本稿は，朝鮮民主主義人民共和国の党営企業グループの形成過程，そして党営企業グループの傘下企業の構成，さらに党営企業グループと国家の計画経済に基づく一般経済との関係について分析し，党営企業グループの活動の特徴を明らかにするものである。党営企業グループの形成過程に関しては，1960年代に党直営の貿易会社である大聖貿易会社が設立されたこと，また，一般経済部門の生産機関から党の直営に移管されて輸出専門工場になった沙里院タオル工場の例が示された。そして，1970年代に党財政経理部39号室，平壌市党委員会や党軽工業部などで大聖，金剛，綾羅島，烽火などの企業グループが形成されて活動資金を蓄積するようになったことが示された。党企業グループの傘下企業に関する分析から，金のインゴットやマツタケ，ベニズワイガニに関して，党営企業グループの独占状態があることなどが確認された。その一方で，船興食料工場が党軽工業部の企業グループから一般経済部門へ移管された例や党行政部の活動資金が一般経済部門の養鶏工場に投資された例，39号室の資金で建設された平壌樹脂鉛筆工場，祥原セメント連合企業所など，党営企業グループあるいは党営企業グループの資金が一般経済に生産的な貢献をしている例により，党営企業グループが一般経済部門から一方的に資源を吸い上げているという従来の見解が正確ではないことが示された。

The 1980s was a period when North Korea’s military actions, such as the Rangoon bombing and the bombing of Korean Air Flight 858, drew focus away from Japan-North Korea relations. In terms of North Korea’s foreign policy, it is often contrasted with South Korea’s “Nordpolitik,” which was aimed at improving relations with China and the Soviet Union ahead of the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

However, during this period, North Korea did not spare any effort to improve relations with Western countries such as Japan, the United States, or South Korea. Among them, the approach to Japan was remarkable. In 1984, North Korea re-signed a fishing agreement with Japan that had been neglected for two years. In 1985, active personnel exchanges between Japan and North Korea took place, and there were significant moves to improve relations at the political level.

North Korea clearly expressed its intention to build political relations, including exchanges with the Liberal Democratic Party and the Japanese government, and tried to address resolvable issues. While the situation in Northeast Asia was exhibiting increasing fluidity, such as China’s reforms, opening-up policies and efforts to improve China-South Korea relations, North Korea had tried to develop not only economic but also political relations with Japan.

On the other hand, North Korea expressed its negative attitude regarding the issue of establishing mutual trade offices, fearing that it would lead to cross-approval. It is presumed that this was largely due to concerns over the rapid development of China-South Korea relations. North Korea was reluctant to enter into a South Korea-led cross-approval initiative aimed at linking Japan-North Korea relations with China-South Korea relations, but tried hard to advance bilateral relations by increasing contacts with Japan’s government.

It is no exaggeration to say that North Korea, which had been closely watching South Korea expand its exchanges with socialist countries such as China and the Soviet Union, was trying its own “Southern Policy”. North Korea’s efforts to build relations with the Japanese government and the Liberal Democratic Party in response to South Korea’s improved relations with communist countries such as China in the mid-1980s were maintained amid changes in the strategic environment caused by easing U.S.-Soviet tensions. It led to Kanemaru’s visit to North Korea in 1990 and negotiations to normalize diplomatic relations between Japan and North Korea in 1991.

北朝鮮の金正恩体制下における「経済改革」は，既存社会主義理論の枠内での解釈や経済管理方法の部分的修正に止まっていることなどから，1960年代にみられたソ連・東欧社会主義国の改革措置と類似した低いレベルの動きと言えるが，同法制化を通じて市場メカニズムを活用する方向性を明示するなど従来と異なる新しい変化もうかがえる。現在，これら改革措置を中心とした金正恩体制の経済発展戦略は，国連制裁により「制裁への対抗」という内向きの性格に変容した上，昨今のコロナ禍と水害によって更なる軌道修正を迫られるなど重大な試練期を迎えている。

The purpose of this study was to clarify various characteristics of business ethics awareness in North Korea. As its research method, the study reviewed previous research to examine the approximate flow of the Socialist Corporate Responsibility Management System, from its introduction to its implementation, and the contents of the Enterprise Act in North Korea. The study then explored the characteristics of morals in North Korea by focusing on several videos from the “Let’s eliminate this kind of phenomenon” series on Korean Central Television（KCTV）.

The study revealed the following four characteristics of business ethics awareness in North Korea.（1）Executives must have responsibilities and morals in an organization; however, the opinions of subordinates are disregarded, while the excessive flattering of superiors is criticized implicitly.（2）The collectivist spirit of “one for all, all for one” is the basic principle of socialist ethics in life, which is related to communist morality in some way.（3）Various new programs appear to have raised public consciousness of environmental conservation and the Sustainable Development Goals（SDGs）, helping to strengthen awareness.（4）While the Chollima Movement, speed battles（Sokdochun）, and self-reliance（Jaryeokgaengsaeng）have persevered with granting greater autonomy to business, various indications persist of an unchanging and firm adherence to the socialist system.