North Korea: Anna Rosbach

The international community must push for change in North Korea, writes Anna Rosbach.

The death of Kim Jong-Il creates a momentum for change in North Korea. Whether it will be for better or worse remains to be seen. Very little is known about the new leader Kim Jong-Un. But his role is primarily as a national symbol – the real power has long been with the military. Despite this, the change in leadership will create a momentum for change for both North Korea and the rest of the world. The massive propaganda designed to position the new leader Kim Jong-Un as a strong military leader shows continuity in the political leadership that reflects the official ideology of Juche – thus unfortunately nothing seems to have changed.

Furthermore, human rights groups are concerned that the new leader will be even worse than his father, and that new rules will increase the control with the population. It is therefore important, that the international community push North Korea in the right direction. The change in leadership can give North Korea the opportunity to open up without losing face. But it requires the rest of the world to send a clear signal, saying “we are ready” – if North Koreans are as well. I recently returned from an official visit to North Korea with a European parliament delegation. During our visit, we got a clear impression that the North Korean government is strongly interested in more contact with the European Union. Brussels should therefore send a signal that we are ready for closer relations with North Korea on condition of political and economic reforms that will benefit the North Korean population.

In this respect, the EU has unique opportunities. While South Korea and the US are perceived as enemies, Europe is considered more neutral. Therefore we are in a better position to influence developments in North Korea in a more open direction. But it requires rethinking our current strategy in several areas. During our visit to North Korea we saw different projects that had been supported financially by the EU. Some of them were successful, having created real progress for the North Korean population. But unfortunately a lot of the money given as food aid has ended up in the wrong pockets.

So in future relations, any EU financial support to North Korea should be given under conditions of complete transparency. Furthermore the support should be targeted at specific projects that we can monitor. We need to think more in terms of development than poverty. There is poverty in North Korea, but there is not starvation as in other parts of the world. Our target must be to develop the North Korean society in order to create general progress – also at political level.

During our visit we saw small markets with private trade. It already exists and so it can be strengthened. The last years have seen the growth of a very small middle class of traders, and there is potential for development. But we must be realistic in our goals. We cannot create an open and free society here and now, but we can use our leverage to pull North Korea in the right direction. But any efforts to reach out to North Korea must be followed by firm conditions of political and economic improvements and commitment from their side to improve the human rights situation.

Anna Rosbach is vice-chair of the European parliament's delegation for relations with the Korean peninsula