Why am I now on North Korean sub?

Becouse redditors of Norway send me here, visit my post on thier subreddit for details

What is something that you think everyone should know about your country?

What is your favorite food from your country? Can you give any recipe?

My notes and stereotypes about your country:

Is there anyone here from North Korea?

Which country should I visit tomorrow?

Already visited: Hungary, Romania, Botswana, Israel, UAE, Yemen, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Venezuela, Argentina, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Vietnam, Algieria, South Africa, Namibia, Norway, North Korea

I don't know much about the media about north Korea, but they most definitely have propaganda on the radio. I am also guessing that they jack up the power of the frequencies to get it overlapping and interfering with south Korean radios at the same frequencies. How does SK combat it? Do they push back with jacking up their frequency power? Now obviously this will cause the SK radio to be thrown into NK, and constant radio wars seem stupid and a waste of time. Do either NK or SK use other technologies to block the offending radio waves?

https://www.rfa.org/english/korea/2024/11/30/north-south-korea-food-ban/

wow

https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https://i0.wp.com/farm4.staticflickr.com/3812/8774788859_1d77abb2fe_z.jpg&tbnid=ffQcU1DR2kzqOM&vet=1&imgrefurl=https://josephferrispics.wordpress.com/category/uniform/&docid=ptgOByuas0sxDM&w=427&h=640&hl=en-us&source=sh/x/im/m1/3&kgs=a002abce92829dcc&shem=abme,trie

https://www.google.com/search?q=&ictx=1&tbs=rimg:Ce0s9ukIX5KOIgjtLPbpCF-SjioSCe0s9ukIX5KOEUg53zJ9La8o&udm=2#vhid=TiJ6GqclfP3u4M&vssid=mosaic

Okay, I know this is hard to understand so I'll take my time to elaborate on the explanation. Hear me out.

Since a little more than a year ago, it has been noticed that Kim Jong-un is giving extensive media coverage to, and performing several public appearances with his preteen daughter, Kim Ju-ae, leading several journalists, analysts, and specially South Korea intelligence agents to declare that he probably is grooming her to be his successor. This post will take this assumption for granted, for the sake of the argument, even though it may end up not becoming reality. As usual when discussing the politics of North Korea, we are speculating.

These same foreign observers, as well as others, have repeatedly pointed out the striking and growing similarities of the North Korean regime to an absolute monarchy. Many outlets now refer to Kim Ju-ae as "princess" and some South Korean analysts have pointed out that Kim Jong-un is parading her as one, and trying to portray his family in the fashion of a traditional European royal family. If it turns out to be true that he has pre-selected his daughter as heir, bypassing party formalities and the interests of other senior members of the Kim family, this could indeed mean that he is trying to formally establish hereditary succession, as opposed to the previous model where a republican and democratic framework exists, albeit a sham one, to legitimise each successor's mandate.

Increasing emphasis has been put in the "Mount Paektu Bloodline" in recent years, and I have heard rumours (someone could confirm or deny it, since I don't remember the source) that Kim Jong-un has either considered, or has actually implemented new legislation that restricts the office of Supreme Leader to members of the Kim family. If true, this seems very significant because, until recently, anyone could be Supreme Leader in theory, although in practice the office remained highly restricted.

North Korea has long been considered de facto a hereditary dictatorship. But to my knowledge no republican system in history, not even a dictatorship, has officially adopted hereditary succession. Even when it exists de facto, it always has the fake outlook of a democracy. Pure heredity has always been a characteristic of monarchic systems.

History has other examples of monarchies who liked to call themselves republics. The primary example is the Roman Empire. The transition from republic to monarchy was very gradual and involved the slow deterioration of republican elements and symbols over several generations. Eventually, the office of dictator became hereditary and the Senate lost all power, and the moment Octavian was given the title Augustus is often considered the start of the imperial period. Centuries later, it was agreed that Augustus should be translated as Emperor, but during Octavian's lifetime it remained ambiguous whether he was a monarch or a dictator.

A counter-argument quickly comes to mind that North Korea can never be openly monarchic because of its communist ideology. But it has been noticed consistently for many years now that the regime is deliberately distancing itself from communist discourse and setting itself up as a purely ethnic nationalist state, in many ways more fascist than communist. In fact, it has not used the word "communist" to describe itself for many years now.

