North KoreaNorth Korea

By:By:

Stephanie MacKinnonStephanie MacKinnon

Namgoo YooNamgoo Yoo

North Korea’s HistoryNorth Korea’s History

North KoreaNorth Korea Soviet Union, the Peoples Soviet Union, the Peoples

Republic of ChinaRepublic of China Substantial investments in Substantial investments in

their military forces.their military forces. Goal was to reunify Korea Goal was to reunify Korea

with the beliefs of the with the beliefs of the North.North.

They planned to do this They planned to do this with force.with force.

South KoreaSouth Korea Japan, United StatesJapan, United States Belief in DemocracyBelief in Democracy Awesome Country Awesome Country

1945 August 15th Korea gains liberty from the Japanese.

( Independence Day)

Kim Il-SungKim Il-Sung

Born 1941Born 1941 Before the Before the

independence of independence of Korea, fought against Korea, fought against Japan <- treated as Japan <- treated as herohero

The Only president of The Only president of the country (after he the country (after he is dead, he became is dead, he became “Eternal president.”)“Eternal president.”)

He developed the self-He developed the self-reliance communism reliance communism “Juche.”“Juche.”

Kim Jung IlKim Jung Il Born on 16 February 1941 Born on 16 February 1941 He was really into “film making” – loves movies. He was really into “film making” – loves movies. TTook the titles of General Secretary of the ook the titles of General Secretary of the

Workers’ Party of Korea and Chairman of the Workers’ Party of Korea and Chairman of the National Defense Commission on October 8, 1997National Defense Commission on October 8, 1997

Personally, he does not agree with or does not Personally, he does not agree with or does not like the way North Korea is heading.like the way North Korea is heading.

Adopted “Military-First” Policy Adopted “Military-First” Policy

Belief systemBelief system

JucheJuche – “being original and – “being original and independent”independent”

Motto of North Korean government Motto of North Korean government Self sufficient Self sufficient ““North Korea is a totalitarian North Korea is a totalitarian

dictatorship and one of the most dictatorship and one of the most restricted countries in the world”-restricted countries in the world”-Amnesty International, United Nations, Freedom HouseAmnesty International, United Nations, Freedom House

Government Government systemsystem

In a sentence, North Korea’s In a sentence, North Korea’s government is a single party state government is a single party state with Stalinist and authoritarian with Stalinist and authoritarian government.government.

Based on “Juche” idea, North Korea Based on “Juche” idea, North Korea likes to take its own path –self likes to take its own path –self independence, even though the path independence, even though the path usually end up meeting a dead end. usually end up meeting a dead end.

Government ChartGovernment Chart

The real head of state: Kim Jong il The real head of state: Kim Jong il Chairman of the National Defense Chairman of the National Defense Commission of North KoreaCommission of North Korea

The legislature of North KoreaThe legislature of North Korea: : Supreme People’s embassy – led by Supreme People’s embassy – led by President Kim Young-nan.President Kim Young-nan.

Senior government – Premier Kim Senior government – Premier Kim Young-ilYoung-il

Human Human RightsRights

The North Korean government The North Korean government controls everything they possibly controls everything they possibly

can. can.

Televisions and radios are distributed ( only Televisions and radios are distributed ( only receiving government paid programming) receiving government paid programming) and forbidden altered to receive out of and forbidden altered to receive out of country programming. Their media claims country programming. Their media claims that the U.S.A started the Korean War.that the U.S.A started the Korean War.

Citizens are not free to speak their minds Citizens are not free to speak their minds and punishes those who criticize the and punishes those who criticize the country or its government.country or its government.

Can’t drive cars unless you have political Can’t drive cars unless you have political power. (Proven by satellite photos) power. (Proven by satellite photos)

QuestionsQuestions

What do you believe motivates the What do you believe motivates the government to commit such acts?government to commit such acts?

Does Publicly displaying torture Does Publicly displaying torture make it worse?make it worse?

Do you think its our place to help? Do you think its our place to help? What would you do to help?What would you do to help?

http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?vwww.youtube.com/watch?v=nBzHCVv5GeQ=nBzHCVv5GeQ

ReligionReligion

100 000 Buddhist100 000 Buddhist 10 000 Protestants10 000 Protestants

4 000 Catholics 4 000 Catholics 500 Churches500 Churches

Unconfirmed if there are any catholic Unconfirmed if there are any catholic priestpriest

Chinese help smuggle in bibles and other Chinese help smuggle in bibles and other religious material.religious material.

City of PyongyangCity of Pyongyang Where the politically Where the politically

reliable or healthy citizens reliable or healthy citizens live.live.

Food and housing are at its Food and housing are at its best here.best here.

You cannot live within the You cannot live within the city if you are physically or city if you are physically or mentally handicap.mentally handicap.

Mandatory resettlement is Mandatory resettlement is considered punishment.considered punishment.

A satellite picture comparing the amount of electricity used between North and South Korea

Visiting or ImmigratingVisiting or Immigrating

As a visitor you are constantly watched and As a visitor you are constantly watched and forbidden from many areas.forbidden from many areas.

Immigration is nearly nonexistent Immigration is nearly nonexistent The few who have chosen this lifeThe few who have chosen this life Forced to accept their way of lifeForced to accept their way of life Or not accepted at all and sent to prison Or not accepted at all and sent to prison

camps.camps. Unless they become part of the government. Unless they become part of the government. http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?vwww.youtube.com/watch?v==

ajATPo-HUfY&featureajATPo-HUfY&feature=related=related

QuestionsQuestions

How would you feel in Lisa Ling’s How would you feel in Lisa Ling’s position?position?

