Posted on 10/24/2009 9:44:54 PM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
Hell on Earth
Oct 22nd 2009
The West still turns a blind eye to the world's most brutal and systematic abuse of human rights
A SPRAWLING encampment of think-tankers, academics, hacks and policymakers earns a living outside North Korea’s walls. They pick over its nuclear intentions and the prospects for the diplomatic dance known as the six-party process, which is meant to persuade North Korea to give up its nukes for cash and security guarantees. The encampment needs something to live on. Since North Korea declared the six-party talks dead in the spring, scraps have been meagre. So the North’s recent signals of a readiness to return to the forum, after talking to America first, come as a relief. This week a senior North Korean nuclear negotiator was on his way to America. The dance is starting up again, and the encampment is not short of views about what’s in store.
Yet the focus on nukes comes at the cost of other things worth noting about North Korea. Human rights, for instance. In recent years the outlines of daily life, and the state’s miserable part in it, have become plain. First came the horror stories told by refugees in China escaping the famine from 1995-98 that killed 600,000-1m people. A more detailed picture has since emerged from refugees now settled in South Korea, from aid-workers, diplomats and from satellite pictures which, among other things, map another form of encampment—the North’s gulag.
(Excerpt) Read more at economist.com ...
If outsiders are consistently firm against N. Korean regime, they would understand it. They don't ask for outsiders to invade N. Korea to rescue them. Just don't prolong or abet the regime.
Still many Western countries are busy doing deals with Kim Jong-il and proclaiming progress for their own selfish political or career gains. China cynically use N. Korea as a leverage against the West. They are active willing accomplices to N. Korea brutality, picking up N. Korean escapees and send them to N. Korea, which could easily endanger their lives. They regularly block any international attempts to stand firm against Kim Jong-il. S. Korea has its generation 386 block which still controls the political discourse on N. Korea. They cannot reconcile themselves with N. Korean brutality. They were convinced during their youth that the portrayal of brutal N. Korea is the outrageous lie perpetrated by the propaganda of previous regime. They were enthusiastically attended pro-N. Korea rally. To this day, talking about N. Korean situation is beneath them. It is something only fit for older generation made up of 'incorrigible right-wing crazies.' People as 'open-minded' and 'rational' as themsleves should not fall to such low level, they believe.
On top of it, there is an economic concern. These self-styled 'progressives' still care about their property value. They know any tension with N. Korea would hurt the price of their housing. They are also having a reasonably decent life so far. They cannot endanger it.
These two wishes meet and create your typical well-to-do Seoul folks who exhibit pro-North sympathies and vitrolic hatred against conservatives. A limousine liberal who still stick to remaining as the diehard apologists for the North but have a good life and luxury.
In S. Korea, they are called 'Kangnam Left.' Kangnam is the southern part of Seoul which is new and affluent. They also influence many apolitical folks, telling them to ignore about N. Korea if they want to live well.
They have cynical and hostile attitude to N. Korean refugees settled in S. Korea.
To them, the cardinal sin of N. Korean refugees are that they tell what the N. Korea is really are and it gives credibility to incorrigible rightwing crazies, while making them accomplice to N. Korean brutality. They cannot stand it. So they call them names. Some accuse them of mere common criminals escaping punishment of N. Korea for their wrong doings. Or see them as just losers who are good for nothing. Or heartless inhuman creatures who bailed out of N. Korea, knowing full well what will befall to their families and relative if NK regime find out that they escaped. These three attitudes also comprise the left's campaign against N. Korean refugees just because they spoke the truth.
Outside the immediate neighbors of N. Korea, many folks in the Western world also see N. Korea as their liberal rose-tinted glass. People they can do business with only if they can find a right way to reach into them. It furthers their career and political agenda. It could even secure Nobel Peace Prize to them, I suppose. It is a kind of silverling of sorts that despicable Selig Harrison, the leftwing political hack who has been a tireless apologist for N. Korea, is no longer solicited for his opinion in MSM. However, dances are still going on for headling grabbing warm and fuzzy event. It is just that they can no longer push it brazenly.
Ordinary N. Koreans are beginning to be aware of this, and some are now showing deep anger. It will come to a full boil after N. Korean regime is gone. Especially, with respect to S. Korea and China, this will be always in their mind. Many of them lost their family members while outsiders needlessly propping up Kim Jong-il regime. To them, it is personal.
Ping!
I recently read “The Aquariums of Pyongyang.” It was an informative read, written by a former NK prisoner.
Adding that to my reading list right now.
North Korea: the not-quite-perfect end-goal (but perhaps the closest we’ve seen yet) of liberal idealism. No wonder the press averts its eyes; they think that in the North American totalitarianism they dream of, they will escape the noose.
This can’t be true.
Collectivism is flawless and works perfectly every time it is tried.
It is the most effective population-reduction model in history.
Tiger, thanks
It’s kind of amazing how Kim - Dear Leader - is able to have his subjects be happy whilst they eat dirt!
Soon, our US Dear Leader will invoke the same magic upon us!
Chairman Mao will be really proud of how rapidly the US has been transformed - under our Dear Leader - to destroy capitalisism!
Why does everyone ignore china? Because China controls nk and uses them to export missile and nuclear technology. NK does nothing without china’s say so. They are china’s pit bull on a leash.
China successfully co-opted political and business establishment outside its border.
dances are still going on for headlingheadline grabbing warm and fuzzy event.
It is a kind of silverlingsliver-lining of sorts that despicable Selig Harrison,
The South Korean students are quite Naive about their northern neighbor. I told a professor at Korea University that, Park Chung Hui was a benevolent dictator and the south would never had achieved a democratic government with out him. Korean history is full of examples of able leaders during times of crisis being cut of by political opponents with slander. Left there has no shame as here.
Indeed.
BTTT
If this world were run right, as it’s going to be when The Owner returns, the world’s armies would crash the NK gate and distribute food to the people being starved TO DEATH by their own “leaders”.
Thanks for the ping.
Oh well. They have a low carbon footprint. Al Gore would love it there. Maybe he ought to go there with Laura and Euna.
I agree.
Invade and “give” them their freedom? Like in Iraq? Ain’t working out so well there, is it? Only people who can make North Koreans free are North Koreans.
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