Comments on: Links for 12 Oct 07 http://freekorea.us/2007/10/12/links-for-12-oct-07/ Tue, 22 May 2012 21:47:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Wolmae http://freekorea.us/2007/10/12/links-for-12-oct-07/comment-page-1/#comment-54924 Wolmae Fri, 12 Oct 2007 19:41:00 +0000 http://freekorea.us/2007/10/12/links-for-12-oct-07/#comment-54924 Insofar as your premise that "internal propaganda has little to do with international policy and/or realities" is valid, I am puzzled by your conclusion. The propensity to inflate the heroic martial feats of the Kim Sr. & Jr. clan is a mainstay of the North Korean propaganda repertoire--right? Then what can possibly cast the Kim family regime in a more martial revolutionary-heroic light than the acquisition of nuclear weapons? You seem to take the following ludicrous statements from the Rodong Shinmun--knowing how far they stand at variance with reality--and draw the conclusion that because the whole thing is mere internal propaganda nonsense the Kim regime could have made up its mind to do away with its nukes. I fail to see the connection. Could the following then also be taken to mean that perhaps North Korea is thinking of dismantling its political prisoner concentration camps, since it insists that there are no human rights problems and certainly no gulags within its "dignified nation"? [from Rodong Shinmun, October 9, 2007] "We cannot forget it. The benevolent leader, with his great sword, made Chosun (Korea) into a strong independent state and handed our 70 million people skies of peace, skies of prosperity, skies of hopes to last forever," it [Rodong Shinmun] said in a reference to the communist world's only dynastic leader, Kim Jong-il." "The shouts of joy from October... (2006), when we continuously hurrahed General Kim Jong-il the most benevolent leader of the century, will be remembered forever in the 5,000 year history (of Korea). It is truly a great miracle," the article said." " . . . the most powerful and dignified nation and the strongest and greatest country in the world's history." Insofar as your premise that “internal propaganda has little to do with international policy and/or realities” is valid, I am puzzled by your conclusion. The propensity to inflate the heroic martial feats of the Kim Sr. & Jr. clan is a mainstay of the North Korean propaganda repertoire–right? Then what can possibly cast the Kim family regime in a more martial revolutionary-heroic light than the acquisition of nuclear weapons? You seem to take the following ludicrous statements from the Rodong Shinmun–knowing how far they stand at variance with reality–and draw the conclusion that because the whole thing is mere internal propaganda nonsense the Kim regime could have made up its mind to do away with its nukes. I fail to see the connection. Could the following then also be taken to mean that perhaps North Korea is thinking of dismantling its political prisoner concentration camps, since it insists that there are no human rights problems and certainly no gulags within its “dignified nation”?

[from Rodong Shinmun, October 9, 2007]

“We cannot forget it. The benevolent leader, with his great sword, made Chosun (Korea) into a strong independent state and handed our 70 million people skies of peace, skies of prosperity, skies of hopes to last forever,” it [Rodong Shinmun] said in a reference to the communist world’s only dynastic leader, Kim Jong-il.”

“The shouts of joy from October… (2006), when we continuously hurrahed General Kim Jong-il the most benevolent leader of the century, will be remembered forever in the 5,000 year history (of Korea). It is truly a great miracle,” the article said.”

” . . . the most powerful and dignified nation and the strongest and greatest country in the world’s history.”

]]> By: North Korea Blog » Links for 12 Oct 07 http://freekorea.us/2007/10/12/links-for-12-oct-07/comment-page-1/#comment-54923 North Korea Blog » Links for 12 Oct 07 Fri, 12 Oct 2007 16:23:29 +0000 http://freekorea.us/2007/10/12/links-for-12-oct-07/#comment-54923 [...] Read more of this story… [...] [...] Read more of this story… [...]

]]> By: vanmidd http://freekorea.us/2007/10/12/links-for-12-oct-07/comment-page-1/#comment-54922 vanmidd Fri, 12 Oct 2007 16:19:05 +0000 http://freekorea.us/2007/10/12/links-for-12-oct-07/#comment-54922 <i>In fact, some of North Korea’s recent statements cast doubt on its agreement to give up its nuclear arsenal. Just yesterday, it held a parade to celebrate that arsenal.</i> I think this needs to be taken with a pinch of salt. Internal propoganda has little to do with international policy and/or the realities of what the country has done or is doing. The nuke test was generaly celebrated in Pyongyang - there is no way the regime will be telling it's citizens that it sold out to the Yankees for cash and oil. I remember sitting through a video presentation in Pyongyang (with a bunch of north korean school kids) showing how the DPRK had recently launched satellites into space. Of course, nothing of the sort had happened at all. In fact, some of North Korea’s recent statements cast doubt on its agreement to give up its nuclear arsenal. Just yesterday, it held a parade to celebrate that arsenal.

I think this needs to be taken with a pinch of salt. Internal propoganda has little to do with international policy and/or the realities of what the country has done or is doing. The nuke test was generaly celebrated in Pyongyang – there is no way the regime will be telling it’s citizens that it sold out to the Yankees for cash and oil.

I remember sitting through a video presentation in Pyongyang (with a bunch of north korean school kids) showing how the DPRK had recently launched satellites into space. Of course, nothing of the sort had happened at all.

]]>