Analysis: Youth Indoctrination In North Korea By Niki O Brien

In the article entitled “We grow as we learn: Youth indoctrination in North Korea”, Niki O’Brien talks about how indoctrination of future generations is embedded at a young age in education, music, and everyday life in North Korea. O’Brien mentioned how education is a huge and very vital factor in contributing in an effective systematic indoctrination. In school, children are taught that South Korea was the aggressor of the Korean War and that the Americans were their enemies. 1 Students realize that they need to fight together and be united against their common enemies in order to survive. In addition to the education part of the indoctrination, “youth moments and participation in the Young Pioneers create an all-encompassing physical and psychological immersion into the role of good citizens”. This helps set the link between actions and strength of the country. It makes the youth feel like they are contributing to the countries success and prosperity, which leaves “little doubt in the minds of young people what they must do”. 2 Music is known to bind people under …show more content…
I was also shocked to see how young the children start singing and performing music and songs dedicated to their leader and North Korea as a whole. I believe that music is used here to give a sense of belonging to everyone and a sense of reaffirmation of their beliefs. Since North Korea is not about the individual, everyone is wearing a uniform and are all doing the same things. There is no individual that stands out besides North Korea’s leader. The power of indoctrination of the youth didn’t really hit me until in the video entitled “Children’s Day Celebration in North Korea”, the children who were given the red scarves and gifts from their families were crying. To me, they are so brainwashed by the repressive system in the country that this is so important to them because of their patriotic attitudes towards the