Pyongyang

As New York Times (NYT) says, “North Korea may be the most oppressed nation in the entire world,” this article will demonstrate to you why. Everyone already knows that North Korea is a strict and highly censored country. Canadian Journalists For Free Expression (CJFE) says, “To call North Korea an authoritarian environment would be putting things mildly.” An authoritarian environment means that the people of NK have to have a strict obedience to authority, especially in a government. Freedom…

The Aquariums of Pyongyang written by Kang Rigoulot and Kang Chol-Hwan is the account of Kang’s early life spent inside of a North Korean prison camp with his family for ten years; Kang also describes the developments that take place after his release such as departure from North Korea, his voyage into China, and finding the means to finally arrive at South Korea. Kang will depart from both North Korea’s authoritarian state and the ideology he was forced to embrace from as early on in life as a…

North Korean Government North Korea is located within the continent of Asia, and is viewed as the 99th largest nation in the world as it stands at a staggering 120,408 kilometers of land. The traditional religious views in North Korea are made up of Buddhism and Confucianism. North Korea is also known to practice that of Christianity. The language of North Korean is Korean, and is shared with that of South Korea. North Korean government is very patriarchal as the regime goes about creating and…

Modern day North Korea, nicknamed the hermit kingdom, is known to be heavily isolated from the influences of the world. Its people are secluded and forced to praise their ruler, Kim Jong-un, or else they shall pay a dreadful price. Moreover, personally, I do not believe that Jong un’s people truly see and love him as this god-like figure. To me, I see them as terrified and depressed people who are involuntarily forced by the Korean government to live in a place with no freedom. This is even…

What is the impression of North Korea? Some people may say it's militaristic, whereas others may say it's isolated from other countries. These ideas are considered as conventional wisdom, which people can misunderstand depending on topics. Suzy Kim's book Everyday Life in The North Korean Revolution 1945-1950, and Hazel Smith’s book Markets and Military Rule support or challenge conventional wisdom. However, ways to analysis North Korea are different between two authors. Suzy Kim explains North…

What is the impression of North Korea? Some people may say North Korea is militaristic, whereas others may say that North Korea is the country that is unwilling to have relationship with and isolated from other countries. These ideas are conventional wisdom, which people can misunderstand because they are made through influences by education, media and so on. Suzy Kim's book, Everyday Life in The North Korean Revolution 1945-1950, and Hazel Smith’s book, North Korea Markets and Military Rule,…

The totalitarian regime of North Korea mirrors the one in 1984 by the complete oppression of basic human rights, perpetual torture, and constant infringements of the privacy and morals of the malnourished people. Banned in many countries and viewed as inhumane, cries from the constant torture echo throughout the chambers of North Korean Prisons. Oppressing guards order a mother to submerge her newborn child in a pool of water until the bubbles ceased to rise and the cries died out (Park 1). The…

I was eight when I moved to the U.S from Bangladesh. Shortly after I started school, I realized the importance of language. At the time, I knew some English but it was not enough to carry on a conversation. Due to this limitation, I faced hurtful comments and bullying. I realized the necessity of language in social interaction and communication. When I became fluent in English and started making friends, my interaction with my peers changed for the better. I now realize how language can either…

Barbara Demick interviewed defectors from Chongjin, North Korea in her book “Noth ing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea.” She wanted to get an idea of what real life is like in North Korea. She chose an array of defectors from different factions. She told their stories in a novel format instead of having to read their individual interviews. She chose six main people and really dug into their every day life, their thoughts and feelings on what was going on around them. I think she chose a…

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…