated with the 1990s North Korean famine, and international crises such as the 1994 Agreed Framework negotiations and standoffs over the Korean Armistice Agreement. The doctrine synthesizes elements from texts promulgated at Workers' Party plenums, National Defence Commission communiqués, and speeches at venues like Kim Il-sung University and the Mansudae Grand Monument.
Implementation involved formal elevation of the Korean People's Army within state hierarchies, changes to administrative organs including the Central Military Commission (Workers' Party of Korea) and the State Affairs Commission, and personnel reshuffles affecting figures like O Jin-u, Ri Ul-sol, and Jo Myong-rok. Resource allocation favored entities such as the Ministry of People's Armed Forces over ministries managing trade and industry like the Ministry of Foreign Trade and agencies connected to the Choson Sinbo media network. Institutional consequences included altered roles for the Korean Workers' Youth League, the Red Cross Society of North Korea, and state enterprises tied to the Munitions Industry Department and military-run conglomerates.
Prioritization of defense spending influenced sectors including the Namhung Youth Chemical Complex, Hamhung industrial projects, and transport networks like the Pyongyang Metro, affecting civilian allocation for health services such as those at Pyongyang General Hospital and education at institutions including Kim Il-sung University of Politics. The policy intersected with international sanctions regimes overseen by bodies like the United Nations Security Council and affected commerce through entities such as Korean National Insurance and maritime firms implicated in incidents like the DPRK-flagged vessel seizures. Socially, it reinforced narratives propagated by cultural organizations including the Korean Art Troupe and state media such as the Korean Central News Agency, shaping mobilization similar to historical campaigns like the Arduous March.
Songun reshaped succession politics involving the Mount Paektu mythology and leadership cults around Kim Il-sung, Kim Jong-il, and Kim Jong-un, influencing appointments within the Politburo of the Workers' Party of Korea and security elites like Hwang Pyong-so and Ri Yong-ho. It affected the balance between the Ministry of Public Security and the Korean People's Internal Security Forces, and the posture of state organs such as the Cabinet of North Korea and the Supreme Leader’s advisory circles. The policy was invoked in policy statements at events like Day of the Sun commemorations and during international engagements with actors including China's Communist Party of China leadership and delegations from Russia.
Under Songun, the Korean People's Army pursued modernization programs involving ballistic missile tests linked to systems such as the Hwasong series, nuclear advancements culminating in tests attributed to facilities like the Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site, and naval expansions involving vessels connected to the Korean People's Navy. Doctrinal shifts resembled strategies seen in historical conflicts such as the Korean War and studies of asymmetrical approaches referenced in works on Guerrilla warfare and Strategic deterrence. Procurement and research involved collaboration or contention with international actors including Pakistan-era proliferation networks, and responses by defense entities like the United States Indo-Pacific Command and South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense.
Domestically, the policy was promoted by propaganda outlets including the Korean Central Television and cultural productions like the Mass Games, receiving support from cadres within the Workers' Party of Korea and skepticism from civilian professionals in sectors such as the Academy of Sciences. Internationally, governments including United States, Japan, China, and Russia responded with diplomatic measures, sanctions via the United Nations Security Council, and varying engagement strategies including the Six-Party Talks. Humanitarian organizations such as World Food Programme and advocacy groups like Human Rights Watch cited consequences for civilians, while analysts at institutions like the International Crisis Group and think tanks including the Center for Strategic and International Studies debated strategic rationales.
Under Kim Jong-un, shifts have included rhetoric blending Songun with economic initiatives associated with the Byungjin line and adjustments to priorities visible in projects like the Wonsan-Kalma development and diplomatic summits with leaders such as Donald Trump and Xi Jinping. Leadership transitions altered leadership bodies including the State Affairs Commission (North Korea) and personnel like Pak Pong-ju and Kim Yong-chol, producing hybrid policies balancing military prestige with displays of infrastructural investment at sites like Mangyongdae and the Ryugyong Hotel. The legacy persists in the durable prominence of the Korean People's Army and in ongoing debates among scholars at institutions such as Harvard University, University of Oxford, and the Korea Development Institute over its long-term viability.
Category:Politics of North Korea