BBC Documentary on North Korea - "Its like being inside a doomsday cult"

by cofty 15 Replies latest social current

  • fulltimestudent
    fulltimestudent

    Fulltimestudent

    From your description, it appears that nk is breaking down from the inside. Unless that trend changes, then its just a matter of time. All the usa and the south would need to do is wait.

    S (atanus).

    I think that's the point of the current (NK) hysteria. And, perhaps it colors American and South Korean elite thinking - that if the north gets no help it must collapse. ergo- end of story!

    There must be concern at the top to engage in the histrionics of the moment. I see (based on reading of academic material) the problems as being:

    1. In a era when the west has been engaged in the game of 'regime-change' in places like Libya, Egypt and Syria, the NK leadership (which is wider than Kim Jong-eun) is likely concerned that efforts may be made to de-stabilise NK and force regime-change. So what they are looking for - and do not think that the ruling family are the ones looking for it - is a guarantee of their existence. A big army is one thing, and now they feel that nuclear arms also provide some surety. But what I think they are looking for is a guarantee of state security

    And, in any case if the west did try for regime-change, the question is, who will be responsible for NK then? How can you set up a govt. to do that. Just think of Libya, Egypt and imagine the chaos in Syria if the current problems result in regime change. So, who will/could 'run' NK? South Koreans may not be ready to shoulder the cost, which may be enormous. All of Korea would say No! to a re-run of Japanese occupation (the years 1910 to 1945, when Korea was a Japanese colony have left an indelible hatred for Japan, among Koreans). You could argue a case for China, there are something like 2 to 3,000,000 ethnic Koreans with Chinese citizenship, living in the 'Dong-bei' (north-east) and, Koreans are also ethnically related to the Manchus of Manchuria, so you could argue that China could do it, but at present China does not see a solution, they are only see the problem. So a solution that allowed the the regime to continue, while encouraging change may be the best , though imperfect, answer.Remember no-one thought Myanmar was going to change, but it seems it is now changing. And, China itself, go back 40-50 years who could think of China then, changing to China now. Also, South Korea was no paradise in the post-war years. The Secret police of South Korea were, at times, as cruel and vicious as the NK police are reputed to be.

    Of course, all nations change, 19th C USA was no paragon of virtue, but it changed and will likely change some more. So why not be optimistic in regard to NK.

    2. Then there is the elite of NK. These 2 to 3 million (some count up to 5,000,000) in the elite group, want something better too, but they want it on their terms. They would not be confident of the continuation of their privileges, if they lose control of NK. So, I suggest, they will work for the continuation of the current regime.

    3. New ideas. Its never been easy for any regime to prevent ideas reaching its people. The history of Christianity itself illustrates the point, both in the days of early Christianity, and say later when Catholic Europe tried to insulate itself through measures like the Inquisition.

    Today, we live in what some call, a "converging world." We all have to live in a world where ideas have to be accepted and thought out. Not all nations can handle that easily, think of the reaction to universal medical insurance in the USA, when clearly its worked in much of the western world.

    I'm sure that the leadership in NK knows that they can't keep outside ideas out for ever. Therefore, I feel they are willing to allow change, but want to keep control for a while longer.

    So, Satanus, that likely does not answer your point about 'break-dwon', but what I'm getting at, is that NK has problems that could lead over time to break-down, with a lot of associated human misery, and as the misery accumulated the 'break-down' may worse until it reaches a critical mass.

    Faced with a lot of problem answers, why not try the one that's best for the people.

  • Phizzy
    Phizzy

    As Cofty rightly says " The similarities to life in the Watchtower were striking."

    How long before the WT pipes their shite in to every JW's home via an on-line message e-mailed to each subscriber, to not subscribe being "disloyal" ?

    Or have I missed it and they are already doing that ?

  • Heartofaboy
    Heartofaboy

    I thought the same crofty as I watched the programme last night.

    Eerily similar to the borg, where NO criticism of the leader (GB) is tolerated, where the reputation of the North Korean ruling system (Borg) is to be protected at all costs even when it is plain for all to see that it is a failing.

  • Julia Orwell
    Julia Orwell

    I haven't read all the comments so maybe it's already been mentioned, but if you're interested in NK life and brainwashing, read 'Nothing to Envy' by Barbara Demick. She follows the stories of 6 NK individuals who woke up to the truth about the propaganda and fled. So moving and it is helping my husband wake up.

  • Julia Orwell
    Julia Orwell

    Oh and if anyone knows how people outside the UK can see it, please let me know! I yearn to see it.

  • dozy
    dozy

    Thanks Cofty.

    You could try the torrent link posted Julia. Do you get BBC World on cable where you are - usually Panorama programs are broadcast on there. It is also on BBC News 4.30am on the 18th (UK time.) The book you mentioned sounds interesting - I think I'll order it.

    Fascinating program , though I kept flicking to the news reports on the Boston bomb so I'll watch it tonight in full on the iplayer.

    Swinneys programs on Scientology are also well worth a watch. He interviews apostate Scientologists & the similarities with JWs are pretty obvious - "the WTBTS on steroids". Eventually he just lost it with the scientology leaders:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwTDvfjcUJU

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