Self-development-first Principle
A mass rally in Pyongyang promotes "The Principle of Self-help." (Image/Korean Central News Agency - Photo by Korean Central News Agency
"The Principle of Self-help" is a term that emerged during Kim Jong-un's leadership, reflecting North Korea's ambition for "self-reliance" and reducing reliance on imports. Since the 1950s, North Korea has advocated this principle during unfavorable international conditions and economic hardships. This approach resulted in the country's economy becoming isolated and detached from the international division of labor. Under Kim Jong-un's regime, "The Principle of Self-help" has been emphasized even more, showcasing North Korea's pride as a nuclear-armed nation with advanced science and technology. The primary goal of this concept is to strengthen the spirit and awareness of the nation, beyond mere economic growth. The following presents the story of how "The Principle of Self-help" became prominent in North Korea under Kim Jong-un's leadership. |
On the right, a slogan declares "The Principle of Self-help: Locomotive of Science and Technology," and on the left, another slogan reads "Let's Live in Our Own Way" at the site of the Sangwon Cement Joint Enterprise. - Photo by Rodong Sinmun
One day in November Juche 104 (2015), the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un guided a trial operation of a subway train made by the workers of the DPRK.
That day, he, traveling through several stations by the subway train, highly appreciated the workers for producing the subway train with their own efforts and technology. And he said that this time the heroic working class of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il clearly showed that the nature of the working class is still alive and nothing is impossible when they believe in their own strength and rely on it.
Stressing the importance of self-development to firmly consolidate our revolutionary position and attain the grandiose goal of building a powerful socialist country, he said that the source of self-development is trust in and attachment to one's own things and pride and self-confidence in one's own things, adding that our own things are the best and self-development is the best.
He stressed in his New Year Address for 2016 that the principle of giving priority to self-development should be maintained in building a powerful socialist country and that sycophancy and dependence on foreign forces are the way to national ruin and self-development is the only way for sustaining the dignity of the country and the nation and opening up a broad avenue for the revolution and construction.