Bush's Recommended Reading for his Associates: a N. Korean Defector's Memoir

Chosun Ilbo ^ | 05/28/05

[TigerLikesRooster]

/begin my translation

Bush's  Recommended Reading for his  Associates-- a N. Korean Defector's Memoir

Yonhap News from Tokyo
05/28/05

U.S. President George W. Bush has read a memoir of a N. Korean defector, and was deeply disturbed by the atrocious human right situation in N. Korea. He also recommended it to his associates, according to May 28th issue of Yomiuri Shimbun(a major Japanese daily.) 

What Bush read is 'The Aquariums of Pyongyang: Ten Years In The North Korean Gulag' written by Kang Chol-hwan, a N. Korean defector and currently a reporter of Chosun Ilbo(a biggest S. Korean daily), and Pierre Rigoulot, a French journalist and a historian. Mr. Kang was sent to forced labor camp at the age of 9 and spent 10 years there because his grandfather was arrested for antistate crime.

 Published in France in 2,000, and later translated into English in 2001, this 238-page book chronicles widespread human right abuses such as forced labor, numerous executions, and near-starvation diet. 

According to a source close to the White House, this book was introduced to Bush from a Christian activist dedicated to improving N. Korean human right. 

Diplomatic sources told us that, even if China is urging Bush administration to make some concessions to N. Korea in order to restart 6-party talk, "there is no chance that President Bush will yield in any significant way, since he was deeply troubled by what is in the N. Korean defector's book." 

/end my translation

[TigerLikesRooster]

If this is true, Kim Jong-il is in deep trouble. I think Bush will see to it that human right problem in N. Korea would vastly improve. That is as much a serious problem for Kim Jong-il as giving up his nukes. I don't think that Bush will walk away from this particular human right problem for a political expediency.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Ping!

[Calpernia]

Ping to Tiger's post.

[Jalapeno]

I am sure it is nothing compare to the Gulag in Gitmo where they have toilets that can be flushed....oh the horror

[I still care]

It's amazing that with all the demands on his time, Bush is such a reader. I find it very funny the left views him as so stupid.

I guess if it's the wrong TYPE of book, it doesn't count.

[nw_arizona_granny]

Ping.........

[wagglebee]

I read this book in one sitting a few months ago. It was an amazing book. The man's family had been very high up in the North Korean communist party, but then they were all imprisoned over basically nothing.

The description of the gulag was horrific. If someone tried to escape or committed suicide, his entire family suffered. Everyone was beaten all the time, there was mass starvation.

I think this book should be REQUIRED reading.

[Stellar Dendrite]

So what book did he read that encouraged him to give 50 mil to terrorist scum like Abbas?

[SevenofNine]

OH OH if this happen Kim be further isolated he be going be so roaney LOL!

[Cindy]

OPINION: I agree with your statement.

[texasbluebell]

Linking here a story from another former captive of the NK prisons:

http://www.soonoklee.com/

"Ms. Lee survived six years of brutal treatment in prison and managed to escape to South Korea in 1996. Her life is devoted to revealing the atrocities that she experienced in North Korea. Ms. Lee has testified before numerous audiences including the U.S. senate and the United Nations."

An article about her:

North Korean refugee blasts regime
http://daily.stanford.edu/tempo?page=content&id=17575&repository=0001_article

“There is no country in the world like North Korea, which treats its people like slaves,” Lee said. “The 200,000 political prisoners there must be liberated.”

[Iris7]

Thanks for the ping, Tiger.

I think you are right about the President.

There are people who call themselves Americans who do not truly respect and admire the President. My younger brother is among them, to my shame. If they will have war, I will do my duty.