By Maria Juliana Martinez Riveros
The term juche (주체) was first introduced by DPRK founder Kim Il-Sung. While opinions differ as to what an adequate translation would be, there is a consensus that it relates to auto-sufficiency and autonomy. If we take a look at the Chinese spelling (主體), the first character means “owner” or “master”, while the second translates as “body”, “essence” and “nature”. In the North Korean context, juche intimately intertwines with Kimilsungism and the unique take his party had on communism. Indeed, the term became popular in the 1950s, indicative of a shift in the isolationist political context of the country. On the one hand, it was a period where the North-South hostilities had relatively stabilized. On the other hand, North Korea was becoming increasingly estranged from neighbouring communist powers China and the Soviet Union. As such, juche was framed as being an ideology indigenous to the North, having no connection to South Korea or the communist world. Over time, juche started to shift to a personality cult, with several elements reminiscent of fanaticism. North Korean thought believes Kim Il-sung to have been born on the same hill upon which legendary Gojoseon emperor Tangun’s father had descended from heaven. To further highlight Kim Il-sung’s exceptionalism, officials from his government introduced the juche calendar in 1997, a calendar that started with the leader’s date of birthday. When Kim died in 1994, the country was going through a harsh famine, affecting millions. That did not deter the government from spending millions on the construction of a pyramid over Tangun’s mausoleum. Other than the mausoleum restoration, the regime also ordered a renovation of the palace where Kim Il-sung’s embalmed remains were to be displayed for everyone to see. Young North Koreans have intensive classes surveying the Kim Il-sung, Kim Jong-il and Kim Jong-un’s lives. Their lives are embellished by ‘miracles’: for example, Kim Jong-il is said to have authored over 1,500 and Kim Jon-un allegedly drove a car for the first time at 3 years of age. These narratives are distributed and kept relevant via the state’s tight control over the information citizens have access to. Juche, with its emphasis on self-reliance, obviously clashes with the normalization of foreign relations within the DPRK. Other than the concept of self-reliance, juche also insinuates that “Korea’s tragic experiences during the twentieth century – colonization, division, war, and even the recent famine – were imposed upon it by outside powers that sought domination over the peninsula.” As such, due to this historical trauma, attempts at a normalization of relations, especially those initiated by the United States are viewed with suspicion at best. Very few non-governmental organizations have been able to expand into North Korea. Notably, the Swiss organization Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has been present in the DPRK since 1995, although, it presently has a mere 3-person team. More recently however, Kim Jong-un has voiced North Korea’s support for the Palestinian cause, ushering a probably new era of North Korean presence in the international arena.
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By David Oh
In Korea, from 676 CE until 1953 CE, there was only one nation. However, since 1953, Korea has been separated into two distinct countries: South Korea (Republic of Korea) and North Korea (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea). Popular media has well documented the modern-day differences between the two seemingly polar-opposite nations and their ensuing conflict, which currently rests as an armistice. What caused this conflict and division? The world context in which Korea found itself following its liberation from the Imperial Japanese Army - the Cold War - and the ideological warfare fought against Communism assists in understanding the split. During the Second World War, in fear of German victory, two superpowers, the Soviet Union and the United States, agreed to an uneasy alliance. When the common goal ended following Germany’s surrender, the thin alliance broke, and the two entered the Cold War, which can be generally characterized as a war regarding ideology - specifically the acceptance of Communism. Korea was caught in the middle of this conflict. In 1945, Korea was divided across the 38th parallel to facilitate the Imperial Japanese Army’s surrender. The upper area of Korea fell under the Soviet Union’s leadership, while the lower area fell under the United States’ leadership. Following Japan’s surrender and the official end of the Second World War, however, the U.S. and Soviet Union could not agree on the union of the two parts of Korea, disagreeing about the governmental system. The Soviet Union supported a Communist regime, while the United States prioritized ensuring that Korea would not become a communist state. The two superpowers both played a pervasive role in manufacturing the political systems of their respective Koreas. In South Korea, Communist parties held great influence, being the best organized and holding popular support. Consequently, the United States, which was heavily concerned with South Korea’s governmental system, encouraged policies in South Korea intending to deter Communist influences. Therefore, unlike in countries like the Philippines, the United States pursued land reforms in South Korea to quell possible revolutions. In addition, the United States recognized that military government intervention would be necessary to strengthen non-communist parties in South Korea. Therefore, the United States aided the non-communist parties politically by establishing political leaders hostile to Communism, even accepting that democracy in South Korea would erode, and gave aid militarily by subduing and undermining communist parties’ authorities by suppressing guerilla revolutions, leaving Communist leaders “dead, imprisoned, or underground.” Meanwhile, in North Korea, the Soviet Union engaged in a political “reign of terror.” The Soviet Union placed