Category Archives: North Korea
Trump Ruins Everything
How a Trump presidency would destabilize Asia, and South Korea in particular: “Whatever choices are debated within Japan, other nations in Asia would be highly sensitive to a Japan untethered from the United States. A kaleidoscopic series of changes in attitudes … Continue reading
Posted in America, Asia, China, Japan, Korean, North Korea, South Korea
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Music and Memory
“March for the Beloved” Controversy has erupted over plans to commemorate the Gwangju Massacre. In particular, people are angry that the singing of the song above will no longer be mandatory: “The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs issued a … Continue reading
Posted in Advanced Conversation, Korea, Kultur, Language, Music, North Korea, Politics, South Korea
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Old Wounds
In South Korea, the bodies of fallen Chinese soldiers who fought on the side of North Korea are being exhumed and returned during a relative diplomatic thaw between the two countries: “These are the graves of Chinese and North Korean … Continue reading
Posted in Advanced Conversation, China, History, Korea, Korean War, North Korea, South Korea
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Trying To Turn The Page
South Korea and Japan have agreed to an aid package concerning the former country’s “comfort women, “ who were forced into sexual slavery during the 1930’s and 1940’s by the Japanese Imperial Army. It sounds like a good thing, and not … Continue reading
Posted in America, China, History, Japan, Korea, North Korea, Politics, South Korea
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The Politics of Kimchi
Not to be outdone by the capitalist pigs to the south, North Korea is getting its own “Red Kimchi” listed with Unesco’s “intangible cultural heritage” achievements: “Pyongyang suffered a blow to its prestige two years ago when South Korea’s kimchi … Continue reading
Posted in Food, Korea, Kultur, Nomz, North Korea, Politics, South Korea
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Family History
In South Korea, hackles are being raised over President Park Geun-hye forcing public schools to adopt government-written history textbooks. People are rightfully upset: “After complaining that textbooks used in middle and high schools have leftist biases, Park ordered the Ministry … Continue reading
Posted in Books, History, Japan, Korea, North Korea, Politics, South Korea
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Bittersweet
Politics aside (North Korea pretty obviously uses these reunions to demonstrate how “happy” their citizens are) the meetings between North and South Korean families torn apart by the Korean War are intensely moving: “Some were anxious over whether they would … Continue reading
Posted in Korea, Korean War, North Korea, Politics, South Korea
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Paying For Truth
Most people would agree North Korea isn’t a very nice place to live. But a new problem has emerged as more defectors make it out of the country — their testimonies have been found to be faked: “In January, the … Continue reading
Posted in Korea, North Korea, Politics, South Korea
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Crying Wolf
There’s an interesting dynamic to South Korean reportage about North Korea. Basically, it goes something like this: say something incredibly outrageous yet kind of plausible done by the North Korean regime (such as executions via anti-aircraft guns rather than good … Continue reading
Posted in Korea, Media, North Korea, Politics, South Korea
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What Fart And Wiener Jokes Can Tell Us About Tyranny And Geopolitics (Seriously)
Barbara Demick, author of the excellent window into daily North Korean life Nothing To Envy, gives a scholarly (and surprisingly positive) response to The Interview: “From my viewpoint, what the film gets most right is the psychology of North Korea. The regime … Continue reading
Posted in Film, Korea, Korean War, North Korea, Politics
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Wet Casements 