It’s not surprising, or shouldn’t be, that defectors and refugees from North Korea might have high instances of mental health issues. However, the story of Shin Dong Hyok, a North Korea defector who escaped from a “total control” concentration …

I should (again) take a lesson from Baduk.

The quote is from Shakespeare — Richard III. Act I, scene II.

Your instinct as to it being part of a movie was a good one, actually; these lines are quoted at the very end of an “existential action movie” called “Runaway Train” (1985).

Re: “But, people on this blog should consider the fact that Koreans have the wish to some day reconcile the division of peninsula, agree to a “peace” and re-unify.
You guys dont seem to get how important that is.”

We understand how important it is, which is why we’re completely frustrated with the incompetence of the ROK government, especially the Noh administration.

Propping up deranged dictators without demanding reciprocity is a sure formula for failure. Kim Jong-Il and his generals are more than happy to take everything they can from South Korea and give little to nothing back in return.

I would fully support the ROK’s efforts to unify the peninsula if there was some forward progress, but there seems to be only handouts to the DPRK, thus sending the message that Seoul not only tolerates the DPRK’s abuses, but supports them.

If your little brother is out of line and hurting other kids, do you keep quiet and keep rewarding him for his misbehavior ?

Case study : WWII and Hitler. Europe was hoping like hell to avoid another World War. However, by caving to Hitler’s every demand, they helped to bring it about.

Well, he was already a well established martial artist before he met Bruce Lee, but Bruce Lee did train him.

A bit of interesting trivia: Chuck Norris does Tae Kwon Do. In fact, he was the first Westerner to be given the rank of Grand Master in Tae Kwon Do. He began doing martial arts while he was stationed at Osan Air Base, doing Tang Soo Do, a Korean style of Karate that, with others, eventually evolved into Tae Kwon Do. Naturally, the martial art system he developed, Chun Kuk Do, has a Korean name.

I can’t read enough about North Korean’s experiences on the other side of the DMZ…thanks for the post.

I don’t think it really matters whether he uses his real name or pic. Considering that he escaped from a camp for families of the hostile class, what more could NK possibly do? Kill his family? They already did that. Frankly I’m glad there is a real face behind NK’s depravity (Shin is 24, only 2 years my senior, he looks way older).

For those so concerned about economic costs of a free NK, then I guess we can pay now with our sense of humanity so we can put it off a couple more years.