Korean Communists in positions of power and consequently made North Korea into a communist nation after reducing opposition. Furthermore, they established Kim Il Sung, a major in the Soviet Army, as a national hero and assisted him in solidifying his political power as a Communist leader. Agreeing to combine the two Koreas, the United Nations adopted United States’ proposal to have a “general election in Korea” observed by the United Nation’s Temporary Commission to form the Korean National Assembly and establish a Korean government. This proposal was rejected by the Soviet Union, which blocked the Temporary Commission from entering North Korea. Consequently, on August 15th, the Republic of Korea was established and recognized by the UN, and on September 9th, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea was established and recognized by the Soviet Union. The Korean War began with North Korea attacking South Korea with both an ameliorated army and permission from Joseph Stalin. After a gruesome war, the war ended in an armistice. The separation of Korea was forcefully and externally induced after both Koreas were imposed a governmental system, and the opposing political view was methodically and purposefully subdued. The influence of the forced ideological separation in the two nations is reflected now. South Korea’s greatest ally is the United States, while North Korea’s greatest allies are Russia and China. South Korea is a “unitary multiparty republic with one legislative house,” while North Korea is a “unitary single-party republic with one legislative house.” While one has free elections, the other has a de facto dictator. To understand Korea’s conflict and separation, it is important to understand what caused it: the context of the Cold War. “Nanjing road Shanghai” by L1mey is licensed under CC-BY-NC-ND 2.0.
By Seunghyun Nam Escaping North Korea Motivated by political oppression, financial struggles and hunger, many North Koreans risk their lives to escape their country. The majority of North Korean defectors resettle in South Korea, where they have a birthright to citizenship. Upon arrival, they receive an allowance, free higher education, and housing. Aside from these provisions, the Korean language and culture allow them to better integrate into society. To date, more than 33,000 North Koreans have resettled in South Korea. However, the North and South Korean border is heavily armed, and escaping through this route is especially perilous and rare. Instead, North Koreans are forced to defect through China, where there is a network of professional smugglers alongside a large community of ethnic Koreans. Since Kim Jong-Un came to power in 2011, policies against North Korean defectors entering China have been reinforced. In addition to intensified border patrol and surveillance technology, Beijing has also increased its law enforcement units assigned to track down and forcibly repatriate North Koreans. Nonetheless, China remains the optimal route to defect. Russia—North Korea’s only other bordering neighbor—provides even fewer opportunities for employment and housing, and there are greater linguistic and cultural barriers. Among the hundreds of thousands of North Koreans who have fled their country from the 1990s Arduous March and onwards, approximately 60,000 have resettled in China. Gender imbalance of North Korean defectors In general, asylum seekers in other countries tend to be male-dominated. In the case of North Korea, however, only a quarter of North Korean migrants are male. This trend has become more prominent over recent years, with women accounting for 83 per cent and 85 per cent of North Korean defectors in 2017 and 2018, respectively. There are various factors contributing to this gender imbalance. North Korean males are usually employed at state-owned firms or factories, where absences are immediately reported. On the other hand, most North Korean females are not formally employed and thus, not kept under as much surveillance. Upon entering China, there are more jobs readily available for women, which constitute relatively low-paying jobs that require less skills and are traditionally female-dominated. These jobs include caring for the elderly, cleaning, and serving at restaurants. Many North Korean women also get into common law relationships with local Chinese men, which provides some form of financial security. But lesser known to the public is the highly exploitative nature of these marital unions, and the widespread sexual violence and abuse that North Korean females are subject to. Trafficking of North Korean females While some common law relationships are voluntary, the majority of these marriages are forced, typically involving coercion and outright violence. According to a study conducted by Kim Dong-wan and Ri Chong-seok in 2017, approximately 75 percent of the marriages investigated were involuntary, while more than half pertained to the forceful kidnapping and trade of North Korean females prior to getting sold into repressive marriages. North Korean defectors typically pay brokers hundreds to thousands of dollars to facilitate their entry into China. But upon arrival, more than 70 per cent of the female defectors are sold to local men at a price determined by their appearance and age. Prices range from 6,000 yuan to 30,000 yuan—equivalent to $890 and $4,500 USD. For an average Chinese farmer, this is a considerable amount of money. But there is an equally high demand for young North Korean females in rural Northeast China, where there is a growing gender imbalance. There are limited women available locally, as many migrate to larger cities or overseas. Men tend to stay behind to look after their ancestral land. In this context, rural bachelors in their thirties or beyond have a slim chance of ever getting married. While some North Korean women end up in forced marriages, others are subjected to systematic rape, sex trafficking, prostitution, sexual slavery, and forced pregnancies. According to a report published by Korea Future Initiative (KFI) in 2019, North Korean women