Category: North Korea

The Orphan Master’s Son

On By scottpetersenIn Kim Jong Un, North KoreaLeave a comment

[A repeat from September 21, 2014] On July 10, 2014, I offered a post on Kim Jong Un – the animal who rules North Korea (pardon me – the “Democratic People’s Republic of Korea“).  Little did I know that I’d be following up my post so soon with another post about North Korea — “The Hermit Kingdom.”  

On February 17, 2014, the United Nations released a report on North Korea which details some of the unspeakable cruelties and horrors that occur daily in North Korea:  starvation; corruption; prison camps; wholesale extermination, slaughter and murder; torture; rape; kidnapping of young women; forced abortions; brainwashing; and acts worse than your worst nightmare. 

I just finished reading The Orphan Master’s Son by Adam Johnson.  This 2013 Pulitzer Prize winner (for fiction) and New York Times bestseller depicts life (if you can call it that) in North Korea.  It paints a 443 page picture of one young man – an orphan named Jun Do  – who rises through the ranks to rival Kim Jong Il  (1941-2011) the psychotic “Dear Leader” who preceded Kim Jong Un.  I could go into great and glorious detail on the images of the book.  Suffice to say, the book is powerful and compelling.  And painful.  It makes you want to task Jack Reacher and Mitch Rapp (see 8/25/11 and 12/30/12) to do a Control Alt Delete of North Korean leadership.

Rocket Man. . . . .

On By scottpetersenIn Kim Jong Un, North Korea, The Orphan Master's SonLeave a comment

Kim Jong Un will never be a “hero.”  Kim Jong Un and his two forebears have been monsters that have fed off the lifeblood of their people.  North Korea is little more than a brutal and dehumanizing gulag posing as a nation.   The poor souls of North Korea are dying like flies.  Starvation.  Illness.  Abuse.  With no care, no concern, no sympathy from the Rocket Man.  Who lives like a god. . . . .

If you want to get a feel for the abyss that is North Korea (beyond The Orphan Master’s Son) there are three TED Talks (12 minutes each) that I would suggest you watch.  Two are offered by Korean women who lived in the North.  One escaped (her tale is captivating).  The other was brought in as a teacher to sons of the elite.   The third is a young man who was orphaned at 13.  And he escaped to China. https://www.ted.com/talks/joseph_kim_the_family_i_lost_in_north_korea_and_the_family_i_gained  and 
https://www.ted.com/talks/suki_kim_this_is_what_it_s_like_to_go_undercover_in_north_korea  and 
https://www.ted.com/talks/hyeonseo_lee_my_escape_from_north_korea  These TED Talks are powerful, incisive and compelling.  They should make you angry . . . .    

How do you deal with incarnate evil that is Kim Jong Un?  It would be nice if China would encourage refugees to cross the river and allow resettlement.  But presently, China captures refugees and sends them back to North Korea where most are then killed.  If China changed this policy, maybe they could be a hero. . . . .    

 

Be a Hero

On By scottpetersenIn Be a hero, North Korea, The Orphan Master's SonLeave a comment

Do you respect the bully? Or the nice guy/gal? The character who pushes you around, threatens you and gives you a punch now and then? Or the one who comes to your aid. Who helps you when the chips are down?   

Kim Jong Un wants respect for North Korea.  And yet he has no clue on how to get it.  He thinks that by threatening, killing and abusing — by bullying — he will be “respected.”  And that he will insulate his country from encroachment.   Duhhhhh (cue the drool).       

Ponder this. . . .  the 2004 tsunami in Sumatra/Indonesia.  The tsunami that hit Japan in 2011 killing 18,000.  Most nations of the world rallied to help the victims.  But not North Korea.  After Hurricane Katrina, 150 countries offered to help America.  But not North Korea.  The hurricanes of Houston and Florida have prompted worldwide concern and offers of assistance.  But . . .  you know.   

Just think if Kim Jong Un had told America – “We don’t have much but I will send you people. . . . to help with the recovery from your terrible tragedies.”  You tell me.  What would happen to North Korea’s (and Kim Jong Un’s) reputation?  It would launch like an ICBM.  And take the world off guard.   Kim Jong Un might even become something of a hero in our (allegedly though everyone knows it’s not) “mainstream” media. I’m keenly aware that there are cultural differences, economic limitations and foreign policy impediments that guide Kim Jong Un and his Hermit Kingdom.  But those differences and concerns are similar to those that guide the 150 countries that did offer their help.  Wouldn’t it be nice if Kim Jong Un would think outside his tiny little box.  I’m not gonna hold my breath . . . . .  (see post of July 10, 2014).

The Orphan Master’s Son

On By scottpetersenIn Adam Johnson, Kim Jong Un, North Korea, The Orphan Master's SonLeave a comment

On July 10, 2014, I offered a post on Kim Jong Un – the animal who rules North Korea (pardon me – the “Democratic People’s Republic of Korea“).  Little did I know that I’d be following up my post so soon with another post about North Korea — “The Hermit Kingdom.”  

On February 17, 2014, the United Nations released a report on North Korea which details some of the unspeakable cruelties and horrors that occur daily in North Korea:  starvation; corruption; prison camps; wholesale extermination, slaughter and murder; torture; rape; kidnapping of young women; forced abortions; brainwashing; and acts worse than your worst nightmare. 

I just finished reading The Orphan Master’s Son by Adam Johnson.  This 2013 Pulitzer Prize winner (for fiction) and New York Times bestseller depicts life (if you can call it that) in North Korea.  It paints a 443 page picture of one young man – an orphan named Jun Do  – who rises through the ranks to rival Kim Jong Il  (1941-2011) the psychotic “Dear Leader” who preceded Kim Jong Un.  I could go into great and glorious detail on the images of the book.  Suffice to say, the book is powerful and compelling.  And painful.  It makes you want to task Jack Reacher and Mitch Rapp (see 8/25/11 and 12/30/12) to do a Control Alt Delete of North Korean leadership.