| Summary/Abstract |
The purpose of this study is to examine the correlation between changes in
North Korea’s foreign policy stance and the citation frequencies of the previous
generations’ discourse in the state–run media, based on the theoretical framework
of strategic culture. As the methodologically most parsimonious and conspicuous
means, this study selected Kim Il Sung’s memoir, With the Century, for the key
text of the country’s strategic culture by referring to previous research; investigated
Rodong Sinmun’s citation frequencies of the memoir; and derived a relation between
the number of citations and the country’s annual nuclear and missile activities. Two
variables’ Pearson correlation coefficient (r) was .88 during the second half of Kim
Jong Un’s reign (2016–2020), allowing notable comparison with the coefficient of
–.41 in the first half of the regime (2011–2015). The significant positive correlation
suggests the possibility that Pyongyang has internalized a specific foreign policy
perception frame since 2016, which includes maintaining a hanging-tough posture
as a default from the previous generations, and entering into negotiations or
dialogue defying the conventional wisdom. This logic may serve as a background
element of resilience that makes the country return to the hardline attitude upon the
occurrence of any slight change in situations.
|