and girls—many of whom are between 12 and 29 years old—are particularly vulnerable to sex trafficking in China. North Korean females who have fallen victim number in thousands. In a country where prostitution makes for a sheer six per cent of its gross domestic product, the practice of abducting and selling North Korean females as prostitutes is prevalent. The market is in high demand especially in the northeastern provinces of China, where there are less trafficked women from Southeast Asia. The 2019 KFI report indicates that approximately half of the victims were forced into prostitution, while close to 30 percent were sold into forced marriages. The remaining 15 per cent is allotted to cybersex trafficking. Victims are raped, sexually assaulted, and forced to perform graphic sex acts, all of which are live-streamed to a global audience. The majority of consumers are believed to be South Korean males, who make significant amounts of payments that largely contribute to the sustenance of the market. Addressing the root causes The commercial sex trade of North Korean women and girls is worth close to $105 million USD annually. It is a highly systematic, large-scale business that strives without the intervention of the state. While the high trafficking of North Korean females stems from its high demand by local Chinese men, the root of the problem is Beijing’s negligence, or its disinclination to recognize North Korean defectors as legal residents. UNHCR has historically urged Beijing to grant North Koreans special humanitarian status. This would provide them with access to legal services and protection from illegal networks. With the cooperation of the UNHCR, China has regularly made accommodations for refugees from other countries to either settle in China or elsewhere. Yet, China has refused to grant any form of legitimate refugee status for North Koreans, leaving females especially vulnerable to trafficking and exploitation. Without a legal standing, it is virtually impossible for North Korean women to move around the country or get a proper job. They are forced to commit to their common law relationships, performing their duties as a common wife and providing offspring for the household. They also have to live in constant fear of repatriation, in which case they would be subject to systematic repression, torture, and forced labour. As a signatory to the 1951 Convention outlining the Status of Refugees, China is legally obligated to provide North Koreans with legitimate refugee status. Instead, Beijing has refused to do so under the grounds that North Koreans are “economic migrants” driven by poverty and hunger. In practice, China is committed to its 1986 Bilateral Agreement with North Korea, which calls for the forced repatriation of North Korean defectors. While this agreement violates the principle of non-refoulement, China is not disposed to risk its relationship with North Korea. Beijing is not likely to address the plight of North Korean females without international condemnation. In addition to the international community’s continued advocacy for the legal standing of North Korean refugees, more extensive and structured efforts are required to shed light on the struggles of North Korean females residing in China. By Han Voice McGill
Introduction Government propaganda in North Korea is a systematic, long-term campaign that seeks to control how citizens think and vote. The government uses media as one of its main tools for spreading propaganda. The primary purpose of this campaign is to promote the personality cult around Kim Jong-un and other family members. North Korea's media also promotes the country's political system, which includes socialism with national characteristics and Juche ideology. The North Korean media often portrays Kim Jong-un as a caring leader who cares about the welfare of ordinary people. However, some sources say that he cares only about those who serve him. Nevertheless, multiple additional questions come up once the statement of North Korean media propaganda is made. What are the central policies that the government uses? What is the outcome they are aiming for? Is this a factual statement backed by evidence or part of anti-North Korean speculations and propaganda? Act of Propaganda North Korean media is a government propaganda machine. It is used to glorify and promote the government while demonizing its enemies. North Korea's state media is controlled by the Central Propaganda and Agitation Department (CPAID) of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), which operates under Kim Jong-un. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism, which oversees North Korea's film industry and broadcasts on television, radio, and online, is also a part of CPAID. The government has been known to use these media outlets to spread disinformation about other countries like South Korea or America to bolster national pride or promote its political agenda. Recently, the country has become more open about its nuclear weapons program and human rights abuses against its citizens. However, Western media outlets often ignore these stories because they do not fit into their narrative about how dictatorships should be portrayed worldwide. Aim of North Korean Government The purpose of North Korean propaganda is to instill in its citizens a sense of loyalty to the state and a fear of the outside world. It also aims to portray North Korea as a prosperous country thriving economically and technologically while other nations struggle. The propaganda also attempts to justify their nuclear weapons program and why they have conducted missile tests despite other countries' sanctions and threats. They also want to portray the United States as an evil imperialist force seeking to destroy North Korea to make people more willing to sacrifice for their country. Substantial Evidence of Media Propaganda The North Korean media is renowned for its propaganda and misinformation. It is one of the most closed media systems in the world, and the North Korean government strictly controls what people