4 ms·

I've checked twice in the last hour, and so far I'm not seeing any uptake of this story by any other news organization. One of the best illustrations of what a

I've checked twice in the last hour, and so far I'm not seeing any uptake of this story by any other news organization. One of the best illustrations of what a tyrannical country the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is is the news vacuum most of the world encounters when trying to find out what's going on there. The ruling party doesn't want the common people of north Korea to know what's going on in their own country, so pervasive censorship and government surveillance make it difficult for anyone to find out what's going on there. I look forward to the day when the people of north Korea can make a transition to civil liberty and democratic, constitutional government.

deletes 13y ago
I don't know how long can they keep them ignorant, given the constant technological advancements. For example mobile phones were banned, but are legal now and a lot of people have them.
- SEJeff 13y ago
  You're forgetting than most NK people are brainwashed from birth and have for 3-4 generations how wonderful NK is and that the rest of the world is so awful.
  - hrkristian 13y ago
    I've found myself arguing that point before, but brainwashing is a difficult topic. I now think it's wrong to claim it, because while the media in PRK obviously lies with intent and that is propaganda, most there probably do not have a frame of reference, and think their situation is what it is and do the best with what they have. Are North Koreans brainwashed any more than a U.S. citizen? Here in Norway the opinion seems to say: No. But who are we to judge?
    - judk 13y ago
      Eh, US propaganda is generic "rah rah we have the freest greatest people". For example, an American citizen can read your claims about America's flaws. A NKian can't. NK propaganda is "we have the highest per capita income".
    - SEJeff 13y ago
      I'm guessing you've never actually seen/heard any of the propaganda they hurl over the NK/SK dmz border via massive loudspeakers have you? It is pretty blatant indoctrination to a level we don't remotely come do in America. The most "indoctrination" we do in America is perhaps having children in school recite the pledge of allegiance to the flag every morning. I'm sorry, but America doesn't "brainwash" people remotely to this level: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2307937/North-Korea-Haunting-images-indoctrination-ceremony-communist-cult-leaders-threatening-nuclear-war-poisoning-generation.html http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2307937/North-Korea-... http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/north-korea-death-camp-survivor-1814554 http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/north-korea-death-ca... http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/features/4885931/north-korea-defector-on-how-state-brainwashes-people.html http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/features/4885931/north-... If you think America does, you are mistaken. I'm not judging right or wrong, only that people often don't choose in their own best interests. Especially if their frame of reference is horribly skewed from blatant government brainwashing.
  - ballard 13y ago
    Still, it's an unstable arrangement that moves toward an equilibrium of more freedom, commerce... and food.
notastartup 13y ago
It's hard to get any footage out of North Korea but Rimjingang Media employs North Korean civilians to take hidden camera into North Korea. The footage returned are shocking. http://www.asiapress.org/rimjingang/english/ http://www.asiapress.org/rimjingang/english/
derefr 13y ago
Wouldn't verification of this story just require talking to the North Korean expatriates in China, though? They have no particular reason to censor their speech.
- meepmorp 13y ago
  > They have no particular reason to censor their speech. They're possible asylum seekers in a nominally allied state, who've (supposedly) fled a totalitarian regime that's shown no compunction about assassinating critics abroad. I can see why they'd not either make their location known, nor wish to talk to foreign media. And that's assuming the story is true.
- schuke 13y ago
  China officially don't take North Korean refugees. Once you're identified there's a real risk of being deported back to North Korea.
- rbobby 13y ago
  Except any family, including extended, left behind.
  - meepmorp 13y ago
    Any family they haven't brought along are doomed anyway.

deletes 13y ago

I don't know how long can they keep them ignorant, given the constant technological advancements. For example mobile phones were banned, but are legal now and a lot of people have them.

SEJeff 13y ago
You're forgetting than most NK people are brainwashed from birth and have for 3-4 generations how wonderful NK is and that the rest of the world is so awful.
- hrkristian 13y ago
  I've found myself arguing that point before, but brainwashing is a difficult topic. I now think it's wrong to claim it, because while the media in PRK obviously lies with intent and that is propaganda, most there probably do not have a frame of reference, and think their situation is what it is and do the best with what they have. Are North Koreans brainwashed any more than a U.S. citizen? Here in Norway the opinion seems to say: No. But who are we to judge?
  - judk 13y ago
    Eh, US propaganda is generic "rah rah we have the freest greatest people". For example, an American citizen can read your claims about America's flaws. A NKian can't. NK propaganda is "we have the highest per capita income".
  - SEJeff 13y ago
    I'm guessing you've never actually seen/heard any of the propaganda they hurl over the NK/SK dmz border via massive loudspeakers have you? It is pretty blatant indoctrination to a level we don't remotely come do in America. The most "indoctrination" we do in America is perhaps having children in school recite the pledge of allegiance to the flag every morning. I'm sorry, but America doesn't "brainwash" people remotely to this level: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2307937/North-Korea-Haunting-images-indoctrination-ceremony-communist-cult-leaders-threatening-nuclear-war-poisoning-generation.html http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2307937/North-Korea-... http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/north-korea-death-camp-survivor-1814554 http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/north-korea-death-ca... http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/features/4885931/north-korea-defector-on-how-state-brainwashes-people.html http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/features/4885931/north-... If you think America does, you are mistaken. I'm not judging right or wrong, only that people often don't choose in their own best interests. Especially if their frame of reference is horribly skewed from blatant government brainwashing.
- ballard 13y ago
  Still, it's an unstable arrangement that moves toward an equilibrium of more freedom, commerce... and food.

notastartup 13y ago

It's hard to get any footage out of North Korea but Rimjingang Media employs North Korean civilians to take hidden camera into North Korea. The footage returned are shocking. http://www.asiapress.org/rimjingang/english/ http://www.asiapress.org/rimjingang/english/

derefr 13y ago

Wouldn't verification of this story just require talking to the North Korean expatriates in China, though? They have no particular reason to censor their speech.

meepmorp 13y ago
> They have no particular reason to censor their speech. They're possible asylum seekers in a nominally allied state, who've (supposedly) fled a totalitarian regime that's shown no compunction about assassinating critics abroad. I can see why they'd not either make their location known, nor wish to talk to foreign media. And that's assuming the story is true.
schuke 13y ago
China officially don't take North Korean refugees. Once you're identified there's a real risk of being deported back to North Korea.
rbobby 13y ago
Except any family, including extended, left behind.
- meepmorp 13y ago
  Any family they haven't brought along are doomed anyway.