1 year, 8 months ago
What are the living conditions like in North Korea?
I was looking at the art of Tom Abraham on his site http://www.koryography.com/ and reminded of the stark contrasts between the North and South.
In todays high tech world, how is it possible to cut such a large group of people off from the rest of the world?
Does the typical North Korean live in fear of their government, or do they believe and follow the propaganda fed to them?
In todays high tech world, how is it possible to cut such a large group of people off from the rest of the world?
Does the typical North Korean live in fear of their government, or do they believe and follow the propaganda fed to them?
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M$2 Answers
Hello bunny,
I have spent considerable time in China and have had multiple exchanges with North Korean refugees. I too find this question very fascinating, as the country is so closed to media: what do North Koreans truly think? What do they think about their country or their global standing. Sites like koryophotography offer an awesome and rare glimpse into the barricaded country. In my experience, you can find a handful of brief documentaries about North Korea online. Every so often, the North will let in a few media members to attend one propaganda ceremony or another. CNN has a pretty good brief video of a guided tour that one of their correspondents put together.
My favorite NK documentary has to be on Vbs.tv. It is probably the longest and most comprehensive (not to mention, the most trying) documentary i have found to date. It is called Viceguide to North Korea (3 part documentary in 20 minute sections, an hour total). It is a part of a series called Vice Guide to Travel. If you are interested in other crazy stuff from around the world such as the violence in Liberia, prostitution in India or the Gun markets of Pakistan, you can find documentaries here.
To answer your questions, it is possible to cut off a nation from today's technological world. Virtually no one has internet access in North Korea. Though there is no cell phone service in NK, a handful of lucky citizens have cell phones; however, they only have service in areas bordering China.
People are fleeing from NK daily. The stories of the refugees are not positive to say the least. They fear their own government. more importantly, they fear for their well-being and life, so they decided to escape. However, many refugees are tightlipped about their situation as they still have family in NK and fear there will be retaliation if they speak out.
In terms of citizens within the country, many of them live in fear. They do not want to dissent against the government because they have no outlets to vent their anger. Also, they fear for retaliation. On the other hand, because of the control of media and information, many people never hear the anti-NK sentiments that are so common in our world today. The children of NK are "brainwashed" in a sense. They believe and follow propaganda--they know of nothing else. This is the danger in controlling information.
In today's world, North Korea is hesitant to participate in any agreements with any outside nations as it would compromise their status and stability as a nation, especially after they just appointed Kim Jong-Il's son Kim Jong-Eun a high-level general (he is being trained as the next "supreme leader of NK".
I hope these insights help to answer your questions. Definitely give the videos a watch, especially the video series as vbs.tv (Vice Guide to Travel). Also check out "Notes from North Korea" and "Tour of the Yongbon Reactor" (3 parts) in the CNN videos section.
Hope this helps!
PS. South Korea is awesome....you should go if you ever find yourself in Asia!
I have spent considerable time in China and have had multiple exchanges with North Korean refugees. I too find this question very fascinating, as the country is so closed to media: what do North Koreans truly think? What do they think about their country or their global standing. Sites like koryophotography offer an awesome and rare glimpse into the barricaded country. In my experience, you can find a handful of brief documentaries about North Korea online. Every so often, the North will let in a few media members to attend one propaganda ceremony or another. CNN has a pretty good brief video of a guided tour that one of their correspondents put together.
My favorite NK documentary has to be on Vbs.tv. It is probably the longest and most comprehensive (not to mention, the most trying) documentary i have found to date. It is called Viceguide to North Korea (3 part documentary in 20 minute sections, an hour total). It is a part of a series called Vice Guide to Travel. If you are interested in other crazy stuff from around the world such as the violence in Liberia, prostitution in India or the Gun markets of Pakistan, you can find documentaries here.
To answer your questions, it is possible to cut off a nation from today's technological world. Virtually no one has internet access in North Korea. Though there is no cell phone service in NK, a handful of lucky citizens have cell phones; however, they only have service in areas bordering China.
People are fleeing from NK daily. The stories of the refugees are not positive to say the least. They fear their own government. more importantly, they fear for their well-being and life, so they decided to escape. However, many refugees are tightlipped about their situation as they still have family in NK and fear there will be retaliation if they speak out.
In terms of citizens within the country, many of them live in fear. They do not want to dissent against the government because they have no outlets to vent their anger. Also, they fear for retaliation. On the other hand, because of the control of media and information, many people never hear the anti-NK sentiments that are so common in our world today. The children of NK are "brainwashed" in a sense. They believe and follow propaganda--they know of nothing else. This is the danger in controlling information.
In today's world, North Korea is hesitant to participate in any agreements with any outside nations as it would compromise their status and stability as a nation, especially after they just appointed Kim Jong-Il's son Kim Jong-Eun a high-level general (he is being trained as the next "supreme leader of NK".
I hope these insights help to answer your questions. Definitely give the videos a watch, especially the video series as vbs.tv (Vice Guide to Travel). Also check out "Notes from North Korea" and "Tour of the Yongbon Reactor" (3 parts) in the CNN videos section.
Hope this helps!
PS. South Korea is awesome....you should go if you ever find yourself in Asia!
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M$
To add to @thekidrice. If someone does speak out against the Gov. they are sent to retraining camps that are vicious. Also you are encouraged to rat out your own family and others for speaking out against the Gov.. There are food shortages and many other problems that get squashed and the media never sees.
If anyone does have access to the internet it would be like a radio on Hogan's Heros. lol
If anyone does have access to the internet it would be like a radio on Hogan's Heros. lol
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M$
Wow Kid, thanks for the recommendation of that video. Asia one area of the world I have yet to travel (closest I've been is to the Middle East).
I do have in-laws that are Korean, and love the Korean culture... but have always wondered what it's like to have half of your people segregated like that and treated so poorly.