are allowed to read or watch. In 2017, researchers at Intermedia published an article entitled "The Propaganda of Information Control: The North Korean Media System." The article discusses how the North Korean government uses propaganda to control its citizens' thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors. The researchers found that the North Korean government has created a "closed" media system that provides only a narrow range of information available to citizens. They also found that North Koreans are not allowed to access any other sources of information besides those provided by state-run media outlets. Conclusion In conclusion, the world has gotten a glimpse into the everyday lives of the North Koreans, which is not pretty. The media propaganda through newspapers, radio, films, and TV has little effect on political or social change. Although there are optimistic changes in television viewing every day (introducing Western films and TV dramas), they still need to open up to international relations or press conferences with foreign diplomats. We have seen a few things that might give the illusion that new change is on the horizon, but once we look past the surface, nothing has changed. We can only expect North Korea to introduce such changes if its leader changes their views and ideology. It will be very hard under his reign for them to take this first step toward political reform. References Ford, G.; Kwon, S. (2008). North Korea on the brink: struggle for survival. Pluto Press. ISBN 978-0-7453-2598-9. Goodkind, Daniel; West, Loraine. (2001). "The North Korean Famine and Its Demographic Impact." Population and Development Review. 27(2), 219—238. Hassig, Kongdan Oh; Bermudez Jr, Joseph S.; Gause, Kenneth E.; Hassig, Ralph C.; Mansorov, Alexandre Y.; Smith, David J. (2004). "North Korean Policy Elites." Institute for Defense Analysis.. Campaign for Second Declaration on Situation Launched in S. Korea. Korean Central News Agency. July 5, 2009. N. Korea scorned S. Korean president 1,700 times this year: official. Yonhap. July 5, 2009 By Seunghyun Nam In the past month, North Korea has conducted a record-breaking number of weapons tests that were reported to be simulations of nuclear attacks on key South Korean targets. North Korea has conducted 40 missile launches this year alone, compared to only eight last year. Hints of the country’s spate of drills began in January, when it kicked off the year by test-firing an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM). The launch was accompanied by a series of shorter-range tests and its first intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test since 2017, when regional tension was at its peak. On October 4, 2022, North Korea launched another ICBM over Japan, breaking the record for its longest-range missile test. North Korea also fired hundreds of artillery shells in the maritime buffer zones near the South Korean borders, heightening tensions in the peninsula. With the series of weapons testing and the country’s recent revision of its nuclear laws to allow preemptive attacks, there is rising fear that it may resume its nuclear tests, which have been put to a halt since 2017. The two Koreas had maintained a steady relationship under the leadership of Kim Jong-Un and South Korea’s former president Moon Jae-In. The high-profile Inter-Korean Summit in 2018 marked a symbolic moment when the two leaders met for the first time in the demilitarized zone. They signed the Panmunjom Declaration, committing to peace, prosperity, and reunification of the two countries. But South Korea’s newly elected president Yoon Suk-yeol—the former Prosecutor General and member of the conservative People Power Party—has been persistent in his hardliner approach to conflicts with North Korea, identifying the country as South Korea’s “main enemy”. In fact, the unprecedented number of drills in the past month have been in response to South Korea’s first full-scale joint military exercise with the US in years, which Yoon has been determined to bring back. The US-ROK joint exercises had either been scaled down or canceled in the past years, in light of the pandemic and efforts to continue peace talks with North Korea. The two weeks of missile testing were supervised by Kim Jong-Un. Since he assumed power as supreme leader in 2011, Kim Jong-Un’s political life has centered on consolidating North Korean military capabilities and establishing its title as a legitimate nuclear state. He has conducted over 160 missile tests, as opposed to only 30 by his father and grandfather. He also carried out four nuclear tests in five years, stepping up its nuclear strength with each successive test. But Kim Jong-Un’s military ambitions come at the expense of the country’s already suffering economy. The regime’s development of ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons has urged international condemnation. In an attempt to denuclearize North Korea, the UN Security Council and world powers including the US have imposed financial and economic sanctions on the state since 2006. The UN Security Council has passed multiple resolutions throughout the years, introducing tighter measures to ban the sale of arms, technology and materials that could be used for the development of weapons. The sanctions have also imposed heavy restrictions on foreign trade, enforcing measures to inspect international deliveries to North Korea. In response to the recent drills carried out by North Korea, South Korea also imposed unilateral sanctions on North Korea—its first in five years—followed by Japan, targeting North Korean trading firms and individuals. Targeted sanctions tied to the COVID-19 pandemic have taken a toll on the economy, with North Koreans suffering from severe food shortages and runaway inflation. Last year, the regime warned the population to get ready for a depressed economy measuring up to that of the Arduous March—an economic crisis from 1994 to 1998 that led to a period of mass starvation. The economic conditions exacerbated when the regime imposed a strict national lockdown