북한의 군사지도·지휘체계: 당·국가·군 관계를 중심으로

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to take an in-depth look at the North Korea's system of guidance and command over its military. The launch of Kim Jong Il’s era took place during the period of the Arduous March and the death of Kim Il Sung in 1994. This study seeks to investigate the major changes that transpired over this period in the organizational structure of the Korean People’s Army (KPA) and examine its effect on the current military guidance and command system as Kim Jong Il attempted to consolidate his power in the military. Furthermore, this study attempts to shed light on the changes in military institutions – in its characteristics and relationships between organizations -- that surfaced in the course of implementing songun or “military-first” policy and to reveal the realities of the current KPA guidance and command systems through structured and in-depth analysis. The KPA began as a “state’s army”when it was first established but it later transformed into a “party’s army”, then to “suryong’s (supreme leader’s) army” after Kim Il Sung began to enforce a direct ruling system from the late-1960s. The KPA solidified its position as the “suryong’s and the successor’s army” long before Kim Il Sung’s death. The KPA began functioning not as the ruling structure for the party but Kim Jong Il’s way of maintaining his regime during the songun era. Through the songun politics, the KPA has become, not the party’s governing system but, the suryong’s personal means to rule the nation. Thus, the KPA’s characteristics began to change, as well as the military guidance and command system, according to domestic politics. Furthermore, the military guidance and command system began to develop into its current distinctive form that corresponded to the current political system of North Korea under the influence of former Soviet Union and China. In other words, the military evolved into a system where its national leader was capable of consolidating his power in the military under the military guidance and command system that supported such rule. Therefore, the military guidance and command system of North Korea may be divided into three parts – the party, military, and state – with suryong in the center that operated in three tiers: (1) General Secretary of the Party and the Party Military Commissioner’s control of the party; (2) the Supreme Commander’s control of the operational command; and (3) the Chairman of the National Defense Commission’s control of the military administration and the defense economy. The military guidance and command system of songun era was a response to short-term crisis management and a product of songun politics. However, it is now reutilized as a principle agent in accomplishing a mid-to-long term goal of becoming a kangsong taeguk or “strong and prosperous nation” and to serve as an important role for direct ruling, establish succession system, and promote regime stability. Consequently, the changes that appeared during Kim Jong Il’s rule was not simply a result of songun politics but acted as a vital link between songun politics and a vision of kangsong taeguk, and for maintaining the Kim Jong Il’s regime. The differentiation and concentration of the guidance and command system that appeared during the songun era can be evaluated as a method to effectively control the military through the process of governing to become a normal state and for the perpetuation of the regime for its leader to remain in power. The logic of equating the stability of regime and perpetuation of regime succession to the stability and future of the party and the state is still being applied even in the current Kim Jong Un’s regime. Currently, Kim Jong Un has earned the titles of first secretary of the Workers’ Party and the chairman of the Central Military Commission and has the control over military policy and personnel appointment. He also has the title of the first chairman of the National Defense Commission and directs state organizations such as the Ministry of the People’s Armed Forces, the Ministry of People’s Security and the State Security Department. In addition, he also has direct authority over the military as the Supreme Commander, which is the highest position in the military.