Research Report
A Study on the North Korean Science and Technology laws
Ⅰ. Backgrounds and Purposes
▶ 연구배경
○ Although North Korea is pursuing a science and technology-oriented policy, inter-Korean scientific and technological cooperation cannot be promoted due to sanctions against the North and strained inter-Korean relations.
- South Korea's Basic Law on Science and Technology stipulates that the government should promote measures necessary to promote mutual exchange and cooperation between the two Koreas.
- Therefore, through scientific and technological cooperation, basic research is needed to improve legislation necessary for the two Koreas to advance peace and coexistence based on common economic prosperity.
▶ 연구목적
○ The purpose of this study is to establish a foundation for establishing and strengthening a peaceful exchange and cooperation system based on inter-Korean scientific and technological cooperation through analysis of North Korea's science and technology legislation during the Kim Jong Un era.
Ⅱ. Major Content
▶ North Korea's perception of Kim Jong Un's science and technology
○ North Korea recognizes the development and development of science and technology as an important means to resolve economic difficulties caused by sanctions against the North and to support the people's economy.
- North Korea is focusing on developing new technologies to support the people's livelihood as Kim Jong Un announced his plan to strengthen defense capabilities and implement a five-year plan for national economic development at the 8th Workers' Party convention in January 2021.
- The plan focused on domestic production and recycling of raw materials and materials, and reflected the plan to make a leap forward based on North Korea's power and technology and North Korea's resources
▶ North Korea Constitution and Science and Technology
○ Article 27 of the North Korean Constitution stipulates that the technological revolution is the basic link for starting a socialist economy, and that science and technology capabilities are the most important strategic resources of the nation.
- Therefore, the government emphasizes that it will increase the leading role of science and technology in all economic activities, integrate science and technology and production, and promote economic construction by vigorously launching a popular technology innovation movement.
▶ North Korea Science and Technology Act
○ Based on the constitutional recognition of the importance of science and technology, North Korea has enacted and implemented a "Science and Technology Act" that defines basic principles and policy directions for science and technology.
- North Korea's science and technology law stipulates that science and technology is a strong driving force for the construction of a hard-line socialist country, as a law aimed at strengthening science and technology policies and fostering and developing science and technology industries.
- In particular, the Kim Jong Un era emphasized economic development through science and technology as a combination principle between science and technology.
-Centralized technology development based on the North Korean authorities' plans. It places importance on the dissemination of scientific and technological achievements through central planning and the government's control and supervision of scientific and technological development.
▶ Science and Technology Results Introduction Act
○ On Dec. 4, 2020, North Korea enacted a law to introduce the results of science and technology at the 14th plenary session of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Congress.
- The Science and Technology Performance Introduction Act stipulates the issue of strict discipline in the formulation, delivery, control, and execution of science and technology results, and the guarantee of science, objectivity and accuracy.
- The purpose of the science and technology dissemination project is to set up a science and technology distribution base in every unit and to actively expand dissemination activities so that all the support of society can be prepared with knowledgeable people.
▶ Space Development Act
○ North Korea is also enforcing the Space Development Act, but the purpose of the law is to establish strict systems and order through space development, promote the nation's economic construction, and improve people's lives.
- The law stipulates the design, manufacture, assembly, launch, ground control and operational order of space mechanisms such as satellites and their means of transportation.
- This is also directly related to the development and operation of intercontinental ballistic missiles, a means of launching nuclear weapons.
- To avoid international criticism of North Korea's move, North Korea stipulates that space development activities are the exercise of peaceful space development rights recognized by sovereign countries.
- It also argues that North Korea can have the right to develop space while complying with international law by stipulating that "all countries have the right to develop space, a common property of mankind."
▶ Remote Education Act
○ The third session of the 14th Supreme People's Congress adopted the "Remote Education Act" to ensure economic sustainable development with North Korea's own power, technology and resources, and to further strengthen the development of education, the mother of science.
- The Remote Education Act was enacted and operated as a legal support device to accelerate the spread of science and technology in North Korea, and it is estimated that remote education is being strengthened as part of the COVID-19 quarantine.