in January 2020. North Korea was one of the first countries to seal its borders following its first case of COVID-19, which also curtailed its trade with China, its main trading partner. While the economic sanctions had indirectly affected the population by placing caps on goods such as gas, coal, and industrial machinery, the national lockdown had a direct impact on the country’s food shortages. Import of grains, farming equipment, and fertilizers was blocked, contributing to low crop yields and food insecurity. Food imports from China have also declined by 80 per cent compared to pre-pandemic levels. North Korea has also increased its crackdown on citizens who have resorted to side jobs, as the government-assigned jobs are proving more difficult to provide for living expenses. Food prices have also skyrocketed following the national lockdown. Meanwhile, North Korea continues to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on its development of nuclear weapons and missiles. According to estimates by the US State Department, close to a quarter of its gross domestic product (GDP) is spent on the country’s military pursuit, with annual spending of $4 billion on average from 2009 to 2019. With each missile launch costing approximately $1 million, and nearly $1 billion to develop a complete weapon system, the regime’s military pursuit is a considerable burden for the country’s suffering economy. The Truth of North Korea - Propaganda, Torture, Mind Control & International Law in Numbers10/17/2022 Photo by Micha Brändli on Unsplash By : Anonymous
Even though there has been much controversy over the country, North Korea is still full of suffering people. North Korea is going through a severe human rights crisis. However, when talking about that situation, people usually generalize or state opinions without any facts. This is why there are not enough eyes witnessing the issues in North Korea because actual events and essential statistics haven't backed claims of human rights violations. This is a post where the HanVoice community of McGill highlights the reality in North Korea by describing actual events and fully supporting them with factual evidence. Police Brutality The North Korean government commits many brutal acts. One such act is the release of innocents into prison, with an average sentence being five years. Many did nothing wrong and were simply at the wrong place at the wrong time. This was also a problem in communist Russia under Stalin. It's typical to see many street beatings in communist countries by government officials and police officers. Usually, when the police attack someone, witnesses aren't getting involved because there is too much fear of their offending the authority figure. In 2014 alone, an estimated 606 public executions were carried out in North Korea by firing squad. According to Amnesty International's report on North Korean human rights abuses in 2013: "The state has no plans to stop these abuses." Censorship North Korean censorship is the strict regulation of information and the suppression of speech within North Korea. The censorship, part of a more comprehensive piece of legislation called the Ten Principles for maintaining party discipline, is imposed on all media and publications imported into North Korea. The government has even gone as far as to ban all forms of media from entering the country, including print newspapers and books. North Koreans are not allowed to access the Internet or use a mobile phone; if they do, their actions could lead to severe consequences. There are cases where those caught using these devices have been executed. The censorship regulations prohibit any material critical of the North Korean government (especially its leaders) or that which might undermine its authority under the doctrine of the "Songun" (or "military-first") policy. In addition to restricting access to information, the North Korean government restricts access to foreign media outlets such as Voice of America and Radio Free Asia. In 2018, Freedom House reported that North Korea was "one of the world's most repressive media environments." The organization found that over
Torture Torture is another widespread human rights violation in North Korea, as is forced labor. According to Amnesty International, "Torture and other ill-treatment in detention [are] widespread" and "[f]orced labor [is] used as a means of political control." The UN estimates that between 80,000-120,000 political prisoners are currently being held in North Korean labor camps where they face "unspeakable atrocities." Prisoners are forced to work at least 16 hours daily and are given only small food rations. Torture is common if anyone tries to escape or commits suicide. Political Corruption But, the government of North Korea has a long history of censorship and torture, as well as political manipulation in corruption methods. Transparency International's 2017 Corruption Perception Index ranks North Korea at 167th out of 180 countries in terms of corruption. The country also has one of the worst human rights records in the world, with a 2014 report from Amnesty International claiming that up to 200,000 people are estimated to be held in political prison camps. According to Amnesty International, "the government continues to carry out extensive campaigns of mass forced starvation and public executions. It has also forced hundreds of thousands of North Koreans into prison camps where they are subject to torture, beatings, and sexual violence. And it uses food as an instrument of control by restricting access to food aid as a reward for political loyalty or partaking in political indoctrination sessions." Concluding Remarks North Korea's human rights record remains a primary concern of the international community. Some would defend North Korea's abominable human rights record by saying the country maintains such tight control over its citizens because it fears they will overthrow its government. However, there is no escaping the fact that if North Korea truly fears its people, strict censorship and harsh punishments