🇰🇵 In Defense of North Korea 🇰🇵

The DPRK is perhaps the most reviled nation in the world. In the West it is seen as an aggressor state, deserving of total destruction for its alleged “crimes.” Is this really the case, and if not, why do we think it is?

🧵 A Thread: 🧵

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— 𝘽𝙍𝘼𝙉𝘿𝙏 𝙒𝙄𝙂𝙂𝙄𝙉𝙎 (@brxndtwiggins) June 7, 2023

To begin, people need to be educated on the history of Korea, and the events leading up to the North Korean split along the 38th parallel.

For centuries, the area known today as Korea was a tributary state of China, which dominated East Asia for nearly a 1000 years.
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— 𝘽𝙍𝘼𝙉𝘿𝙏 𝙒𝙄𝙂𝙂𝙄𝙉𝙎 (@brxndtwiggins) June 7, 2023

Korea was a loyal state of China, adopting Chinese traditions exceptionally well. As China weakened, Korea didn’t.

As the Western powers began funneling into Asia and establishing colonies, China continuously lost power, until they could no longer hold onto their states.
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— 𝘽𝙍𝘼𝙉𝘿𝙏 𝙒𝙄𝙂𝙂𝙄𝙉𝙎 (@brxndtwiggins) June 7, 2023

However, one state remained unscathed during these conflicts: Korea. Korea was extremely isolationist and had developed a much stronger system of governance than its predecessor.

In 1895, Korea became a sovereign state, and was no longer a vassal of China.
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— 𝘽𝙍𝘼𝙉𝘿𝙏 𝙒𝙄𝙂𝙂𝙄𝙉𝙎 (@brxndtwiggins) June 7, 2023

The new nation of Korea made attempts to modernize during this period, reforming its military and governance.

This peace would not last however – Korea quickly became surrounded by enemies on its borders. And one enemy in particular would soon take conquest: Japan.
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— 𝘽𝙍𝘼𝙉𝘿𝙏 𝙒𝙄𝙂𝙂𝙄𝙉𝙎 (@brxndtwiggins) June 7, 2023

All the while, Japan had been industrializing and expanding their military power since the arrival of the United States.

Japan had Korea and much of East Asia in its targets, and had already decided to invade Korea. Japan viewed Korea as lesser and subhuman.
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— 𝘽𝙍𝘼𝙉𝘿𝙏 𝙒𝙄𝙂𝙂𝙄𝙉𝙎 (@brxndtwiggins) June 7, 2023

The Japanese ruled Korea from 1910 to 1945 after their victory against the Russians. Japan utilized the colony of Korea for resources, infrastructure, industry, and production.

The Japanese were ruthless during this period, banning Korean language, culture, and history.
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— 𝘽𝙍𝘼𝙉𝘿𝙏 𝙒𝙄𝙂𝙂𝙄𝙉𝙎 (@brxndtwiggins) June 7, 2023

Despite this, the colonization did in turn have some positive effects. After the defeat of the Japanese in 1945, Korea was left with a large industrial infrastructure.

This, in turn with their abundance of mineral resources allowed for them to kick start their economy.
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— 𝘽𝙍𝘼𝙉𝘿𝙏 𝙒𝙄𝙂𝙂𝙄𝙉𝙎 (@brxndtwiggins) June 7, 2023

The remaining Japanese were driven out in 1945 by the Korean resistance, partially lead by Kim Il-Sung, and aided by the USSR.

As the US marched into Korea from the south, the USSR was marching in from the North. This effectively began the “split” we know of today.
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— 𝘽𝙍𝘼𝙉𝘿𝙏 𝙒𝙄𝙂𝙂𝙄𝙉𝙎 (@brxndtwiggins) June 7, 2023

After Japan’s surrender, the US attempted to swallow all of Japan’s former colonies, including Korea.

The USSR and Kim-Il Sung’s guerrilla state disrupted those plans. Koreans in the North soon adopted the USSR’s policies.
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— 𝘽𝙍𝘼𝙉𝘿𝙏 𝙒𝙄𝙂𝙂𝙄𝙉𝙎 (@brxndtwiggins) June 7, 2023

Contrary to popular belief, it was the Americans who erected the “dividing line” of Korea, to separate the American and Soviet zones.

The US enacted a military occupation in the South and attempted to set up a puppet state to head the government.
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— 𝘽𝙍𝘼𝙉𝘿𝙏 𝙒𝙄𝙂𝙂𝙄𝙉𝙎 (@brxndtwiggins) June 7, 2023

The first South Korean government was vehemently opposed by locals, who called for the reunification and end to military occupation.

This occupation was effectively the same as the Japanese, with the US banning resistance against the US and jailing dissent.
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— 𝘽𝙍𝘼𝙉𝘿𝙏 𝙒𝙄𝙂𝙂𝙄𝙉𝙎 (@brxndtwiggins) June 7, 2023

For nearly 4 decades after 1945, South Korea was basically run by the same Japanese officers fought off by Kim Il-Sung.