- North Korea's enactment of the remote education law is believed to be aimed at stabilizing people's livelihoods by increasing productivity through the spread of science and technology, and at the same time, to appease the public's harsh public sentiment due to the North.
▶ Mobile Communications Act
○ On December 4, 2020, the Mobile Communications Act was enacted at the 12th plenary session of the 14th Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Congress.
- The mobile communication law reflects principles related to mobile communication business such as the construction and management of mobile communication facilities, modern completion of mobile communication networks, diversification of mobile communication.
▶ Inter-Korean Comparison and Overcoming Limitations
○ Both the South Korean and North Korean constitution recognize the importance of science and technology and stipulate the protection of science and technology rights while seeking economic development through science and technology.
- In particular, in order to overcome serious economic difficulties such as sanctions against North Korea, natural disasters, and COVID-19, North Korea has set goals and strategies for science and technology development according to the state plan.
- To achieve this goal, North Korea has enacted and implemented the Science and Technology Act, stipulating the principle of emphasis on science and technology, combining science and technology and economy, and is striving to realize and strengthen socialist ideology through science and technology.
○ Rather than improving productivity and quality of life through science and technology, North Korea is using socialist ideology as a means of systematic and sustainable dissemination and implementation to resolve national economic difficulties.
- Furthermore, it is estimated that the government lacks concrete means of implementation such as fundamental science and funding for the development of new technologies, and that it is merely a declarative legislation.
- Therefore, there is a limit to North Korea's ability to carry out diverse and creative new technology development and research required by the market and society.
○ While the development of science and technology is not used as a means to realize a particular ideology or ideology, it is necessary to establish a legal basis for realizing the creativity and expertise of scientists and engineers.
- It is necessary to revise the part of the North's science and technology law that controls science and technology projects and drastically remove excessive guidance and control of science and technology projects.
- As legislation to share South Korea's know-how on science and technology development is needed, North Korea needs to establish a new regulation on inter-Korean science and technology exchanges and cooperation in the Science and Technology Act.
○ Although it is very difficult to promote inter-Korean scientific and technological cooperation in the U.S.-China technology hegemony competition, it is necessary to promote inter-Korean scientific and technological cooperation in accordance with South Korea's "Basic Law on Science and Technology."
- Since North Korea values science and technology to improve the people's economy and overcome economic difficulties and favors scientists and engineers, cooperation in science and technology is highly acceptable to North Korea.
- The two Koreas need to establish a science and technology sharing platform and establish cooperative programs with relevant research and academic institutions.
- A system should be established to provide and manage science and technology such as improving the residential environment of North Koreans, improving health care, preventing and preventing disasters, and scientific farming technology.
- If direct exchanges and cooperation between the two Koreas are difficult due to sanctions against North Korea, it is necessary to consider ways to conduct seminars, academic conferences, and professional education in third countries.
- South Korea needs to revise related legislation, including the Basic Law on Science and Technology, to make such projects possible.
- On the other hand, it is necessary to consider promoting such cooperation projects through the meta-verse virtual space in a situation where it is difficult to contact the North Korean authorities, research institutions, or academic organizations for scientific and technological cooperation.
Ⅲ. Expected Effects
▶ Academic Contribution
○ After the Kim Jong Un administration, it will help to identify the direction and capabilities of North Korea's new technology development and to find alternatives to overcome the limitations of the socialist legal system.
○ By examining the development process of science and technology legislation after Kim Jong Un, it will contribute to discovering legislative improvements in preparation for future reform and opening up and drawing up legislation based on international standards.
▶ Policy Contribution
○ It will not only form the foundation for inter-Korean legal cooperation projects that can be sustained even in the face of strained inter-Korean relations, but will also contribute to the accumulation of legal information in consideration of the future period of inter-Korean cooperation.
○ If the North Korean nuclear issue is resolved and the North takes a leap forward to reform and open up, it will form the foundation for North Korea to establish scientific and technological legislation suitable for the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the 4.0 era of globalization.