will not stop them. The only way to achieve peace in North Korea is through changes to the political system that allows its people to voice their concerns and vote for the leaders of their choice. Nonetheless, if the situation doesn't change, international organisations must act and help the oppressed people of North Korean origin. Sources: United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights – Report of the Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea "Country chapter: North Korea", World report 2013, Human Rights Watch North Korea: Political Prison Camps – Amnesty International document on conditions in North Korean prison camps (May 2011) North Korea's Largest Concentration Camps on Google Earth – Satellite imagery and witness accounts of North Korean political prison and reeducation camps (2006–2008) Concentrations of inhumanity – Freedom House analysis of the phenomena of repression associated with North Korea's political labor camps (May 2007) North Korea: A case to answer – a call to act – Report by Christian Solidarity Worldwide to emphasize the urgent need to end mass killings, arbitrary imprisonment, torture and related international crimes (2007). By: Haajar Abu Ismail A North Korean propaganda image proclaims ‘Let’s establish the habit of reading all over the country!’ Tatiana Gabroussenko (photo and caption taken from here) The value of literature is a universal constant. Across the ages, literature has served infinite purposes, be it negative or positive, but its core function has always been the promulgation of knowledge. The kind of knowledge varies, but from a nationwide perspective, literature can be seen as a means by which a state’s cultural beliefs, practices, and education are expressed. This begets the question, of how literature might take form in the isolated country of North Korea. While the DPRK is notorious for lagging behind other nations in certain sectors, the state has proclaimed a national literacy rate of 100% since 2008, while UNESCO claims a figure closer to 98%. Regardless, it supports how important literature is within North Korean society. It’s worth noting that the state is not that technologically advanced, and leisure entertainment takes on a very different from its neighbors. Where the average person elsewhere might spend their free time scrolling through Instagram or watching on Netflix, this can’t be applied to North Korea. A popular North Korean novel would be Friend by Paek Namnyong, which was originally published in 1988, was serialized into a television series, and eventually became the first state-approved North Korean novel in English 30 years later. Most of the fiction from North Korea accessible to the public is written by defectors. Yet, Paek Namnyong is a household name in the state, a steel factory worker for 10 years before studying literature at Kim Il Sung University. With that in mind, it might surprise some that the novel tackles themes such as love, marriage, and divorce. Paek Namnyong is a member of the April 15 Literary Production Unit (LPU), a group of elite writers tasked with producing the Immortal History and Immortal Leadership series. Within the DPRK, these works are seen are masterpieces that aim to “novelize the revolutionary history of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il in a multi-volume series.” While this propaganda-focused genre of writing leans towards what one might expect of North Korean literature, other genres of text have also been popularized, such as science fiction. Perhaps a result of Soviet influence, the science fiction narratives of utopian future and advanced technology are a present theme in the state’s short history as North Korea. A past example can be explored in the science fiction elements of the North Korean Children’s Magazine Adong Munhak, from 1956 to 1965. Among the key vehicles of the propaganda would be state-approved fiction “published in monthly literary journals, and then distributed to select schools and offices around the country.” Professional fiction writers in North Korea have their own organization, “The Choson Writer’s Union.” This is a sub-unit of the ruling Korean Workers’ Party, which is charged with training members and commissioning literature and art that aims to spread nationalistic themes. Overall, as expected, North Korea’s government-approved literature tends to reflect the nation’s socialist ideals. This is seen in C President Bill Clinton cowering under blankets in the 1994 nuclear crisis in Chŏng Ki Jong’s Ryŏksa ui Taeha, or President Jimmy Carter’s wife as smitten with Kim Il Sung in the 1994 visit in Maehok. The admirable qualities and personality of Kim Jong Un is also a common theme of North Korean literature. While it can be said that North Korean literature tends to produce a rose-colored view of the nation's policies and leaders, it is also a popular cultural production that may reveal information regarding the political climate and social expectations of the state and its people. Overall, it can be said that literature is certainly valued in the DPRK and that there is more depth to the subject than some may think. Sources:
https://theconversation.com/inside-north-koreas-literary-fiction-factory-89901 https://www.macrotrends.net/countries/PRK/north-korea/literacy-rate https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SE.ADT.LITR.ZS?locations=KR https://lithub.com/the-first-state-approved-north-korean-novel-in-english/ https://www.researchgate.net/publication/301579720_Problems_with_Institutionalizing_the_April_15_Literary_Production_Unit https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-asian-studies/article/lets-go-to-the-moon-science-fiction-in-the-north-korean-childrens-magazine-adong-munhak-19561965/5FE0755752EEC8E9A5BD603C9E01D912 By: Haajar Abu Ismail Among the rather ambiguous aspects of North Korea would be its food scene. Or more specifically, the make-up of the state’s national cuisine. At first glance, it may not differ all that much from its South Korean neighbor, but like most things, it warrants further study.
