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North Korean Defector BASHES Clinton's Naive, Failed Policy on Pyongyang; Praises Bush Approach
Frontline (Through "North Korea Cafe") ^ | Recent | Frontline (Through "North Korea Cafe")

Posted on 05/08/2003 2:43:39 PM PDT by AmericanInTokyo

Hell On Earth

(Translated from Original Korean): "Interview With Mr. Kim Duk Hong, High Ranking North Korean Defector"

Kim Duk Hong is one of the highest ranking officials to defect from North Korea. He escaped from North Korea in 1997, first to Beijing and then to Seoul, along with Hwang Jang Yop, the architect of the North Korea regime's ideology known as "Juche," meaning "self reliance." Kim was Hwang's assistant for many years. He is officially barred from talking to the press by the (appeasing) South Korean government, however, FRONTLINE obtained this exclusive interview at an undisclosed location in South Korea. The interview was conducted in Korean and has been translated.

Q: Why did you defect?

When I was 20 years old, I realized something was wrong with North Korea. Only people who had connections could succeed in that society. I was thinking of defecting as far back as 1958.

Q: So you waited more than 40 years before defecting. Why did you take so long?

Before I left, I studied Marxism and Communism. I realized that Kim Jong Il's government is following Marxism literally. At this time, I thought that someone should speak up about this, so I did.

Q: Did you have contact with Kim Jong Il?

It is really hard to contact him. Even people who live in the same area, they report to him and respond to him by fax only. He barely speaks, only at a few parties. A middle class person like me hardly gets a chance to see him.

Q: How did Kim Jong Il control the country?

He controls his administration exclusively. It operates absolutely by his word. It's an autocracy. Although people have been suffering for 50 years, Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il used to be like gods. Kim Il Sung used to kill people who didn't like his administration, but nobody blamed him. People thought that it was politicians' fault, not his fault. People have begun to realize that Kim Jong Il is wrong, he is killing people.

Q: From the Clinton administration's point of view, they were able to negotiate a freeze of the nuclear plant at Yongbyon. Didn't that slow the nuclear program?

Of course, I think the Clinton administration was great. The United States solved the problem peacefully. It was historic. [But the North Koreans] resumed the development of nuclear weapons as soon as they signed the Geneva Agreed Framework, even before the ink dried on the paper.

In 1995, the national military industry secretariat went to Pakistan to trade skills in exchange for producing nuclear weapons. They sent engineers to Pakistan after they signed for Geneva Agreed Framework in 1994. They began to talk about nuclear weapons with Pakistan 1995. It is true.

Q: Do you believe that Clinton administration was naive in dealing with Kim Jong Il?

First of all, I think that they didn't know North Korea, Kim Il Sung or Kim Jong Il. That was their big mistake.

Q: What is Kim Jong Il's ambition?

Firstly he wants to have nuclear weapons. My complaint is that the United States gives North Korea time to work on developing weapon programs. Kim Jong Il doesn't care that people are starving and poor. He spent almost all the money on nuclear weapons.

That's why I'm here. I defected to speak out about the starvation. I left my family, friends, and comrades in North Korea. I don't think that Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il are human beings. He's working only for his own ambitions, only for himself. If he had a sense of humanity, he wouldn't be this kind of leader.

Q: (The Bush) administration in Washington is taking a tougher line in North Korea. Do you think is it proper?

I think that Bush knows how to treat Kim Jong Il. Don't trust Kim Jong Il, never, ever. What Kim Jong Il is doing is producing nuclear weapons to kill people in the world, and providing expertise in nuclear weapon development to countries which are anti-American.

He kills our people, arrests people who are against his administration. He produces drugs. It's a national industry. He kidnaps other people from South Korea, or other democratic countries. He is doing all sorts of bad things, like the devil. Do not trust him, never, ever.

Q: What do you believe the United States can do prevent North Koreans from acquiring weapons?

The only way is to kill Kim Jong Il. Possessing nuclear weapons is not dangerous. But the fact that Kim Jong Il has weapons is dangerous. I think that's why the Bush administration treats Kim Jong Il the way they do. Some people believe the problem can be solved by removing nuclear weapons in Yongbyon. However, if Kim Jong Il is still alive, he will make bombs again. I think that President Bush knows him. He is the only one who understands who Kim Jong Il is.