The DPRK was founded on September 9, 1948. This came three weeks after the Republic of Korea was founded.
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— 𝘽𝙍𝘼𝙉𝘿𝙏 𝙒𝙄𝙂𝙂𝙄𝙉𝙎 (@brxndtwiggins) June 7, 2023

The first president of South Korea was Syngman Rhee, a fiercely anti-communist who had been hand picked by the US. He had spent much of his life in America and had even married an American wife.
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— 𝘽𝙍𝘼𝙉𝘿𝙏 𝙒𝙄𝙂𝙂𝙄𝙉𝙎 (@brxndtwiggins) June 7, 2023

Until around the 1980s, the North Korean economy was much stronger than that of its counterpart. This made North Korea a much more desirable nation than the South, stoking fear in Western collaborators.

NK’s success could serve to discredit the pro-capitalist stance.
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— 𝘽𝙍𝘼𝙉𝘿𝙏 𝙒𝙄𝙂𝙂𝙄𝙉𝙎 (@brxndtwiggins) June 7, 2023

Industry in the North grew 25% per annum for 10 years after the Korean War. Pyongyang was one of the best cities in Asia at the time, while South Korea continued to lag behind.

Ultimately, the decline of NK’s economy began with the fall of the socialist bloc.
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— 𝘽𝙍𝘼𝙉𝘿𝙏 𝙒𝙄𝙂𝙂𝙄𝙉𝙎 (@brxndtwiggins) June 7, 2023

Due to harsh sanctions and stagnation, the USSR, which was NK’s largest ally, fell. This meant China would no longer have to compete for NK’s support, sending them less money.

In turn, hardships fell on North Korea, causing famines and much upset.
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— 𝘽𝙍𝘼𝙉𝘿𝙏 𝙒𝙄𝙂𝙂𝙄𝙉𝙎 (@brxndtwiggins) June 7, 2023

To counter this, NK enacted the “Juche” policy, which stresses self reliance citizen cooperation.

NK were made aware that relying on aid made them vulnerable, meaning they would need to become completely self reliant.
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— 𝘽𝙍𝘼𝙉𝘿𝙏 𝙒𝙄𝙂𝙂𝙄𝙉𝙎 (@brxndtwiggins) June 7, 2023

Under Juche, the DPRK began plans to expand agriculture and food production, as well as becoming energy independent. They opened Nuclear power plants, hydro-electric dams, and worked hard to automate agriculture.

This has been the ongoing ideology since it’s creation.
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— 𝘽𝙍𝘼𝙉𝘿𝙏 𝙒𝙄𝙂𝙂𝙄𝙉𝙎 (@brxndtwiggins) June 7, 2023

Under Marshal Kim Jong-Un, North Korea opened theme parks, expanded education, and put a heavy emphasis on leisure.

North Korea emphasizes strong national sovereignty and unwavering support for the party and its leader.
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— 𝘽𝙍𝘼𝙉𝘿𝙏 𝙒𝙄𝙂𝙂𝙄𝙉𝙎 (@brxndtwiggins) June 7, 2023

North Korea has often been described as a national security threat and enemy of the world, but with all being said, is this truly the case?

North Korea has been sanctioned, disavowed, and lambasted for decades, simply for attempting to strengthen its own interests.
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— 𝘽𝙍𝘼𝙉𝘿𝙏 𝙒𝙄𝙂𝙂𝙄𝙉𝙎 (@brxndtwiggins) June 7, 2023

US leaders and officials have called for the “end” of North Korea, a nation that that has existed peacefully for 60+ years. Is North Korea really the aggressor?

NK faces subversive foreign influence to previously unseen levels, making them understandably paranoid.
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— 𝘽𝙍𝘼𝙉𝘿𝙏 𝙒𝙄𝙂𝙂𝙄𝙉𝙎 (@brxndtwiggins) June 7, 2023

And while North Korean “defectors” like Yeonmi Park will demonize millions of people for being loyal to their country, NK’s main goal is for reunification.

And while they are taught that the leaders are corrupt, N. Koreans see S. Koreans as their brothers & sisters.
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— 𝘽𝙍𝘼𝙉𝘿𝙏 𝙒𝙄𝙂𝙂𝙄𝙉𝙎 (@brxndtwiggins) June 7, 2023

North Korea is not the great evil we see them as in the West. This is the product of 70 years of propaganda against a small nation that began by following the needs of its people.

Logically, a nation can’t survive three dynasties under the conditions the West describes.
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— 𝘽𝙍𝘼𝙉𝘿𝙏 𝙒𝙄𝙂𝙂𝙄𝙉𝙎 (@brxndtwiggins) June 7, 2023

North Korea looks out for its citizens; providing free food, housing, and education to its people.

Juche is a revolutionary ideology that has helped mediate severe crisis that would ultimately cripple any other nation.

Ultimately, just like any other nation, the Democratic… pic.twitter.com/bfahpn6FN6

— 𝘽𝙍𝘼𝙉𝘿𝙏 𝙒𝙄𝙂𝙂𝙄𝙉𝙎 (@brxndtwiggins) June 7, 2023