A typical North Korean meal might be rice or noodle dishes accompanied by kimchi, bulgogi when available, and soju. It is generally described as less spicy, with a more ‘fresh’ feel given that there is much less mass production in the North compared to the South. As the state is also surrounded by the ocean, the North Korean diet heavily features seafood as well. It’s worth noting that North Korea has quite a few iconic dishes to its name. Among the most popular would be Pyongyang cold noodles, which are buckwheat noodles served cold alongside white vinegar. There is also ginseng chicken soup, wherein the North Korean ginseng is considered among the best worldwide. Another option would be Talpi, which is dried pollack meant to be ripped into shreds and dipped in soy and wasabi, alongside beer. There are also some more questionable menu options, such as sweetmeat soup, which is considered a delicacy made from dog meat, as well as gasoline clam BBQ, as in clams cooked with petrol. Though, like most things, judgment should probably be reserved until after trying the meal. A more problematic question would be where to access such food. In light of this, the North Korean government has started a Pyongyang restaurant chain with locations centered in Asia. In general, it is a place that serves quality North Korean food, with an all-female North Korean waitstaff to entertain guests. A night out at a Pyongyang restaurant would have to include a music performance by the staff, who are said to both perform tributes to President Kim Jong-Un as well as other Pop ballads. The women wear bright-colored costumes and perform with glowsticks, in a “ fluorescent glow of bright red, purple, and blue lights.” Of course, the women have minders so as not to defect, and taking photos inside is generally frowned upon. Though overall, it is intended as a cultural experience of North Korea tailored for an outside audience, arranged by North Korea itself. However, there are other ways to access North Korean food, such as through online food blogs with recipes. Though it must be said, the most authentic experience would likely be to visit North Korea itself, which is increasingly possible through certain sanctioned tourist organizations. Be it seafood, noodles, rice, or of course, kimchi - odds are, there is something for everyone to be found in North Korean cuisine. As such, it can be said that the state seems to have a unique and appetizing menu that adds to the world’s cuisine. By: Haajar Abu Ismail For many, fleeing North Korea is a long and arduous journey. It is unfamiliar and perilous, undertaken with the constant fear that the next checkpoint will be the one to send them home, where torture, imprisonment, or forced labor awaits. Often, South Korea is lauded as the final destination of a dangerous expedition, the place of reprieve and safety. Less recognized perhaps, would be that this arrival is only the beginning of a resettlement process for strangers in a strange land. Indeed, it marks a lifelong struggle of overcoming the difficulties of life in the South as a North Korean.
