My trip to North Korea: 13 misconceptions corrected

Liberation News wrote:

My trip to North Korea: 13 misconceptions corrected
Western media is full of false reporting
By Marcel Cartier
APRIL 21, 2014

FULL ARTICLE

I had the unique opportunity to spend several days in three different parts of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, more commonly just referred to as “North” Korea. This was an exceptionally life-changing experience that challenged many of the pre-conceptions that myself and fellow western visitors who accompanied me from Beijing had going in. Here are some things about North Korea that may surprise you, as many of them surprised me, as well.

1. Americans Are Not Hated, But Welcomed
2. Customs and Border Patrol Were A Smooth, Easy Experience
3. Pyongyang Is Beautiful, Clean and Colourful
4. Kim Jong Un Haircuts Are Practically Non-Existent
5. North Koreans Laugh, Smile and Joke – A Lot
6. Monolithic Ideology Does Not Mean Monolithic Personality
7. People are incredibly well dressed across the country
8. Children Begin To Learn English At the Age of 7
9. Tourism Will Be Boosted In The Near Future
10. Koreans Are Keen To Talk About The Country Candidly
11. Beer Is Considered A Soft Drink, Micro Breweries Are Popular
12. Most of the Tabloid Stories About the DPRK Are Utterly False
13. Koreans Will Not Hesitate To Make You Join In Their Fun

In short, I found the Korean people in the north to be some of the warmest, most authentic human beings I’ve ever had the chance to interact with. It would be silly to refer to the country as a “workers’ paradise” due to the depth of problems it faces. As in all societies, there are positive aspects and negative ones. However, considering that they have overcome centuries of imperial domination, the loss of about a quarter of their population in the Korean War, and continue to maintain their social system in the face of a continued state of war, they have done tremendously well. The accomplishments in free education through university, the non-existence of homelessness, and a proud and dignified people should be presented in order to gain a fuller, more nuanced picture of the country.

I must say that the way that the DPRK is portrayed in the western bourgeois media actually says a great deal more about the effectiveness of our propaganda apparatuses and brainwashing techniques than it does about theirs. The fact that I even have to write about the surprising things I witnessed in DPRK is evidence of the serious lack of understanding we have about the country. The problems facing Korea are never contexualized as they should be – as an oppressed nation aiming to free itself from servitude to big powers intent on gobbling up every remaining state free from a dying unipolarity.

Oh, and I almost forgot about nuclear weapons! Well, let’s consider if the North Korean military was holding military drills annually off the coast of New York that simulated the carpet bombing of Manhattan and the occupation of the entirety of the country, of which they already controlled the western half. Would it not be sensible given that context for Americans to develop a nuclear deterrent? The Koreans are not war hungry or even “obsessed” with the army or military. However, given the way that the situation in Libya played out, they are all the more convinced – rightfully so – that the only reason their independent state continues to stand is due to the Songun (“military first” policy) and the existence of nuclear capabilities. To be sure, they have no intention of using it unless put in that position to have to do so.

It is my sincere desire that there will be continued cultural and people-to-people exchanges in the near future between people from the DPRK and the western countries. Pretty much all of the people who traveled with me back to Beijing were in awe of just how different their experience was compared to what they had expected. They – like myself – gained a great deal from the humanizing experience of interacting with Koreans. Although westerners are relatively free to travel much more so than DPRK citizens, it’s ironic how the Koreans seemingly know a great deal more about us than we know about them. That will need to change in the years to come.

Quote:

Anyone who says Pyongyang isn't the most grey and lifeless city (apart from an actual ghost town, many of which still retain a great deal more character and charm) they've ever seen is simply propagandizing for the regime.

Yeqon wrote:

I personally don't think that the lack of advertisements make for a dull or grey city. In the video Gulper posted, I actually thought that the city looked quite beautiful and I would bet that if you were to show it to anyone without first mentioning that it's Pyongyang first, it would take a while before most people guessed that it were a city in Korea let alone Asia.

I don't think that the video displays a dead city like Gulper suggests. It may not be alive as a thriving metropolis, but then again it still looks a lot better than most of the cities I've been to.

Comrade Gulper wrote:

As for the city not looking "Korean" or "Asian", that's a rather damning pronouncement in itself, on several levels, don't you think?