Shocking Revelation: North Koreans Are Losing Hope in Their Leader, Says Former Ambassador

On Tuesday, former North Korean diplomat Ri Il Kyu claimed that North Korean residents have long lost their loyalty to the regime and no longer expect anything from it.

Ri made these comments during a discussion at the 2024 Global Korea Forum (GKF), co-hosted by the Ministry of Unification and the Political Science Institute at Yonsei University. He observed, “The prevailing sentiment is that survival depends not on the leader’s benevolence but on one’s own efforts in the marketplace.”

He specifically criticized the laws established to control ideology, such as the Anti-Reactionary Thought Law, the Youth Education Guarantee Act, and the Pyongyang Cultural Language Protection Act. “Moreover, Kim adopted three major unjust laws. More than 80% of residents and officials have negative perspectives on these laws since those mean inheriting oppression to the following generations.”

Ri also examined why North Korean residents do not actively resist these policies, attributing their passivity to “the layers of surveillance and the fear induced by political repression.”

Discussing South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s 8.15 Unification Doctrine proposed during Liberation Day, Ri suggested, “If North Korean residents were to learn about it, I believe it would resonate deeply with them.” He stressed the importance of North Korean officials and workers recognizing themselves as central to this change.

Moreover, Ri noted that “the geopolitical interests of major powers complicate unification efforts.” He advocated for a policy toward China that could foster change by appealing to its interests.

He concluded by emphasizing South Korea’s critical role in the unification process, stating, “Regardless of political affiliation—whether conservative or progressive—it is essential to establish bipartisan, steadfast principles for North Korea policy and collaborate toward unification.”