Firstly, every North Korean spends 3 months at Hanawon, a school that provides training for the resettlement process. In the words of Sokeel Park, South Korea’s country director of Liberty in North Korea, Hanawon is “a three-month school where they learn various things about South Korean society: how to use an ATM machine and South Korea's modern transport infrastructure and how to get a job. They learn various things about South Korean citizenship, democracy, and differences.” Essentially, it is a crash course in the ideological differences between the North and South, as well as how to get by in a technologically advanced society. North and South Koreans may have a shared ethnicity, history, and to a degree language, but they come from vastly different cultural landscapes. That in and of itself makes integration into South Korean society no easy feat. Furthermore, there is a sentiment of negative stereotypes that depict North Koreans as “cold-blooded communists, unfeminine women workers, and as starving and helpless refugees,” wherein 58.4% of young defectors are reluctant to admit their origins. As the South is a relatively homogenous nation, the differences between both cultures stand out all the more. Linguistically, the Korean language has developed differently as well, with South Korean dialects having more anglophone words. Not to mention, the quality of education operates at a completely different standard. According to defector Kim Ji-young, defectors are unfamiliar with part-time jobs and would have never found a job on their own before. Young women will typically serve food in restaurants and as they become older, transition to work as kitchen assistants. Men usually have jobs packing online shopping orders or in the construction industry. Overall, after Hanawon, North Koreans are at the bottom of South Korea’s social hierarchy, where they are subject to racial discrimination and without the educational background to move up. This makes the reality of North Koreans’ resettlement a more difficult undertaking than public sentiment would credit, but there are also policies in place to support their adjustment to the South. North Koreans who settle in South Korea are “assigned a police officer who keeps an eye on them,” much like a “local friendly bobby who checks in every now and then.” In total, South Korea provides 12 weeks of adaptation training, $6000-$32,400 settlement benefits depending on the household size, and a $13,300 - $19,100 housing subsidy. Furthermore, North Korean defectors are given incentives to work and gain skills. For those who want to further their education, defectors don’t have to pay for undergraduate university degrees and those under 35 may go to graduate school for free. With this in mind, South Korea indeed has a support system in place to make the resettlement process easier, but that in no way makes it easy. Adjusting is a lifelong endeavor, and one with its own challenges that need to be addressed. Perhaps then it can become a home that North Koreans may feel they belong to. By: Haajar Abu Ismail
With living during a global pandemic, as I’m sure we’re all aware, there arose unfamiliar and unsettling changes that separated us from one another both physically and socially. But for a country in seemingly perpetual lockdown, how did North Korea experience COVID-19? Domestic life has been increasingly difficult, with high food shortages due to lacking trade and the ban of domestic travel. In relation to international workers and diplomats, “prohibited travel outside of Pyongyang and the receipt of diplomatic pouches. It has also put in effect quarantines of over a month for re-entry into the country. These measures have led all but three foreign aid workers to leave the country” (Yoon, Human Rights Watch (HRW.org)). Another article published in December 2020 by Stephen Silver on The National Interest conveys that the state has enforced social distancing rules in the workplace, as well as banned workers from operating in groups. Also, schools were later reported to not open that fall. With relatively closed borders and many barriers to entry, North Korea did have a pre-existing tourism ‘option,’ despite common perception. However, the state was notably among the first to respond to the pandemic, as they immediately shut their borders on January 22 2020, when COVID-19 had only 9 fatalities, and 400 infections (Wired.co.uk). "In its attempts to control Covid-19, North Korea has taken a similar, though more extreme, approach to other nations. It has restricted people’s movement and travel, gatherings of people are limited, masks are mandatory and state media has been blanketed with public health information. Such measures are coupled with existing limits on freedoms, human rights abuses, economic failure and food shortages. The country is also subject to wide-ranging international sanctions linked to its development of nuclear weapons.” Matt Burgess, WIRED While North Korea’s measures haven been strict, it would be reasonable to assume that such would be effective in hampering the virus’s progress in the state. In an article published September 1st, 2021, North Korea had yet to declare a single outbreak of COVID-19 (BBC). The source also cites the state has rejected nearly 3 million doses of the COVID-19 Vaccines, and that it has expressed doubt over the efficacy of these vaccines on multiple occasions, specifically concerning the side effects. It’s unclear how dire or in control the situation in the North is due to the lack of publicity on the matter, but this rejection would suggest that as of now, the state does not need them. What is certain, at least, is that the economy has suffered from the border closure. According to Justin Hastings, Professor at the Department of Government and International Relations at the University of Sydney, “there have been multiple signs of economic hardship, at least in parts of the economy that rely on imports and exports. China’s reported trade with North Korea was down 80 per cent in 2020 from the previous year, although the first half of 2021 was a little better, potentially due to greater needs for fertilizer. In 2020, North Korean fishing fleets essentially disappeared, possibly due to concerns that movement would bring in COVID-19.” Until reopening, essentially, North Korea’s economy will continue to suffer due to lacking trade and continuous stringent campaigns. When and if this happens, they may find themselves falling behind an increasingly vaccinated world populace. Most states are currently facing the question of whether to open their borders or continue closing them, and while North Korea belongs to the former for now, their future decision is yet to be seen. Source 1 Source 2 Source 3 Source 4 |