Posted on 08/11/2011 4:06:08 AM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
Missing Dutch tourist appears in North Korean newspaper
By BNO News
PYONGYANG (BNO NEWS) -- A Dutch tourist who has gone missing during a business trip to North Korea appeared in a state-run newspaper on Wednesday to praise the country's recent elections.
Willem van der Bijl, 59, who is the owner of a post stamp collection shop in the Dutch city of Utrecht, traveled to the Asian country in early July to buy North Korean stamps and paintings. He was scheduled to fly back to the Netherlands on July 30 but never took the flight.
A report from the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on July 25 said Van der Bijl had visited a polling station on July 24 when North Koreans voted in local elections. "Wim van der Bijl from [the] Netherlands noted his visit to the polling station helped him know better about the reality of the DPRK," KCNA reported.
But a posting on the website of the state-run Pyongyang Times on Wednesday showed a small photo of Van der Bijl along with a brief personal message about the elections. He said it is his 24th visit to the country, which is officially known as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).
"Looking round the poll, I have been greatly impressed by the free and democratic elections and I have had a better understanding of the DPRK's reality," Van der Bijl said, according to the newspaper. "In the DPRK every citizen is eligible to vote and to be elected. Those who have worked a lot for the people are elected as deputies."
Van der Bijl, who is a known admirer of North Korea and its propaganda paintings, described the election system in the country as 'really excellent.' "What I'd like to say more is that whenever I visit the country I can see more and more modern structures rising here and there. And I realize the developing reality of the country," he added.
It is unknown if Van der Bijl is the actual writer of the opinion piece as he has not contacted his family since July 18, which is unusual. The article said Van der Bijl will return to North Korea in 2012 to commemorate the 100th birthday of the late President Kim Il Sung. His family has confirmed that Van der Bijl was planning to return to North Korea next year.
A spokesperson for the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs previously confirmed that Van der Bijl had been reported missing by his family. "It is very difficult to request the government in North Korea to search the man. The nearest embassy is in Switzerland's Bern," the spokesperson said. "It is a difficult country, but we are working hard on this. But it is a worrying case."
During the local elections in North Korea last month, all voters approved the candidates who ran unopposed. Residents in the Asian country are legally required to vote during elections unless they have left the country with approval or if they work at sea. And although voters can vote against the candidate by picking up a red pen, doing so would result in immediate arrest and severe sentences.
. Looks like this this Gov. has found a rather clever way to redirect doubt.
. As for those who may be suspicious....go ahead and 'make their day'.
There are two things I hate:
People who are intolerant of other peoples’ cultures, and the Dutch.
Yes, was thinking that too if not dead, than perhaps a girlfriend. in which case, why would Gov not make him a ‘poster boy’ in full disclosure...
Yes, was thinking that too if not dead, than perhaps a girlfriend. in which case, why would Gov not make him a ‘poster boy’ in full disclosure...
Judging by his Karl Marx beard, I’d venture to guess that he really did say all of those things.
Actually this liberal may be smart-
He is collecting propaganda paintings -to Sell.
sort of like those old Che pictures that now adorn
every liberal T-shirt. Just one problem so far...
the rest of the liberal world is following-cuba,venuzuela
vietnam,china- the norks are just too nuts even for them
to buy “dear leader” pictures.
Nigel Powers! lol
A: - To keep the woodpeckers off their heads.
Leni
:-)
His pic makes him look old, fat and soft. He would not survive the reeducation camps.
What is the price of a DPRK stamp outside the DPRK? I’m not a stamp collector, but that place is so freakishly bizarre that sitting here even **I** want one...!
I’ll bet that kook is making a killing on NK stamps. That suckah has all kind of weird twisted propaganda $tuff, I’ll bet.
Is (was?) he enamored with the DPRK? Oh, I’m sure of it —he’s nuttier than Van Gogh. He’s open-minded and “understands” them (stifled laughter).
Maybe they’ll cut his ear off...?
When they finally returned once western prisoner awhile back the DPRK prison authorities arranged in prison for that dude 2b filmed having intercourse with a MAN —that sounds impossible, right? Naw, he was drugged up and didn’t even know it at the time. This was so they’d have a tool to keep that guy more quiet after they released him.
Super gross, huh?
Those people have cruelty down to a form of art.
I like the video!
Re GOPTV: The $olution i$ quite $imple, if you take my meaning.
Sounds like a useless idiot.
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