Q: But there are others who are critics of the Bush administration who believe that Kim Jong Il will be willing to deal away the nuclear program. Do you disagree with this?

I think two things: People who have never experienced their children or relatives being kidnapped from Japan or somewhere else and taken to North Korea, and then killed by Kim Jong Il, they say, "Peace, peace." People without knowledge about North Korea criticize without knowing.

Q: What policy do you suggest? Is war the only way to remove Kim Jong Il from power?

I think the Bush administration is right in being anti-North Korea. Blocking their economy, it's [a] good way.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Government; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: albright; albrightkim; bush; clinton; communism; defector; dprk; gulag; kimjongil; koreandefectors; naivete; northkorea; policy; pyongyang; war
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Interesting insight.

Right about now we need the Freeper who has all those Madeline Albright and Jimmy Carter photos with dictator Kim, slobbering all over themselves in Pyongyang, at the same time camp guards 500 miles away were making lampshades out of North Korean political prisoners.

"Peace. In Our Time."

Thank goodness the adults are now in charge.

1 posted on 05/08/2003 2:43:40 PM PDT by AmericanInTokyo
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To: AmericanInTokyo
"Of course, I think the Clinton administration was great."


I'm sorry is this guy still locked up, or is he on drugs?


2 posted on 05/08/2003 2:53:41 PM PDT by Just mythoughts
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To: AmericanInTokyo; Sabertooth
Saber, your great photos of the Chia Head and Mad Halfbright are requested for this thread?
3 posted on 05/08/2003 3:14:43 PM PDT by Grampa Dave (Free Republic, where leftist liars are exposed 24/7!)
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To: Just mythoughts
""Of course, I think the Clinton administration was great."


I'm sorry is this guy still locked up, or is he on drugs?"

I just think he doesn't want to be anti-American in any way, so he's crediting them with good intentions-- that he says the Clinton approach was wrong and the Bush approach is right is good enough for me.
4 posted on 05/08/2003 3:29:40 PM PDT by walden
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To: walden
I suppose that is the case, however, how different things would be if Clinton had handled the situation like Bush is.
5 posted on 05/08/2003 3:58:55 PM PDT by Just mythoughts
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To: Just mythoughts
Yep...there would be North Korea problem today...of course the situation problem would have become to a critical juncture in 1996 instead of recently.

I think we need to deal with North Korea immediately and deal with them on the basis of what they are, untrustworthy people who want to eat.

I see no reason not to provide them a pledge of non-aggression...and then provide assistance to any resistance group / opposition in NK to ensure that one day the whole peninsula is truly free...

6 posted on 05/08/2003 4:24:25 PM PDT by sal002
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To: AmericanInTokyo
Very good article! Thanks for posting it.
7 posted on 05/08/2003 4:31:06 PM PDT by dixiechick2000 (Never have so many been so wrong about so much.)
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To: Thud
fyi
8 posted on 05/08/2003 4:31:48 PM PDT by Dark Wing
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To: sal002
"pledge of non-agression", with these looney bends, that are threatening us with "nuclear" weapons, no way in a firey furnace should we ever "pledge non-agression".

Why would we tie our own hands, we are better off if they have the idea that we would have no problem nuking them first and fast.
9 posted on 05/08/2003 4:38:31 PM PDT by Just mythoughts
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To: Just mythoughts
First of all, I am saying it under the assumption that our negotiators are not idiots. Therefore, they would ensure that several actions of possible aggression by NK (including things it is doing right now), would break the pact.

Secondly, it's only a piece of paper. Our best diplomacy has been done undercover...give the NK's the little piece of paper they want, and work to subvert them in other ways. Call their bluff....
10 posted on 05/08/2003 4:47:20 PM PDT by sal002
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To: sal002
Ok guess we better stop here cause based upon what I have seen out of our State Department I have little to no faith in their ability to ensure any kind of agreement.

Now if "Rummy" gets to go negotiate with them ok, but somebody that sweats, hem haw's around just to call an agreement trying not to make someone mad is not what is called for.

