As you probably already know, the two American journalists have been pardoned by Kim Jong-Il, and the mass media and many blogs seem rather celebratory than sober. I am not among the smartest people, but I'd like to say that I'm more sober than many people on this issue.
I've heard that Lee and Ling entered the Democratic People's Republic of Korea illegally, on an assignment to film there for Current TV, which was founded by former VP of the US, the country that has been working so hard to demonize, mystify and degrade its evil enemy, so that it can legitimize whatever actions it would take against the DPRK.
Now that the journalists have returned, I suppose many people in the US and the rest of the First World must be so relieved. They returned from North Korea. What a miraculous story, such a big deal! I don't care what they were doing there, of course they deserved to be freed from that mysterious scary horrible childish communist country!
Wait, who propagated the idea that North Korea is such a country in the first place? Who is really making the big deal out of this? And who is benefiting from this whole theatrical play? I wonder.
I'm sure Lee and Ling went through "nightmares," as they say. I'm sure 12 years of hard labor would have been too harsh of a sentence for illegal entry with an intention of further demonizing this small country that does its best to protect themselves from this globalized world's current superpower. Yeah, I'm so sure.
Some may be convinced that I support the North Korean government. I don't. Things are not that simple, especially for zainichi Koreans, who have historical connections with both southern and northern parts of the Korean Peninsula. I am not knowledgeable enough to offer any profound analysis on this issue, but I would just rather be more sober than some when my people are being put down by the nation that have assaulted, invaded, separated and occupied our country. Yeah, I remember, my people back in the days tried to establish our own country when Japan left, and then we were suddenly divided in half because some of us were considered too radical for seeking for some level of equality and going against US economic interests. And the war hasn't ended.
I am planning on visiting the DPRK in 2 years; for now, please read this essay report by one of my close friends who visited there in 2008. I am looking forward to reporting every single detail on wiqaable.com when I return from the DPRK!
4 comments for this post
Interesting essay report. However, I would like to point a few things out. Kei Fischer writes: "we were asked time and again to recall what we saw in the north and to share that with the world." Of course, what he SAW was good, but considering that he was (most likely) on a tour and not allowed to wander around the DPRK, what he SAW can't say much for the ENTIRE country. If the DPRK is full of warmth and "not a place of despair and hopelessness," why is it that there are still people trying to defect? Fischer also writes: "Everywhere we went, there were signs for tongil or reunification." I don't doubt that the North Koreans want reunification; I don't doubt that the South Koreans want reunification; I furthermore don't doubt that the United States wants to hinder reunification. However, as to the terms of reunification, the North and the South/US have very different ideas. The North won't give up a one-party/person rule, while the South/US won't give up democracy.
Oh I'm sorry, I assumed what you're pointing out was obvious to everyone. I guess not.
Haha, I'm sorry. >_>
so, i'm finding haruki's response to be a bit sparse and actually not addressing your concerns. so i guess i gotta respond.
ugh. "democracy".
anon, your assumptions leave out the reality that people also defect the US/ROK. or are imprisoned in gitmo (or will be soon moved to stateside "accomodations") or are targeted in a multitude of ways due to race, gender, queerness (real or preceived), and bodies -- just to name a few.
and the US actually does prefer the continued military presence in the ROK because it is gives the gov't a pretense to stay in a strategic location (with respect to china).
you don't doubt that Koreans in the southern part of Korea don't want reunification but i don't think you understand its level of importance for people living in DPRK or how they view it. tongil and reunification is a clear project of anti-imperialism and kicking out the colonizers. when you start making that false dichotomy of forces that support the US = democracy you completely ignore the fights for autonomy that happened (and do happen now) on both sides of the DMZ (an arbitrary line created by the US) and around the world.
of course there are things about DPRK that are unsavory and, personally, there are surely things that i am interested in challenging. but certainly not through this US-patriarchal/western hegemonic lens that most everything about DPRK is viewed through in this country (US) and seemingly by you.
why do things have to be such a clear binary -- and usually in support of US dominance? as SHE is a zainichi korean (funny how you assumed the pronoun), kei knows that DPRK is not all about warmth (and yes i'm alluding to a history that perhaps you can research on your own). but she was still able to connect to the warmth of the people she met there and begin to address DPRK in a way that goes beyond simple caricature or demonization or paternalistic simpering -- as a korean connecting to other koreans.