North and South Koreas are one nation. It is therefore desirable to cooperate each other for peace and reunification. However, the problem is North Korea’s public announcement and internal content are different in many cases. This study observes changes of the concept of minjok in North Korea, and then examines how to understand and use the concept of minjok in North Korea mission. North Korean leaders characteristically emphasize blood relation in the concept of minjok. Until the 1960s they accepted Stalin's concept of nation. When the Juche idea became the guiding principle, they criticized Stalin’s concept of nation. In the 1970s they emphasized national independence and established the theory of the leader, in which bloodlineage was added as one of the elements for constituting the minjok. In the 1980s North Korean leaders revised their theory once more to emphasize blood. The official North Korea’s definition of minjok changed again in 1983 and 1985. In 1995, North Korean government publicly announced that they are Kimilsung nation and their country is Kimilsung Chosun. It is repeated in 1996. Jong Il Kim changed the understanding the concept of minjok through the idea of Chosun Minjok Jeil Jooeui(Chosun nation first) as a logic for the change of socialism in the late 1980s. This idea had an intention to prevent an agitation of thought and to strengthen the solidarity of the people through showing the differences between the superiority of Chosun nation and collapsed European Socialist countries. North Korea redefined the concept of minjok and began to emphasize it in the 1990s through national collaboration. This idea contains an implication to overcome a crisis of the North Korean system through collapse of the Soviet Union and European socialist bloc. After adopting the June 15 Joint Declaration, minjok- kkiri(among our nation) is emphasized as a principle of the national union. Minjok is an attractive term in both the North and the South. The concept of minjok is an important element for bridging the ideologies of a divided Korea. Can minjok become the focus of a new consensus? Unification is to unite the Korean people as one, and mission is to a way to unite the Korean nation internally. Although the North Korean government uses the concept of minjok politically, we should be over this concept and see the North Korean people as God’s people. We should be aware that reunification of the North and the South is unifying nation beyond unifying lands and systems.

North and South Koreas are one nation. It is therefore desirable to cooperate each other for peace and reunification. However, the problem is North Korea’s public announcement and internal content are different in many cases. This study observes changes of the concept of minjok in North Korea, and then examines how to understand and use the concept of minjok in North Korea mission. North Korean leaders characteristically emphasize blood relation in the concept of minjok. Until the 1960s they accepted Stalin's concept of nation. When the Juche idea became the guiding principle, they criticized Stalin’s concept of nation. In the 1970s they emphasized national independence and established the theory of the leader, in which bloodlineage was added as one of the elements for constituting the minjok. In the 1980s North Korean leaders revised their theory once more to emphasize blood. The official North Korea’s definition of minjok changed again in 1983 and 1985. In 1995, North Korean government publicly announced that they are Kimilsung nation and their country is Kimilsung Chosun. It is repeated in 1996. Jong Il Kim changed the understanding the concept of minjok through the idea of Chosun Minjok Jeil Jooeui(Chosun nation first) as a logic for the change of socialism in the late 1980s. This idea had an intention to prevent an agitation of thought and to strengthen the solidarity of the people through showing the differences between the superiority of Chosun nation and collapsed European Socialist countries. North Korea redefined the concept of minjok and began to emphasize it in the 1990s through national collaboration. This idea contains an implication to overcome a crisis of the North Korean system through collapse of the Soviet Union and European socialist bloc. After adopting the June 15 Joint Declaration, minjok- kkiri(among our nation) is emphasized as a principle of the national union. Minjok is an attractive term in both the North and the South. The concept of minjok is an important element for bridging the ideologies of a divided Korea. Can minjok become the focus of a new consensus? Unification is to unite the Korean people as one, and mission is to a way to unite the Korean nation internally. Although the North Korean government uses the concept of minjok politically, we should be over this concept and see the North Korean people as God’s people. We should be aware that reunification of the North and the South is unifying nation beyond unifying lands and systems.

Nation, Chosun Nation First, National Cooperation, Life of Nation, God’s People