발이 넓다넓다

One’s foot is wide.

Chung-guyok, Pyongyang, April 20th, 1952

The destruction in Korea was general. The Americans had convinced themselves that the absolute optimum way to defeat an enemy was to obliterate his country into bits, claiming countless civilian lives - and yet, they still counted themselves on the right side of history. The Korean Worker’s Party knew better. It was only through commitment to this program that the Korean people had survived and would survive these years of war.

Yet, the destruction of the Korean peninsula also presented an opportunity - especially for the Infrastructure Clique in the Cabinet. This Clique was one that had grown over the last two years, from a first few harried meetings late at night to a regular Thursday meeting at the Worker’s Club in Sinri-Dong.

Ho Nam-hui doffed his hat as he came inside. These were the rainy months in Korea, and a storm had been hanging over the city for the better part of three days. One wouldn’t know by his somewhat Schoolmaster-like appearance, but Ho had done much of the work in organizing these meetings and bringing together the ministers who he thought were most qualified to bring about the reconstruction of Korea. “Economy First” was the watchword of the group.

The other members were already there, greeting Ho with respectful nods. In attendance were:

• Minister of Communication Kim Jong-ju, a leader of the Chongdoist Chongu party, especially fastidious and exacting in his role as head of the postal service

• Vice Premier and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pak Hon-yong, an intellectual, influential activist, yet regarded as ‘politically suspect’ by the Yan’an faction due to his birth into a yangban family in 1900

• Minister of City Management Yi Yong, a Yan’anist and famous bore, yet unnervingly intelligent

• Minister of Railways Pak Ui-Wan, a Soviet Korean with a mildly thick accent, a hearty laugh and a big smile

• Minister of Labour Ho Song-Taek, a Yan’anist and one of the youngest men on the Supreme Council

• Minister of Industry Hon Myong-hui, fiercely loyal to the Worker’s Party and constantly bringing up their interests, yet essentially a pragmatist

• Minister without Portfolio Yi Kuk-no, remarkably similar in affect to Ho Nam-hui with his quiet, intellectual ways and energetic pursuit of Korean language reform

Ho Nam-hui took his seat at one of the long tables that dominated the social-gathering section of the club. Already, maps, charts and tables were spread out before everyone present.

Yi Yong was droning on in his monotone about the importance of industrial corridors when Ho Song-Taek stopped him. The two were always going back and forth like this.

“Minister Yi, I think Ho Nam-Hui has a report to make,” he said, looking expectantly at the new arrival. Ho had hoped to sit down and have some refreshments before being called on to speak, but he took his duty solemnly and rose again.

“The Chairman will see our redevelopment plan at the next meeting of the central committee. He expects it in its entirety.”

“Or, rather,” Pak Ui-Wan said, “he will see Minister Yi’s redevelopment plan.” He smiled, eminently amused at his own humour.

Ho nodded slowly. “We must, therefore, come to a resolution regarding its final components at tonight’s meeting.”

It became quickly obvious that they would be working all night to have the report ready to publish in the morning. Eventually, it came to encompass the major points of redeveloping the Korean economy to be implemented after the war:

Point 1: Foreign Aid

The first order of rebuilding the economy of Korea is securing foreign fraternal aid to our country. This must come in many forms: direct financial investment, the restarting of technical and trade schools, technology transfer, labour, material, and goods. This aid will come from the Socialist bloc, particularly our fraternal brothers in the Soviet Union, the People’s Republic of China, and other members of the Eastern Bloc.

Point 2: The Strong Foundation

Much of our country has been damaged or devastated by enemy assaults upon our infrastructure. Early estimates of the bombing damage indicate that:

• Industrial Output has reduced to 50% of pre-war levels

• Electrical Production has reduced to 52% of pre-war levels

• Consumer Goods Production has reduced to 50% of pre-war levels

• Armaments Production has reduced to 60% of pre-war levels

• Agricultural Production has reduced to 75% of pre-war levels

With these facts in mind, the utmost importance is rebuilding our national economy to regain and then surpass pre-war levels. With the liberated territories, we expect that production can easily surpass the pre-war levels throughout the whole of Korea. Building a strong foundation will enable the success of this project to an overwhelming degree.

The aspects of this strong foundation are found in the principles of People’s Democracy. These will take the form of:

1. Continued State Ownership and Nationalization of Major Industries, particularly subsuming industry within the liberated territories into existing structures.

2. Tolerance of Private Ownership within Light Industry and the Consumer Goods industry.

3. Tolerance of small-holding peasant farms.

4. Voluntary Collectivization and State-Owned Farms.

5. Participation in international Socialist cooperative conventions, such as COMECON, is recommended for strong consideration.

Point 3: On National Infrastructure

The bedrock of the strength of a nation lies in its infrastructure. Already, infrastructure within Korea has been devastated by the conflict. Railways, ports, roads, bridges and tunnels have all been targeted by Fascist bombs. Thus, rebuilding all of these along a centralized plan is of utmost importance.

1. Regaining electrical power infrastructure to pre-war levels is of first importance. To that end, the completion of power plants at Unbong Dam, Kyongchung, Hwacheon, and the repair of Sup’ung Dam must be the first step.

2. Rebuilding railways to a superior quality will enable future economic development to be expedited and empowered. Thus, the repair and expansion of the Sinuiju - Pyongyang - Seoul railway lines to four tracks, expansion of the Chongjin - Hamhung - Wonsan - Seoul railway line, expansion of the Seoul - Suwon - Daejeon railway line, the building of new railway lines along the Seoul - Chuncheon - Wonju axis, will be the bedrock of new transportation infrastructure in Korea.

3. Korean road infrastructure must be expanded and improved. The creation of paved highways from Pyongyang to Wonsan and Seoul, of the motorway type, should be studied and implemented.

4. Expansion of port facilities, defenses, shipyards, to enable Korean naval activities, should be studied and implemented.

5. The proposal by Minister Pak Ui-Wan of switching and standardizing on 1524mm railway gauge should be studied and implemented.

Point 4: On Mobilizing the Populace

As has been done during the war, mobilizing the Korean workers to achieve these goals is a measure that has seen, and will continue to see great success as the popularity of the Korean Worker’s Party program remains high. It is recommended that the Red Guard Brigade system continues in usage after the war, particularly for the following tasks:

1. Clearing dangerous ordnance is the first task of importance. Due to its danger, prisoners should be used for this before civilians, and with military guidance.

2. Clearing general damage debris, rubble, deposition of refuse, etc.

3. Reconstruction of bridges, roads, and railways.

4. Surveys and plotting of the current state of infrastructure, and for future improvements.

5. Revitalization of natural beauty spots.

6. Rehabilitation of damaged farmland.

7. Worker-led improvements in reconstruction of industrial plants.

To be continued...