How do you feel about the areas of How do you feel about the areas of the country restricted to visitors? Are the country restricted to visitors? Are they Hiding something? If so what?they Hiding something? If so what?

What are your thoughts on the What are your thoughts on the importance of Military and Nuclear importance of Military and Nuclear weapons in North Korea?weapons in North Korea?

Civilian Consequences Civilian Consequences

People who refuse to conform political and social People who refuse to conform political and social values are often tortured and imprisoned.values are often tortured and imprisoned.

Lee Soon Ok testified on her own time of Lee Soon Ok testified on her own time of imprisonment. She lost eight of her teeth and imprisonment. She lost eight of her teeth and suffers facial paralysis.suffers facial paralysis.

Reported many tortures and deaths of the Reported many tortures and deaths of the individuals in her camp. This includes the killing individuals in her camp. This includes the killing babies alive and unborn.babies alive and unborn.

The testing of chemical weapons on prisoners The testing of chemical weapons on prisoners with the the use of gas chambers. with the the use of gas chambers.

http://blogs.nationalgeographichttp://blogs.nationalgeographic.com/channel/blog/2007/02/ex.com/channel/blog/2007/02/explorer_korea.htmlplorer_korea.html

POSTED FEBRUARY 27, 2007POSTED FEBRUARY 27, 2007

Inside North KoreaInside North Korea

Lisa LingLisa Ling

I have traveled to many places on many continents, but I never felt my personal freedom limited as much as it was I have traveled to many places on many continents, but I never felt my personal freedom limited as much as it was during our time in North Korea. North Korea is usually off-limits to foreigners—especially to Americans. during our time in North Korea. North Korea is usually off-limits to foreigners—especially to Americans.

In order to film the work of Dr. Ruit, a Nepalese eye surgeon, the only way that I could enter the secretive state was to In order to film the work of Dr. Ruit, a Nepalese eye surgeon, the only way that I could enter the secretive state was to go undercover posing as part of his medical team. Ruit’s goal is to heal patients in poor countries who have gone blind go undercover posing as part of his medical team. Ruit’s goal is to heal patients in poor countries who have gone blind from cataracts. from cataracts.

My cameraman and I hoped that we would also get glimpses of real life in North Korea. It turned out to be one of the My cameraman and I hoped that we would also get glimpses of real life in North Korea. It turned out to be one of the hardest assignments I had. hardest assignments I had.

The government sent us six (!) minders who accompanied us all the way from Katmandu, Nepal to North Korea and The government sent us six (!) minders who accompanied us all the way from Katmandu, Nepal to North Korea and back. In Pyongyang they took away our passports and cell phones. There wasn’t a moment when we could wander off back. In Pyongyang they took away our passports and cell phones. There wasn’t a moment when we could wander off and walk around unobserved. I had to stay within eyesight of the hotel, so I jogged in circles around the compound. This and walk around unobserved. I had to stay within eyesight of the hotel, so I jogged in circles around the compound. This is what prison must feel like. is what prison must feel like.

The only North Korean citizens we were officially allowed to film were Dr. Ruit’s patients. The number of people who The only North Korean citizens we were officially allowed to film were Dr. Ruit’s patients. The number of people who came to see him was overwhelming. In the developed world cataracts hardly ever cause blindness, and mostly elderly came to see him was overwhelming. In the developed world cataracts hardly ever cause blindness, and mostly elderly people are affected. people are affected.

Here, children and old people alike had lived in the dark for years. All were hoping for a miracle. We witnessed Dr. Ruit Here, children and old people alike had lived in the dark for years. All were hoping for a miracle. We witnessed Dr. Ruit and his team operate on more than one thousand people in only six days. It was an act of unbelievable stamina, and and his team operate on more than one thousand people in only six days. It was an act of unbelievable stamina, and proved Dr. Ruit’s deep-rooted humanity. proved Dr. Ruit’s deep-rooted humanity.

Then the crucial day arrived. A thousand fearful and expectant patients with their eyes bandaged were gathered in one Then the crucial day arrived. A thousand fearful and expectant patients with their eyes bandaged were gathered in one room. What would happen when the bandages come off? Nobody knew and everybody, including us, held their breaths. room. What would happen when the bandages come off? Nobody knew and everybody, including us, held their breaths. Dr. Ruit went up to every single person, talked to each one soothingly – and slowly took off the bandage. Dr. Ruit went up to every single person, talked to each one soothingly – and slowly took off the bandage.

One by one, we witnessed the miracle happening. Old women saw their grandchildren and children their parents for the One by one, we witnessed the miracle happening. Old women saw their grandchildren and children their parents for the first time after years in the dark. But what was so remarkable was that immediately after regaining their sight, rather first time after years in the dark. But what was so remarkable was that immediately after regaining their sight, rather than thanking the doctor, people started crying and bowing and giving thanks in front of pictures of the Dear Leader Kim than thanking the doctor, people started crying and bowing and giving thanks in front of pictures of the Dear Leader Kim Jong Il and his father, Kim Il Sung as hundreds clapped and cheered in unison. I never saw such an extreme personality Jong Il and his father, Kim Il Sung as hundreds clapped and cheered in unison. I never saw such an extreme personality cult beforecult before