North Korea - Suspicious Minds - Part 3 of 3

Frontline/World: Suspicious Minds Parte 3 of 3

http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/northkorea/thestory.html

Their journey begins on a rainy day in South Korea at "the absurdly named demilitarized zone, one of the most heavily armed places on earth," according to reporter Ben Anderson. An American soldier takes Anderson and Daws on a tour of the border that has divided the Korean peninsula since the end of World War II -- and that is a last vestige of the Cold War. The soldier points out North Korean "jammers," which block foreign radio and television broadcasts. "So they have no idea of what actually goes on in the outside world," says the soldier. "They think that a BMW is manufactured by North Korea."

Before leaving for North Korea, Anderson meets in Seoul with a group of North Korean refugees who had fled from famine and political repression. "The moment a child utters a word they start him on ideological training," one refugee says. "So they can't think for themselves."

As soon as they land in North Korea, Anderson and his producer are greeted by their official "minders," Mr. Pak and Miss Pak (no relation). Anderson's first impression is of the streets outside the hotel, how quiet and empty they are. "North Korea is desperate to engage with the outside world," he notes. But the regime takes a heavy-handed approach to public relations. North Korea is infamous for the "cult of personality" surrounding the late dictator Kim Il-sung, who ruled from 1948 until his death in 1994. Anderson's obligatory first stop is an enormous statue of the "Great Leader," where he is told to place flowers and bow. The dictator's son, Kim Jong-il, now presides over North Korea, "creating communism's first-ever dynasty."

Anderson next visits a war museum, where he is lectured by a red-lipsticked woman in military uniform. She ducks all his questions by saying, "I will explain later." He is then taken to North Korea's greatest war trophy, the USS Pueblo, which is moored in the nation's capital. The Pueblo is the only U.S. naval vessel in captivity. The ship was seized in 1968, and the crewmembers, accused of spying, were held captive. The crew was released only after a U.S. military commander wrote a groveling apology. A veteran officer who took part in the capture tells Anderson that if American "spies" return they "will be crushed mercilessly under our feet." Asked his opinion of President Bush, the North Korean officer replies, "He is a war fanatic and a warmonger."

After a heavy dose of communist propaganda, Anderson is surprised to learn from the young Miss Pak that she likes Elvis Presley. She begins to tell him about her family and to smile shyly. In an aside to the camera, Anderson says that he had come to North Korea prepared to ridicule the sham presentation of life there, but that his guides are "breaking my heart." He continues to challenge Miss Pak when she takes him to a model farm and denies widespread reports of famine and starvation in North Korea.

"Everywhere you go in North Korea you see evidence of a country constantly prepared for war," reports Anderson. In a revealing exchange with Mr. Pak, Anderson asks about a passing truck carrying soldiers and weapons. Mr. Pak insists, smiling through this exchange, that the truck was loaded with beef. Anderson explains that "beef" can also mean "trouble" in English. Mr. Pak replies, in turn, that the United States and North Korea have a "nuclear beef" and he bursts into laughter.

Just a week after visiting the DMZ from the South Korean side, Anderson sees it from the North. "This place is very volatile," warns a North Korean officer. "In other places you need a big incident to start a war. But here even the smallest mistake made by a soldier can lead to a war." The North Koreans proudly display an axe -- which they had used to kill two American soldiers in a confrontation in 1976 -- in a trophy case. As Anderson drives off, the North Korean soldiers smile and wave goodbye.

+ More Info http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/northkorea/interview.html

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Tags:

• north korea
• kim jong il
• documentary
• communism
• Pyongyang
• concentration camps
• Human rights
• Crimes against humanity
• coréia do norte
• dprk
• Great Leader
• Dear Leader
• Kim Yong il
• Arirang
• Mass Games
• Juche ideology
• refugees
• dictators
• demilitarized Zone
• axis of evil
• genocide
• suppression
• nuclear politics

[Ferreal92]

My heart is breaking watching this video. This lovely girl who's so obviously very intelligent also seems interested in learning more of the outside world and what it may hold, yet she lives in a metal fishbowl where no one can see out and no one can see in. So sad. I hope someday soon she can become a tourist of the world rather than a tour guide of depressing routine.

[ledzeppize]

I would bring the girl with me to my country, she's so adorable and cute

[craze6663]

she likes him lol

[Stoganof]

in north korea beach is watching you

[Korea4Me]

I hardly think 'all' Koreans (and I am talking specifically about South Koreans) 'live for reunification'. But I guess that is crap 'journalism speak'. Still, it was a very interesting documentary. Thank your for showing how human and full of warmth and friendliness the North Korean people can be.

[rabies79]

is the girl a guide or something?

[SapporoMagokoro]

i want to sex the girl

[MrLandrover21]

0:51 damn, she's one pretty commie...

[dogeatme]

@limkchiew And as soon as that 'peace treaty' is done, nk will invade sk with sk having no help except japan within a 5 hour period. And in modern war, 5 hours is a lot.

[lonnyonline]

@limkchiew I would go to Las Vegas and put a huge bet that the North would invade the south. I am picking 6 months and the fight would be on. However, with the north being so behind in every thing from technology and military advancements the north would get spanked like a 5 year old reaching for a cookie jar.

[ParallaxVue]

That Frontline would send such an undisciplined, immature, amateurish reporter to cover this important story is extremely disappointing. Even all these years after this story originally aired, I find it far below the usual high standards of PBS and Frontline. In a nutshell the British kid was rude, crude, and ignorant. However, the Korean guide was hospitable, intelligent, and very attractive.

[darius595]

@limkchiew the north koreans would then take over the south