North Korea - Suspicious Minds - Part 2 of 3

North Korea - Suspicious Minds - Part 2 of 3

Frontline/World: Suspicious Minds

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

[ThaMistahFox]

The only thing I'd agree with this north koreans is what this captain just said about what he thought of Bush...

[Helleu1]

I wanna bone Ms. Pak.

[Korea4Me]

The North Korean man was right about Bush.

[ryanbeev]

i will explain later means shut the fuck up

quit insulting the regime

[KillaKem2]

Don't endanger that hottie by asking her such questions!!!

[djmonkeyleaderz]

HD how?

[RDJ1109]

@kafkaOTS Are they playing gotcha or asking questions that many of us in the west want to ask? I don't see them pushing the guides for answers. Seems like they ask a question, get a rehearsed answer and then continue on.

[djberra]

Its a special country indeed, I wonder how long they can be independant from Chinese lifestyle?

Obvously they hate amercan lifestyle and politics like Sweds, but respect american music.

The guides are doing a great job, but ppl should show the country more respect.If we let them follow there traditions, they are inspired by Sweden.

No complains,No war, a peaceful quiet society with social welfare.

I hope they can make socialism work, its a dream but I wish them good luck.

[ExMachina70]

07:46 I really liked this soldier. He seemed to identify the problems without admitting too much that will get him in trouble in the future. Remember that anything these people say can get them in big trouble.

[ExMachina70]

@kafkaOTS That is exactly what I was thinking. Even if she may agree, she can never show any signs or be severely punished. No good can come out of her admitting anything.

[AeroDynamicMKW]

She was probably killed by the government after saying that the leader wasn't perfect and some people die of famine