Thoughts on North Korea

Casey today raised some important questions about North Korea, namely, why can't that many people go there to visit.  While some of what I say here may resonate with all of you, it is far better for me to direct you to links to a very good film shot in 2003 by a British film crew inside North Korea.  Not all the parts are on YouTube, but most of them are.

Part 1 of 8 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhAeli1DZRw
Part 2 of 8 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcGbbznRTVw&feature=related
Part 4 of 8 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWYII8yy5QM&feature=related
Part 5 of 8 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AG_eiy3RzD0
Part 6 of 8 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QlHt3sSlPk&feature=related
Part 7 of 8 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BviJHKGYi4&feature=related

missing - part 3 and part 8.  But this will give you a very good glimpse into what life is like in Pyongyang.  And just remember that these kids are the same age as you.

Part of the reason why so few people are allowed into North Korea (DPRK) is that the government wants to isolate its people from interacting with people from other cultures and customs.  It is mass segregation, even from each other.  Here, we think nothing of going from Eureka to Arcata or Fortuna, or even to the Trinity River or the lake.  But for North Koreans, everything they do is being watched by somebody else, all the way up to the top.  It is a place where originality is discouraged, and where its citizens must be subservient to the state at all times.  It is a place where electricity is rationed, markets are discouraged, and where service to the state is compulsory.

Here is a link to the official US travel warning on North Korea:
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_5137.html

Enjoy the video!