Topic:
Country: Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
Delegate Name: Aliah Mohmand
Special Political Committee
Determining the Legitimacy of Secession Movements
Democratic People’s Republic of North Korea
Aliah Mohmand
Kalamazoo Central High School
The question of the legitimacy behind the secession of nation-states has frequently been one that has challenged members of the United Nations since the charter’s conception. The United Nations’ The Right of Peoples and Nations to Self-determination, upholds the convention that “the right of peoples and nations to self-determination is a prerequisite to the enjoyment of all…human rights” (GA 7th Session, 1952). However, in subsequent resolutions, the UN rejects the means that may be necessary in order to achieve self-determination. The UN Declaration on Principles of International Law Concerning Friendly Relations exemplifies that “any attempt aimed at the partial or total disruption of national unity… is incompatible with the purpose of the charter” (GA 25th Session, 1970). It can be further noted that the United Nations has come to quickly recognize and champion the legitimacy and sovereignty of certain seceded states, such as South Sudan. Yet it has become increasingly evident that the UN often contradicts its own stances with its failure to acknowledge the repeated demands and calls for secession in other states, such as in Somaliland.
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) firmly advocates for the recognition of the legitimacy of seceding nation-states. Considering the DPRK’s history of a struggle for proper sovereignty and independence, the DPRK can similarly empathize with other nation-states’ calls for self-determination in response to subjugation and imperialism. From the glorious words of the eternal leader, Kim-Il-sung, the DPRK managed to build a thriving society independent of incompetent American and Japanese subjugation and imperialist rule, demonstrating the triumphs of division and secession: “In the northern half of Korea, a magnificent building up of democracy has been undertaken since liberation. The people’s committees, the organs of genuine people’s power, have developed… Democratic reforms including the agrarian reform and nationalization of industries have been carried out” (Kim-Il-sung, 1950). With the DPRK’s established socialist government and Juche ideological system based on the prized Korean principle of self-reliance, it rendered the state entirely incompatible with the predatory, capitalist, Western dictated state of the Republic of Korea. Following its liberation, the DPRK sustained a diverse history of supporting seceding states and minorities. The DPRK has previously allied with, and supported the United States-based, Black Panther Party, in its struggle for African American self-determination and Black nationalism and against its white subjugators. The DPRK has also shown solidarity with the Workers’ Party of Ireland and the IRA in its struggles for self sufficiency and independence from the greater United Kingdom as Northern Ireland. In the case of South Sudan, the DPRK was quick to establish diplomatic relations with the sovereign state following its secession.
The Democratic People’s Republic of North Korea calls for the revision of past UN resolutions to better redefine what constitutes a legitimate secession and the means necessary to be formally recognized. The DPRK specifically calls for other nation-states to consider that secondary means may be imperative for obtaining self-determination and for the fulfillment of human rights. Benevolent solutions and UN interventions, especially ones that are instituted by the West, are ludicrously notorious for failing. Furthermore, the DPRK urges UN members to acknowledge the hypocrisy of their tendency to solely support and recognize secession movements that are in favor of propelling the Western hegemony and capitalist agendas. Western or Western-allied nation-states typically hold the majority of power in deciding what secession movements receive attention and are recognized by the UN. In regards to this, the DPRK demands the creation of a third-party council to handle and decide on issues relating to secession and recognition. If the UN fails to address its blights, the residing UN agenda and guidelines for dealing with the question of secession will soon result in disastrous consequences that will be brought forth by the eruption of tensions and injustice.
