Kim Jong Il, the ailing leader of North Korea, started his six-day tour of China on May 20th, it being his third visit to China since May 2010. North Korea is currently facing a severe food shortage and Kim Jong Il is looking for help. He is also requesting the support of Beijing for his youngest son and heir, Kim Jong Un.
The Prime Minister Wen Jiabao of China informed President Lee Myung Bak of South Korea that Mr. Kim was visiting China to study its model of economic development during a summit meeting in Japan. China's economy has been prospering ever since Deng Xiaoping's 2 stages of reform. The first step lasted from 1978 to 1984, where Deng decollectivized agriculture, opened China to foreign investors, and mandated the start of private businesses. In the second stage of reform, which lasted from 1984 to 1993, Deng privatized state-owned industries and lifted price controls.
After discussing the economy of North Korea with Chinese officials, Kim Jong Il plans to transform North Korea’s command economy more toward market reforms, although it is unclear as to how sincere he is about launching the changes. Mr. Kim has not been putting changes in place even after his past frequent trips to China. Some analysts believe that Kim Jong Il’s trips to China were primarily an attempt to obtain cheap, reliable supplies of food and energy and diplomatic protection from the United States, Japan, and South Korea. These three countries have been trying to prevent North Korea’s nuclear weapons program.
After discussing the economy of North Korea with Chinese officials, Kim Jong Il plans to transform North Korea’s command economy more toward market reforms, although it is unclear as to how sincere he is about launching the changes. Mr. Kim has not been putting changes in place even after his past frequent trips to China. Some analysts believe that Kim Jong Il’s trips to China were primarily an attempt to obtain cheap, reliable supplies of food and energy and diplomatic protection from the United States, Japan, and South Korea. These three countries have been trying to prevent North Korea’s nuclear weapons program.
Xinhua, the state news agency of China, reported Mr. Kim’s reaction when he saw the economic prosperity of China, saying, “He said the Chinese people are now engaged in economic and social development and he marveled at the amazing changes he saw during the visit.” According to the same news agency, President Hu Jintao of China praised Kim Jong Il for giving “top priority to improving people’s lives.”
Kim Jong Il’s visit to China demonstrated the strong alliance between China and North Korea. Mr. Kim declared that North Korea will become a “strong and prosperous” country by 2012. Although this goal will be hard to reach under current conditions, it shows that North Korea is willing to make changes in the nation.
SOURCES
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