Worse Than 1984 - North Korea, slave state

slate.com ^ | May 02, 2005 | Christopher Hitchens

[texas_mrs]

How extraordinary it is, when you give it a moment's thought, that it was only last week that an American president officially spoke the obvious truth about North Korea. In point of fact, Mr. Bush rather understated matters when he said that Kim Jong-il's government runs "concentration camps." It would be truer to say that the Democratic People's Republic of North Korea, as it calls itself, is a concentration camp. It would be even more accurate to say, in American idiom, that North Korea is a slave state.

[texas_mrs]

Very interesting look inside N. Korea. The author ate a DOG & was a priveledged guest here! I can't even imagine how destitute these people are.

[Borges]

A friend of mine knew some people who were living in the old Soviet Union who decided to visit North Korea to see if the people there lived any better. Upon returning to the U.S.S.R. they decided that compared with what they saw they were living in Paradise. NK has no culture to speak of. Sleep for 8 hours, work for 8 hours and the other 8 you undergo indoctrination.

[davisfh]

This nighttime photo very graphically illustrates that something is seriously wrong in the north.

[saveliberty]

Thanks for the repost! Christopher Hitchens captures the situation in North Korea, with the one exception that this was a year ago, and the starvation is rampant.

Dear Leader is hanging on by a thin thread -- if his Army doesn't get fed, they will kill him.

[ncountylee]

But Ted Turner says they are only skinny people that love biking and treasure their ox carts.

[dfwgator]

NK has no culture to speak of.

The fact that they invited Roger Clinton over there to sing would be a pretty good indication of that.

[dfwgator]

And besides, starvation is euphoric.

[driftdiver]

First clue the story is garbage "In point of fact, Mr. Bush rather understated matters"

Its not Mr Bush, its President Bush. then of course since this comes from Slate we don't expect too much.

I also note from the picture that south eastern China doesnt have a lot of electricity usage either.

[silverleaf]

http://www.hrnk.org/TheHiddenGulag-press.pdf

Every member of the US Congress, and White House press corps, should be prepared to sign a statement that they read this, or why they chose not to.

[Larry Lucido]

No, it shows equality in the north, and extreme disparity between rich and poor in the south. Not to mention atrocious waste of natural resources, overconsumption, and excessive light pollution. Now really, wouldn't you be better off stargazing in Pyongyang rather than Seoul? Hmmm?

Please tell me I don't need a sarcasm tag!

[Strategerist]

First clue the story is garbage "In point of fact, Mr. Bush rather understated matters"

Of course, you didn't actually read the story.

[Still Thinking]

Main circuit breaker?

[Winston Smith]

N. Korea is trying to blackmail their way back to prosperity. There are few words that would describe the evil that is leading that country.

[monkeywrench]

They invited World Championship Wrestling there in the 1990's. Interesting look inside. http://www.rightwingnews.com/category.php?cat=9

[bkepley]

"Its not Mr Bush, its President Bush. then of course since this comes from Slate we don't expect too much."

Yeah well it's not "its" it's "it's".

[JimSEA]

Anyone with an interest in the Korean situation should read the chilling book Hitchens references:

The Aquariums of Pyongyang, by Kang Chol-Hwan

[GoBucks2002]

I thought I heard last year that starvation causes a nice, calm, quiet death. Or maybe that's just in Florida.

[marvlus]

This nighttime photo very graphically illustrates that something is seriously wrong in the north

I guess this shows that DPRK really stands for Dark Points Re: Korea.

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

"And besides, starvation is euphoric."

Especially when you do it in 12 hour shifts; with a smoothie break every few hours.