43 Places

North Korea (read all 2 entries…)

Worth visiting!

Eye opener — 2 years ago

I’m just back from a 10-day trip in the DPRK, and looking at the tags given here it is painfully obvious how much the ideas about the country are shaped by what we hear in the western press. Go with open eyes and an open mind (knowing that what you’ll be shown is a selection just like what you see and hear in the West is a – different – selection) and you’ll come away with a very different picture of this country.

I really hope that late president’s Kim Il Sung’s idea of reuniting the “two Koreas” (really one country, one people, one language) as federal country with two states, each with their own system, will one day become reality. Economic development in the North (helped already by joint ventures with South Korea and China) will help making that dream a reality – but so will, in a small way, visits from people from other countries, providing a small “window on the world” through those guides (like ours) that are not only interested in teaching about their country but also in learning from their guests. What won’t help is demonizing the country.

I’ve come away admiring these proud people and their old culture and hope to return one day to see more, and see how they’ve progressed.

The picture shows one small aspect I’ve come to love: all main roads across the country (not just entrances and exits to cities as you often see) are lined with flowers. Even when growing food is hard work, a small amount of effort is given to grow a little beauty.

Sep 24, 2006, 11:34PM PDT 10 cheers

Comments:

Marjolein Katsma
Amsterdam

All civilized

I don’t know where you get these ideas but I can assure you that Korea (the whole of it!) is civilized – as are Mongolia, Tibet (part of China, and with a civilization that is as old and rich as the Chinese) and Nepal. I’ve not been in Mongolia yet (high on my list) but the others I have been to, multiple times.

As to “untouched”, Thailand maybe? At least that was never a colony. And Laos is “relatively untouched” culturally – although it was a French colony for a while they didn’t exert much influence there. I’ve been to both those countries as well (and would love to go back).

North Korea is entirely safe; you can’t roam around on your own because they want to know at all times where you are and obviously don’t want you to see everything – not because it isn’t safe!

North Korea isn’t “extreme”, so no, I don’t know… I think maybe you’ve been listening to too much propaganda. :) Yes, it’s a dictatorship of sorts – but so are many other countries that just don’t happen to be in the news. Turkmenistan comes to mind – an equally controlled society (and I’ve been there are well).

Frankly, I don’t know what you mean by “uncivilized” – all these countries have old and rich civilizations; they’re just different from ours, but that is precisely why they are interesting to travel to!

Oct 07, 2006, 12:51AM PDT | Parent | Respond to this 3 cheers

~**~mmm ~**~
Holland Village

?

Er, I can ensure you that most ppl would know the term and idea behind democracy and communism. ;)

And South Korea is definitely more civilised society than the North Korea. And if you don’t agree, ya, try telling the South Koreans that they are the same society as the North.

Huh, when I said “untouched” means not open to the MODERN world. Whoever said that modernization ONLY belongs to the western world?? There is a difference between “modernization” and “westernization”, you know? ;)

You said, “North Korea is entirely safe; you can’t roam around on your own because they want to know at all times where you are and obviously don’t want you to see everything”....Well if they WANT TO KNOW where you are AT ALL TIMES, then what does tell you of a society? If it’s so safe, why would they NEED to know or WATCH you??

I don’t know all your claim of being “safe” if its true, because I never lived in a communist country before lol… Plus, if it’s that safe, it would be recognized internationally lol

Having some form of “control” in a society is alright, so long it served the right purpose. But not to the extend of having no personal safety..Then that is not a safe and free society at all.

So in conclusion, my term of “civilization” means modernization, not westernization(being colonized or influenced by the western world).

P.S. And Thailand is definitely NOT a “untouched” society.

Oct 07, 2006, 05:33AM PDT | Thread | Respond to this 4 cheers

Marjolein Katsma
Amsterdam

One country, one culture, one language, one civilization

North Korea and South Korea are equally civilized, they are one country, one people, one culture.

Maybe you think North Korea suddenly got “less civilized” as a result of being practically flattened by bombardments during the Korean war? The speed with which they rebuilt is impressive, and certainly proof of being a civilized country.

You say you have never lived in a communist country – but you have visited communist countries. Didn’t you feel safe in them? (Why would North Korea be any different?) I have been to many, and I have not been unsafe in any of them. In fact I’ve probably been safer in all of them than in many other countries I’ve been to. And that safety is indeed recognized internationally. :)

If you say “civilization means modernization, not westernization” – then how do you define modernization? What means “modern” for you? For me, it is purely a relative term, relative to a particular culture, a particular technology. In that sense, North Korea certainly has modernized a lot since the Korean war, and not just technologically.

