Last year I went to North Korea, and when people ask me why, I generally respond with something a bit glib like “why not?” or “because I realised I could”. I have always been fascinated by the country, and fascinated in a really unattractive and horrified way at the oppression that goes on there. Probably part of what made me want to visit was to see it with my own eyes... but it’s not quite as straightforward as that. I don’t think words can do justice to the complexity of my feelings towards an entire country, and since visiting I have only felt more torn and more confused. I wasn’t subject to half of the security measures that people would assume, and I also am well aware that although things didn’t *feel* like they were staged for my benefit, perhaps they were. I did see poverty, and I did see indicators of oppression everywhere. I also had some truly wonderful experiences with North Korean people, like Mr Park, the hotel worker that I got drunk in a car park with, and Miss Dong, my guide who told me that one day she wanted to be an inspirational business woman like you, Miss Becky” (heh heh). These are just normal people living under a horrific regime, most of whom genuinely don’t know any better (and those who do, have a lot of faith in their great leader and why they are doing this). I watched this video this morning and was basically sobbing by the end of it. We seem to have become conditioned to laugh at North Korea - with their OTT military drills, clumsy attempts at propaganda (I actually hooted with laughter during my tour of SS Pueblo, it was so ridiculous), and rarely fulfilled threats - but these a real people, their lives aren’t a punchline to a joke. Despite the problems that we have with our economy, our government etc, I think it pretty much goes without saying that we take our human rights for granted, on the whole. I know that North Korea is not the only country whose people suffer under such an extreme dictatorship, but it’s one that feels close to my heart. Please watch the video, and please educate yourself about the situation there. I know it’s difficult to weed out the propaganda from both sides, but if you persevere enough to understand what someone like Yeonmi Park has been through, eh, I dont know, maybe well stop thinking of the DPRK as some drunk uncle with a shotgun. Well stop laughing, and well take their capabilities seriously - every day people are suffering, being oppressed, and dying under this horrendous leadership.
Posted on: Fri, 19 Dec 2014 12:28:46 +0000
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