By Kim Young-jin
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was on hand as the country’s parliament convened a special meeting, Pyongyang’s state media said Tuesday, without mentioning highly-speculated economic moves.
As of Tuesday evening, the North’s Korean Central News Agency had announced the attendance of the young leader as well as an adjustment to the nation’s compulsory education system. It also announced routine personnel changes at the presidium.
The silence over the economy surprised many as it was anticipated that the Supreme People’s Assembly (SPA) could rubber stamp a spate of changes including allowing farmers to keep a portion of their crops to sell at market. These would resemble reforms by China in the late 1970s to introduce capitalist principles.
It was the second meeting this year of the SPA, which typically meets once annually to pass budgets or personnel changes. The rare second meeting sparked speculation that a major announcement could be made.
The new education law requires citizens to receive 12 years of education instead of the previous 11.
Some said even if the North had approved agricultural reform, it may be waiting to try out the new policy before making it public.
"The North may announce the reforms later, after completing an overall assessment," a Seoul official said.
One expert said the North may have decided to hold the meeting to celebrate the regime of the new leader. “It may be a sign they are not ready to announce any changes to the system. We have to see,” he said.
Rumors have abounded that Kim, who has emphasized improving living conditions, is preparing to introduce the changes as early as Oct. 1. Groups here with lines into the North say the measures have been discussed internally since June 28.
Under the policy, farmers would keep surplus food to sell at market rather than having to hand it all to the state. Some reports have put the percentage of crops citizens can keep at 30 percent.
It would also reorganize how plots are managed, allowing citizens to form smaller teams that would have more leeway to decide how to market the extra crops. Watchers said the measures could spark greater production and stem soaring prices of rice.
The rumored changes aim to consolidate Kim’s rule among the populace, said Yoo Ho-yeol, an expert at Korea University.
“Kim Jong-un has said that he does not want to see the people suffer. Agricultural reforms are the easiest way to satisfy the people that this is being followed through on,” Yoo said.
“If the regime can succeed in getting people to follow the changes, then it could start a positive cycle of improvements in the North.”
Yoo warned, however, that reforms in 2002 and 2009 fell flat and that it bears watching to see how the current push will fare.
The so-called June 28 measures could also allow factory enterprises to set their own prices for goods and give them more room to decide on matters such as production and distribution of profits.
In April, the SPA elevated Kim to first chairman of the powerful National Defense Commission, consolidating his power following his father’s death.