Pun-Yun-Chi, I weep for you

[Onkel Neal]

I hate dictators. Makes me sad to think a whole region of people are enslaved by this guy.

Inside North Korea

Perhaps the weirdest thing about North Koreans is that they genuinely don't seem to know that the rest of the planet hates and fears them. They believe (or maybe they really convincingly lie about believing) that the whole world admires and envies them and that they're the true light of socialism and Juche, which is their leader's philosophy of Communist self-reliance.

As the days went on, North Korea presented us with progressively stranger sights and encounters. Being there was like being nowhere else on the planet. Are we glad that we got into Pyongyang and were able to document it? Yes. But are we even gladder that we made it out? Watch our documentary on the trip and try to guess the answer.

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[krashkart]

Pun-Yun-Chi, I also weep for thee. She's going to be there for a very long time, waiting endless months for anything or anyone to happen.

Somehow an invasion doesn't seem like such a bad idea after all.

[August]

Link no work.

[Onkel Neal]

Keep trying the link, it works, but you may need a few refreshes.

[Jimbuna]

One day the population will realise they're being kept in the dark ages and will revolt in the name of freedom.....fingers crossed anyway

[krashkart]

[NeonSamurai]

Originally Posted by jimbuna

One day the population will realise they're being kept in the dark ages and will revolt in the name of freedom.....fingers crossed anyway

To do that they need educated and informed people. Needless to say the regime is doing its damnedest to block and eliminate both. Have to remember that the populace by in large has absolutely no connection or genuine awareness of the outside world and any access to unbiased information.

[krashkart]

Very true. An uneducated population is much easier to control. All the more reason to invade.

[August]

Originally Posted by NeonSamurai

To do that they need educated and informed people. Needless to say the regime is doing its damnedest to block and eliminate both. Have to remember that the populace by in large has absolutely no connection or genuine awareness of the outside world and any access to unbiased information.

I used to hear the exact same thing said about the people of the USSR so maybe it can change there too.

[NeonSamurai]

Originally Posted by August

I used to hear the exact same thing said about the people of the USSR so maybe it can change there too.

There are those who are trying their best to change that, and risking/loosing their lives to do it. But I think its a lot harder to do compared to the former USSR; the North Korean regime has a much stronger grip on the populace, considerably smaller territory to deal with, and is very isolated from the rest of the world with a massive demilitarized zone to the south, ocean to the east and west, and bordering a country with similar ideology that also has a controlled populace to the north (China). Also there is far less education and technological knowledge compared to the USSR, and most of the populace is at the low end of the third world spectrum.

I do think that eventually it will have to change, but it could still be a long way off yet unless the rest of the world gets involved.

[CaptainHaplo]

NK will implode. Ultimately like any country rotten at the core, the only way to maintain control when the people get restless is to find an external foe. NK has done that with the west for years - and ultimately it will find itself backed into a corner by its own rhetoric - and be forced to act - at which time it will get the ever lovin snot beat out of it.

[Torvald Von Mansee]

I found a very interesting add on for Google Earth which pointed out various things in North Korea. What gets me are the "elite areas" which are dedicated to the exclusive use of Kim Jong-Ill and his circle. From what I recall, that amounts to a mere 630 families!!! It's absolutely obscene. And you'd better believe this "elite" can leave the country whenever they want for shopping trips, vacations, etc., unlike everyone else in the country.

[Méo]

Weird, just weird...

In the history of my nation, there has always been at some level a feeling of anti-americanism, anti-imperialism (both American & British) or whatever you want to call it. This is somewhat understandable since we have been exploited (especially during the industrial revolution).

But people here created and joined labor unions for better quality of life, I mean they (we) did not give up our freedom!!

I guess we (or at least me) are trying to take what's best from americans and we try to protect ourselves from their flaws.

I mean they (the Koreans) are thousands miles away from the United States and they are freaking.. ..we're just few miles away and we're not...

I hope for them that some day they will realize that being open-minded is a great thing, and that doesn't mean to approve everything.

[bookworm_020]

There was recently a money exchage done in NK, you hand in 100 and get 1 back, with a limit on how much can be changed.

The result was worse than usual. Not only did people loose all there savings, but the government also cracked down on money changers and the limited private enterprise that was allowed.

The reaction of the people was stronger than expected. full scale protests, riots and attacks on officals. Pretty big thing for a place where if you wisper the wrong thing you can vanish off the street!

Needless to say, China and South Korea are worried, as they will inherit any mess and fallout from an imploding NK.

[Reaves]

I'm proud that my Grandfather fought to keep the South free...