Comments on: Fear and loathing in Rajin-Sonbong http://www.rjkoehler.com/2004/11/28/fear-and-loathing-in-rajin-sonbong/ Korea... in Blog Format Thu, 4 Dec 2008 19:24:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Truck and Barter http://www.rjkoehler.com/2004/11/28/fear-and-loathing-in-rajin-sonbong/#comment-8748 Truck and Barter Tue, 30 Nov 2004 02:35:12 +0000 http://rjkoehler.com/?p=1281#comment-8748 North Korea Free Trade Zone Marmot's Hole has tranlated an article about North Korea's free trade zone: The Chinese tourism bus passed over the border bridge. Ill have to give North Korean girls a look tonight, said a Chinese from Shanghai by the name of Kong. The middle-age... North Korea Free Trade Zone
Marmot’s Hole has tranlated an article about North Korea’s free trade zone: The Chinese tourism bus passed over the border bridge. Ill have to give North Korean girls a look tonight, said a Chinese from Shanghai by the name of Kong. The middle-age…

]]> By: shakuhachi http://www.rjkoehler.com/2004/11/28/fear-and-loathing-in-rajin-sonbong/#comment-8747 shakuhachi Mon, 29 Nov 2004 08:28:42 +0000 http://rjkoehler.com/?p=1281#comment-8747 Fascinating story. Fascinating story.

]]> By: usinkorea http://www.rjkoehler.com/2004/11/28/fear-and-loathing-in-rajin-sonbong/#comment-8746 usinkorea Sun, 28 Nov 2004 11:56:18 +0000 http://rjkoehler.com/?p=1281#comment-8746 It is articles with insights like this I point to every time I hear a South Korean or foreign expert talking about how there are "clear signs" North Korea is "changing." North Korea tries to treat any engagement with the outside (including their Chinese allies) as a nuclear fuel spill --- they try to contain it as much as possible so they can keep it from infecting the local population. So, of course, real economic establishments that can not only bring in some cash, but also develop the North's economy, will fail. I also think the fact North Korea has chosen gambling, sex, and drugs as key economic exchange forms is telling. On the one hand, they are high value ticket items playing on the weakness of the human spirit, but they are also "elements of the decadent West." In a way, this is a type of exploitation of the North Korean people (sponsored by their own government), and as such, it might help the Pyongyang propaganda effort against the outside world. Wasn't "decadence" an element of the third world nations that went through revolution in the 50s through early 80s? I'm thinking of Cuba inparticular. One of its big industries was rich Americans going to "have a good time" down there that helped turn the people to Castro.... It is articles with insights like this I point to every time I hear a South Korean or foreign expert talking about how there are “clear signs” North Korea is “changing.”

North Korea tries to treat any engagement with the outside (including their Chinese allies) as a nuclear fuel spill — they try to contain it as much as possible so they can keep it from infecting the local population.

So, of course, real economic establishments that can not only bring in some cash, but also develop the North’s economy, will fail.

I also think the fact North Korea has chosen gambling, sex, and drugs as key economic exchange forms is telling. On the one hand, they are high value ticket items playing on the weakness of the human spirit, but they are also “elements of the decadent West.”

In a way, this is a type of exploitation of the North Korean people (sponsored by their own government), and as such, it might help the Pyongyang propaganda effort against the outside world.

Wasn’t “decadence” an element of the third world nations that went through revolution in the 50s through early 80s? I’m thinking of Cuba inparticular. One of its big industries was rich Americans going to “have a good time” down there that helped turn the people to Castro….

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