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Totalitarianism in north korea today
Essay on the political system of democratic republic of north korea
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Totalitarianism in north korea today
Essay on the political system of democratic republic of north korea
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Recommended: Totalitarianism in north korea today
Following the liberation, Korea was divided by zones of occupation; the Soviet Union took control of the north and the United States took control of the south. Each country provided the military and financial support for the northern and southern regions. In the American occupation government of the south, Seungman Rhee was elected as the first president of Korea in 1945. Under the Soviets, a man named Kim Il Sung was strongly influenced by communist ideas and set out to establish a new kind of government. In 1948, Kim formed the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, a communist group, and tried to unify the country under his rule by military force.
Furthermore, there is another similar dictatorship in North Korea in today’s world. The supreme leader of the country is named Kim Jong-un, and he controls everything that occurs. This is in close relation to El Jefe in Before We Were Free because they both have absolute power over the citizens. Just like in the novel, there are many people in the world that disagree with what Kim Jong-un is doing.
Both “Postwar Reconstruction and a Declaration of Self-reliance, 1953-55” by Charles Armstrong and “North Korea’s Vinalon City: Industrialism as Socialist Everyday Life” by Cheehyung Kim focus on the post-Korean War reconstruction of North Korea as a model of the socialist economic development. The authors analyze the rise of North Korea as a showcase of socialist industrialization with “fraternal” supports from the whole Eastern Bloc, the role of this rapid` industrialization in consolidating Kim Il Sung’s power, and external and internal backgrounds behind the North’s gradual transition from an externally dependent economy to an autarky after the initial years of industrialization. Armstrong argues that “fraternal” assistances from the USSR, the PRC, and the Eastern European countries as well as its strict adherence to Stalinist economic programs with the heavy emphasis on heavy industries were the two biggest characteristics of the rapid industrialization of North Korea. Armstrong summarizes, “through a combination of tremendous work and sacrifice on the part of the North Korean people, generous economic and technical assistance from the “fraternal” socialist countries, and the
In North Korea ever since birth every man and woman are to love their ruler as if they were “God” themselves stated well in the Documentary of North Korea. They must bow everyday and pray to their ruler and to please their ruler. In the book “Anthem” the people love their brothers as equal no such thing as loving more than one another. There is no selfishness and may not exceed what you are told the amount of intelligence is required; they are put into a group with a given name and number. They have a routine they must follow in their everyday lives until death.
For example, the society must say “We” instead of “I” because every individual represents all of the people or “brothers”. North Korea is not necessarily living for others but rather living for one individual- the supreme leader, which is similar to Anthem. The citizens praise the leader so highly that they are willing to do anything for him and this takes away some of their choices and actions. North Korea is also known as one of the most secretive country in the world, controlled by fear. For example, North Korea is considered a self-reliant country or “juche” mainly because they believe they can conquer anything, which connects with fear of other bigger countries and insecurities about their own.
Hyeonseo Lee North Korean Defector Change, hope, and justice, are all things North Korean defectors, including Human Rights activist Hyeonseo Lee, wish for in the harshly governed country of North Korea. Many people know about the story of Hyeonseo’s escape from the unethical dictatorship of the Kims. But she was so much more. As a Human Rights activist fighting for a change of the corrupt and cruel system of government in North Korea, she is trying her best to inform people of how terrible and a dire situation it is in North Korea. Through this, she is showing her defiance publicly towards North Korea, when just a little over a decade before, she was expressing absolute loyalty and respect towards the Kims.
Kim Jong Un uses censorship on media. He controls the news, what people search up, etc. He lets people have no privacy and controls their lives. One example that proves this is Kim Jong-un has his police force go house-to-house to search for illegal DVDs, movies , shows , Etc that 's he does not want people to see or have. He does not want people to see the outside world.
North Korea is a mysterious place to outsiders but from the inside it may seem normal because the people have no sense of reality or awareness. In the novel 1984 a made up character named ‘Big Brother’ is much like Kim Jong-Un in our world. There are two parties outer and inner and the inner parties consist of people from the inside and the wealthier class unlike the outer witch holds the middle class. The outer party of 1984 worship Big Brother and most are forced to because they are being watched by spies and telescreens (surveillance systems). North Korea is very similar to 1984 due to the constant surveillance and the cult of personality.
North Koreans believe that as long as they follow their ruler, they will have a happy, full life. They hold large, elaborate celebrations, parades, and children compete in the Mass Games. During parades “as they march past, they cry 'Mansei ' which means "Long Live!"”
Beginning as a proxy war, the conflict in Korea would have the nation divided at the 38th parallel as agreed by the United States and Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Until the years of 1945 to 1950, as both of the world’s greatest superpowers funded and supported the sides which shared their view. Espousing the views of communism and fighting in the Soviet Union’s stead was Kim Il-sung organized and created the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea while the United States sunk their support for the more southern Korea’s government known as the Republic of Korea led by nationalist Syngman Rhee (Schaller 980). The two Korean governments vied for total control and
North Korea lacks basic utilities to make modern human life impossible in most areas, “There is no medicine, there is no running water, there is no soap in hospitals,” (Ling 20:10). In North Korea they have no way of ensuring a healthy population, and they rely on countries like America to provide for them. Access to the small amount of modern amenities is completely based on someone’s position within the government. North Korea has not asked for aid even when they were in a massive famine, “I saw children dying under my hands when I was too late,” (Ling 20:31). Children in North Korea are dying from lack of food and the rest are stunted and deformed from malnutrition.
As an American, we cannot comprehend the types of laws that are enforced upon North Korean Citizens. A few bizarre controlment rules that I still struggle to comprehend myself are there are only twenty-eight ways North Korean men and women can cut their hair, North Korean Men and Women are not allowed to own a bible or any western literature, and also there are only three channels on tv and you must only watch those. Along with those laws in place, the North Korean government has control over education and news which leads to many growing up to hate other countries besides their own with no reasoning behind their hatred. Our lives along with many others are still being affected by the iron grip of societal norms.
The current relationship between South Korea and North Korea is very similar to how the United States and the Soviet Union were in the Cold War. As the World War II came to an end, so did the Japanese occupation in the Korean peninsula from the Soviet
After the war, in 1948, Korea was split in two. The Republic of Korea, controlled by the Allies, and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, ruled by the Soviets. Both considering themselves the ruling government there was tension which led to North Korea’s invasion of the South on June 25th, 1950. This sparked the Korean war between the American and the Vietnamese. In 1953 the war was over and Korea was still split in two with a De militarized zone in between.
So voting is just a show. The supreme leader of North Korea is also not elected by people. Kim Jong-un was born to be the supreme leader because his great-grandfather was the first leader who leaded North Korea became independent. North Korea is just same as a family business. People need to follow what the supreme leader says without judgement.