Lastly, wishing to establish his bloodline as an official dynasty probably is something that Kim Jong-un's personality would support. Furthermore, as a female and minor, Kim Ju-ae likely requires some additional legal and institutional basis to legitimise her position as heir, assuming that her father wants to go through with that plan. She probably will lack strong support in the ruling party, at least lack genuine enthusiastic support. It is likely that some constitutional changes would be required to secure her position in the future.

After considering all of my points, do you believe it makes sense to speculate that North Korea might be undergoing a significant ideological shift from the authoritarian left to the authoritarian right? Do you think it's possible that Kim Jong-un is attempting to establish a dynasty by law? Do you disagree with any of my premises?

SIDE NOTE: It's also interesting to notice that we live in a period where China is also shifting its ideology towards a more traditionalist and nationalist version of "communism", mirroring developments in North Korea.

EDIT: I forgot to mention, as a bit of flavour to my main point, that North Korean state media is using titles typically reserved for the leader to refer to Kim Ju-ae, such as "Great Guide", "The One who Lights the Path". Also, a photo was released of a high-ranking military general, I believe the commander immediately below Kim, kneeling in front of her as though she was some kind of royalty.

How would North Korea be different today, if they discovered oil in the 1970s? They will have the same amount of Oil as Kuwait as well as similar in quality.

Sure, NKoreans would only watch propaganda and Kim-related stuff, but could a sitcom that was pro-political work? Or would it be more like a soap opera?

When government resources are clearly sparse and policies like this are enforced, what’s the fear associated with tourists interacting with the local population, either inside Pyongyang or anywhere else in the country? Clearly it doesn’t help with the tourist industry so what’s the intention?

The DPRK closed their borders to foreign tourists due to covid in early 2020, and it now looks like they’ll finally reopen by next summer. I’ve been waiting for an opportunity to go for ages, I think it would be cool af honestly. I’m a big fan of the monuments and stuff, and I think it would be really cool to actually be in a place that seems so unknown and far off from my perspective.

Still though, with them sending troops to Ukraine and tensions with the ROK intensifying it may be an unwise time to visit, especially as a westerner.

Is anyone else planning to go? If you’ve already been, what advice would you give someone planning to go? If possible, I’d like to visit Pyongyang, Kaesong, and if possible, Paektusan and Kumgangsan. Koryo tours seems to be by far the most reliable company to go with based on my research.

It's better to keep North Korea separated from South Korea and instead focus on reforming North Korea. South Korea has a lot of social problems that North Koreans would have to bear if they got reunited and they will be marginalized under South Korea and treated as cheap slaves to go work in the sweatshops. Its better if North Korea gives up its nuclear policy so that sanctions can be removed then that will pave the way for it to trade more and allow its people to travel. Despite what the propaganda says China is not going abandon or trade North Korea for any policy. China firmly stands with North Korea and is not going to work against North Korea because its working with Russia. China is only upset that North Korea is choosing to work with a destructive partner like Russia instead of keeping a low profile.

So I was reading this bbc article and came to know about the documentary. Couldn’t find it anywhere. And here is the link to its website which does have a 16 mins part from the documentary but the rest is unavailable everywhere (Go to the download section > register > film excerpts) to watch the 16 mins in different languages. 

The English ver of the 16 mins short does have subtitles which was surprising to me.

And this documentary does have a sequel titled “Ned, Tassot, Yossot” which was released last year. Couldn’t find that one either.

anyway here is the IMDB link for both of them. 

First one (2009)

Sequel

And Here is the official English trailer for it.

Poster 1

Poster 2.

On January 21, 1968, North Korea launched one of its boldest missions: an attempt to assassinate South Korean President Park Chung-hee at the Blue House in Seoul. A group of 31 elite North Korean commandos, known as Unit 124, was trained for years to carry out this mission. Their goal? Kill the president and create chaos in South Korea.

The team crossed the heavily guarded DMZ, disguised as South Korean soldiers, and made their way toward Seoul. Just a few kilometers from the Blue House, they were stopped by a police officer who grew suspicious. When questioned, the commandos killed him, which set off alarms and triggered a massive manhunt.

South Korean forces, along with U.S. troops, engaged the infiltrators in several gunfights. The mission failed. Out of the 31 commandos, 29 were killed, one was captured alive, and one escaped back to North Korea. The captured soldier, Kim Shin-jo, later defected and revealed critical details about the mission.

In the clashes, 26 South Korean soldiers and civilians were killed, and nearly 70 were injured. The raid escalated tensions between North and South Korea, leading South Korea to strengthen its military defenses and consider counterattacks, like the canceled Operation Silmido.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDa4Ku8MoqY