Bill Clinton adopted this bunch and his advice has been we should deal with them like they want cause all they want is respect. Blackmail is not a method that gains my respect.
11 posted on 05/08/2003 4:54:06 PM PDT by Just mythoughts
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To: Just mythoughts
Good point.

Although I wonder if I was the oppressive leader of a little country that only had one main offensive weapon - an untested nuclear device, and a large foreign power, who has declared that I am on a short list of countries that need to be annihiliated. All of a sudden, that short list has gotten shorter.....what would you do in that position?

Of course my answer would be to hold free elections and apologize...but understand what might be motivating them, at least a little.....
12 posted on 05/08/2003 4:58:37 PM PDT by sal002
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To: sal002
"what would I do in that position?" If I was the mental Il right now today, I would hang tough, keep demanding to be recognized and expect that Hillary would run and become President.

The mental Il's motivation is to be respected cause he has "nukes". He got a free ride under Clintons and he wants that back.

13 posted on 05/08/2003 5:04:35 PM PDT by Just mythoughts
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To: Just mythoughts
Now now...Hillary is no Communist...she may be a socialist..but she's no communist ;P Besides, even the Democratic Party isn't dumb enough to nominate Hillary Clinton - they may nominate their version of Bush (John Edwards), but not Clinton...

He didn't exactly get a free ride, several pacts negotiated under the Clinton Admin did limit SOME of NK's capability (not all). I think he's scared, and rightfully so.
14 posted on 05/08/2003 5:07:57 PM PDT by sal002
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To: sal002
Hillary and Bill are every much communist/socialist/liberal as any of the rest.

Remember her health care plan.

If the Clintons could have gotten away with it there would be but a few meek conservatives walking the streets today.

Remember OK City, when the "pervert" blamed "right-wing" radio being responsible. This gutless wonder never apologize for making that statement, yet he traveled the world and apologized for all the "evils" of this country.

Given the opportunity and the ability to carry it out Hillary would emulate Stalin in a heart beat, she hates the "right" in this country with a burning passion.

People who are scared back down, and from his vantage point he has nuclear and claims ready to use them, or else is so mental that he believes we will give in.

15 posted on 05/08/2003 5:18:28 PM PDT by Just mythoughts
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To: Just mythoughts
Every time I read stuff like this my blood boils...especially when Bubba bin Laiden holds himself out as some sort of foreign policy expert. Scumbag.
16 posted on 05/08/2003 5:22:27 PM PDT by JusPasenThru (We're through being cool (you can say that again, Dad))
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To: JusPasenThru
One could say he was very expert in his foreign policy of EQUALIZING ALL NATIONS. Seems he hasn't given up on this either.

One can only imagine after what we have seen out of France, Germany, Russia over Iraq and they were in full agreement with the "pervert", what their plans were under algore and hillary in the Senate.
17 posted on 05/08/2003 5:26:30 PM PDT by Just mythoughts
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To: Just mythoughts
Actually, I do remember her health plan. And, if I recall correctly, many members of our party (of course more moderate ones) had made similar recommendations prior to that plan had been introduced. If it truly was Communist, then it would have been enacted - since what was there to stop them back then? Luckily for us, it wasn't liberal enough to get the entire Dem Party to back it.

The Clinton's may be wrong on policy, but I don't think they are fascist (or even would advocate the killing of opposition). Heck, Bill's biggest problem, with regards to his military policy, was that he was too afraid to get our military in harms way (which is why in Kosovo they had to fly so high to be beyond enemy AA fire). Iraq would have been dealt with years ago if Clinton wasn't so much of a wus (he even mentioned that his cabinet discussed it, but he was too wary).
18 posted on 05/08/2003 5:28:29 PM PDT by sal002
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To: AmericanInTokyo
I think that President Bush knows him. He is the only one who understands who Kim Jong Il is.

Evil.

19 posted on 05/08/2003 5:28:45 PM PDT by ez (...the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.)
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To: sal002
I like Bush's tack better than yours. Signing pieces of paper, especially ones that mean nothing, are how leftist appeasers do buisness.

North Korea NEEDS things from us...We are negotiating from a position of strength, while your ideas force us to capitulate and lose face... a sure recipe for dis-respect from the likes of Kim Jong Il.
20 posted on 05/08/2003 5:35:31 PM PDT by ez (...the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.)
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