Elon Musk’s ‘Crazy Idea’: Comparing Capitalism and Communism in Korea

Musk’s Posting of Satellite Images of the Korean Peninsula
Stark Contrast Between South and North Korea

Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, posted satellite images of South and North Korea on X on the 31st (local time).

Musk shared a nighttime satellite image of the Korean peninsula. The photo shows a stark contrast between the brightly lit South Korea and North Korea shrouded in darkness, highlighting the dire electricity situation in North Korea, which is struggling with economic difficulties. Also, the photo was accompanied by the text “Crazy Idea: Let’s divide a country into half Capitalist and half Communist and Check on it 70 years later,” referring to the drastically different situations in South and North Korea approximately 70 years after the Korean War 1950.

Musk did not mention why he posted the satellite image of the Korean peninsula on X. However, in response to his post, well-known American journalist Bryan Krassenstein wrote, “The communists likely won’t be there (70 years later),” adding that “Technology will make communism nearly impossible.” He also said, “The capitalists will build the technology that makes the communists extinct.” He expressed hope that capitalism would evolve to integrate technology to prevent the further widening of the wealth gap and that solutions could be found to address the impact of technology on the economy.

Previous Musk Posts on Social and Economic Issues

Earlier in the month, Musk shared an old interview on X featuring Javier Milei, Argentina’s president-elect, in which Milei discussed the precedence of freedom over equality. Citing economist Milton Friedman, Milei argued that prioritizing “equality over freedom” would lead to achieving neither. He also invoked John Stuart Mill’s warnings about the potential for societal collapse when excessive emphasis is placed on equality, which could result in adverse consequences.

Milei further criticized practices such as income redistribution and “social justice,” characterizing them as oppressive state actions that unfairly extract wealth from the successful in the name of redistribution. Significantly, when Musk shared this interview, he opted not to add further commentary, which many interpreted as an indirect endorsement of these viewpoints.

Musk’s recent post grabbed attention in light of remarks made by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who stated that reunifying South Korea and North Korea poses complexities. According to a report by the North Korean Central News Agency on the same day, Kim stated on the fifth-day meeting of the Workers’ Party plenary meeting held on the 30th, referring to South Korea, that “It is a mistake that we should no longer make to regard those who declare us as ‘enemies’ and seek ‘regime collapse’ and ‘absorption unification’ in collusion with foreign forces as counterparts for reconciliation and unification.”

By. Tae Young Kim