But to me, “civilization” has nothing to do with modernization or westernization – but with culture, language, education, how people deal with each other. Regime or political system also has nothing to do with civilization itself though it may influence the extent to which people may “live” or “express” their civilization and culture. As an example, during the Japanese occupation of Korea, the Japanese banned the use of the Korean language; they did not manage to destroy it – or Korean civilization – though, and it is still very much part of Korean civilization. Not even though they also plundered a great many archealogical sites and to date have not returned the valuable artifacts they took away. (Not that the Western world is any better at that; it still has to return a lot of things to their rightful owners as well.)

I would advise you to travel a bit more – with an open mind, to increase your understanding of other peoples and cultures. You seem to have a rather blinkered and prejudiced view of the world; such a view does not help to get mutual understanding and attain world peace.

Oct 08, 2006, 06:13AM PDT | Thread | Respond to this 1 cheer

~**~mmm ~**~
Holland Village

Er...

Isn’t that most countries are “One country, one culture, one language, one civilization”? Esp in most part of Asia? (YET, it doesn’t have to be communism)

Modernization means in the form of industrialization, urbanization and other social changes that completely transform the lives of individuals. It doesn’t have to be influenced or rather “colonized” BY THE WEST, you know? E.g is Japan, Thailand and South Korea…and maybe more? ..Anyway my knowledge on history of asian countries sucks, I am not really an expert in that field. I only know it by travelling :)

Wow, Seems like you’re singing a lot of praises for North Korea…I think you ought to publish a book about how safe North Korea is ;) And tell ppl not to believe what most part of the world are thinking now ;P

No matter how much you telling me how SAFE North Korea is, it still goes back to what I said, you are a guy obviously it would be easier for you to travel any where else in the world, even to NORTH KOREA. Did you see many foreign women travel by themselves there??

“North Korea certainly has modernized a lot since the Korean war, and not just technologically.”...Huh, according to you?? That’s why I said you should come up with a book and convince the rest of the world of your belief. Ya I am sure NORTH KOREA is very “modernized”, esp in their “military power” and “NUCLEAR war weapon” ;)

Thank you for your advice on me to “travel with an open mind”..Wow, not sure if I need MORE TRAVELLING, esp when I have already visited 23 countries and lived in at least 4 countries before(Some countries have been repeated visit too)..I started doing travelling since teenage, so I am ALMOST semi-retired now.(Travelling is one of the BIG PASSION FOR TYPICAL SINGAPOREANS).. So not sure of what you mean by this “You seem to have a rather blinkered and prejudiced view of the world”....Oh I DIDN’T REALISE I AM THE ONLY ONE IN THIS WORLD THINKING THAT COMMUNISM IS NOT CIVILISATION…Er, IF I AM NOT INTERESTED to understand the communist world, IT DOESN’T MEAN I AM PREJUDICED..Hello?

You seem very PRO- COMMUNISM, maybe you should start recruiting others on this site and tell them THEY ARE WRONG IN THEIR THINKING ON NORTH KOREA. (And see if you can convince others that you are “very open minded” and we are all very prejudiced against the North)..Or perhaps COME UP WITH A GOAL like “North Korea is very civilised”. Good luck to you!

Excuse me for not continuing this rather STRANGE “communism” idea from you..Sounds pretty scary to me..SO if you don’t mind, I would like to excuse myself and go back to my ”civilised” world as I have an important interview and need to sleep now!! Wish me luck!! BYE!!

_{Thank goodness, nobody is watching me where I am going tmr..Whew…NO wait, that means I must be “prejudiced” or narrow minded? :(}

P.S. Attached a very “cool” high tech and “modernized” fashion for the future too! ;) Communist fashion is in, man!

Oct 08, 2006, 07:50AM PDT | Thread | Respond to this 4 cheers

(This comment was deleted.)

Oct 09, 2006, 03:46AM PDT

Marjolein Katsma
Amsterdam

Read up some history

Korea is one country – it was divided by the Korean war which still hasn’t ended (!)

Both sides are hoping for and working towards reunification – it may take a long time but it will happen.

And sorry, but I’m flagging that photo you attached as inappropriate: you didn’t take it, it has no attribution, and it most certainly isn’t public domain.

Finally, to put you straight on one misunderstanding: I am not a guy! (And it isn’t any harder for women to travel there than it is for men.)

Oct 20, 2006, 07:57AM PDT | Thread | Respond to this

Er again - ~**~mmm ~**~

North Korea (read all 2 entries…)

Eye opener — 2 years ago

Comments:

All civilized

?

One country, one culture, one language, one civilization

Er...

Read up some history

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