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5. Far Eastern National University and North Korea
The history of the establishment and development of the Chosun Language Department at the Far Eastern National University stems from the year 1900 when a North Korean language course was introduced at the Eastern University. Established in 1899, the East- ern University in Vladivostok first gave courses on North Korean language, culture, history, and economy under the supervision of the Russian Tsar Nikolai II. The founder and director of these cours-
es and projects was Grigory Podsdavin, a North Korea expert, who later became the dean of the university. In the aftermath of the 1917 Bolshevik Revolutions, he had no choice but to seek for exile in Chosun and later in China. The fate of the Chosun Language Department at the Far Eastern National University was tragic just as the that of Russia’s history in the 20th century. The university closed down in 1939 and faculty members of the university faced oppres- sion. After the Second World War, the Far Eastern National Univer- sity was not reopened until 1956, and the Chosun Language Depart- ment was able to reopen 19 years after that in 1975. After the reestablishment of the university, the Chosun Language Depart- ment formed connections with Kim Il-sung General University. At the time, the former USSR did not formally recognize South Korea’s existence, and normalized relationship between the two countries was absent. The former USSR did not take South Korea into consid- eration in its policies at all, or even if it did, it regarded South Korea as an enemy state whose politics and economy were under the con- trol of the United States and as a state threat to North Korea, a strategic ally of the former USSR. Students of the Chosun Language Department were not taught anything specific with regard to South Korea. The contents taught were North Korean language, as North Korea was a vital element in the growth process of the Far Eastern University. Beginning in 1985, students and faculty of the university started conducting research at the Kim Il-sung General University, and North Korea’s faculty came to the Far Eastern National Univer- sity for research. However, after relations between the former USSR and South Korea were normalized on September 30, 1990, coopera- tion with North Korea almost completely ceased. It was not until 2004 that a treaty was signed for cooperation between the Far East- ern National University and the Kim Il-sung General University.
During the signing of the treaty, former Dean Song Cha-rip of the
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Kim Il-sung University visited the Far Eastern National University in October 2004 and participated in the 105th anniversary of the establishment on October 21, 2004. Professor Wun-chan Chung, Dean of Seoul National University (South Korea) was also present at the event and was awarded an honorary doctoral degree from the Far Eastern National University. Thus, the Deans representing the most acknowledged academic institutions of the two Koreas were able to meet at the Far Eastern National University. The encounter of the two deans clearly reveals the policies of the university: facilitat- ing the globalization of education in conjunction with the coopera- tion of the two Koreas, and striving to attract elites of the two Kore- as’ such as politicians, academics, scientists in order to facilitate par- ticipation in cooperative dialogues. Currently, the students of the Far Eastern National University are conducting research at the Kim Il-sung General University. Debates on scientific issues by scientists from the two Koreas are held annually at the Far Eastern National University. The Korea Fund and the Korea Science and Culture Exchange Fund are currently supporting these academic confer- ences. In 2005, the Association of Scientists at the Far Eastern National University decided to award an Honorary Doctoral Degree of Political Science to Kim Jong-il, Chairman of the National Defense Commission of North Korea. Dean Kurilov of the Far Eastern National University awarded the North Korean leader in person in Pyongyang.
We now can conclude that North Korea is a vital partner for Russia’s political and economic interests in Northeast Asia. The cooperative relations between North Korea and Russia since the former USSR period, massive investment in North Korea by the former USSR, potential mutual interests that can help overcome the obstacles to development, bordering geographic proximity, and shared experiences in history are just a few of the positive ele-
ments in assessing further cooperation in trade and business between the DPRK and Russia.
6. Conclusion
Russia played a vital role in the establishment of North Korea after the Second World War, and maintained an intimate relation- ship with North Korea until the end of the Cold War in the late 1980s. Russia was also a virtual economic sponsor for North Korea during the Cold War period, contributing to North Korea’s indus- trialization. However, with the breakdown of the Cold War system and the Socialist Regimes, Russia stopped providing economic aid to North Korea in the 1990s. Afterwards, North Korea and Russia’s estranged economic relations have gradually changed owing to the recovery of Russia’s economy, and have created the potential for bilateral economic cooperation.
With Russia sharing its borders with North Korea, its political and economic stability is also a significant issue for Russia. Eco- nomic cooperation between Russia and North Korea will expand further as Russia transforms itself from a socialist economy to a market economy.
Asian economic development is also very crucial for Russia since Russia is a European state as well as a distinct Asian state. In this context, North Korea’s transformation into a market economy is an issue of interest for Russia. Furthermore, North Korea’s reform and openness accompanied by its active participation in Northeast Asian regional cooperation is desirable for today’s Russia.