Page 25 - 2018 Defense White Paper

the completion of the so-called “state nuclear capability” after launching various types of
Chapter 1
ballistic missiles, and conducting the sixth nuclear test on September 3, 2017. In the 2018 New
Year’s address, Pyongyang argued for the justification of its “byungjin” policy of simultaneously
developing its economy and nuclear weapons, highlighting the plan to mass-produce and deploy

nuclear warheads and underscoring the necessity to bolster economic independence and improve
the people’s living conditions.
Since the new strategic line of focusing all efforts on building a socialist economy was

rd
announced at the 3 Plenary Meeting of the 7 Party Central Committee on April 20, the
th
regime has urged the people to make economic achievements with the leadership undertaking
more visits to industrial sites and media outlets intensively covering subjects like self-reliance,

science and technology, and the drive for an increased production.
North Korea is also attempting to end its isolation from the international community while
seeking to strengthen the solidarity of the regime. On September 9, in celebration of the 70 th
anniversary of its foundation, North Korea granted amnesty to prisoners for the f irst time in

three years and held a large-scale military parade and the Mass Games performance and invited
foreign high-ranking of f icials while attracting tourists through active international marketing.

Meanwhile, concerned about the inf lux of foreign culture and the potential loosening of people’s
ideological commitments due to strategic and policy change, Pyongyang is strengthening its
propaganda campaign on the superiority of the socialist system.
North Korea is expected to continue its efforts to maintain the stability of the regime, improve

its economy through institutional and legal reforms, and create a favorable external environment
for itself. In pursuit of its goal to improve the living standards of its people, Pyongyang will
likely use all available workforce and resources to generate economic achievements by 2020

when the implementation of the five-year strategy for national economic development comes
to an end. Moreover, to lay the groundwork for mid- and long-term economic growth based
on development in science education, North Korea will likely strive to expand its science

infrastructure and improve science education both qualitatively and quantatively.

| Inter-Korean Policy | North Korea has been attempting to induce changes in the ROK

government’s North Korea policy by continuously professing the need to improve inter-Korean
relations while simultaneously creating military tensions tailored for situational change and
political objectives.

Section 3 North Korean Situation and Military Threats 23