The History Book Club discussion

All,

Since this thread has evolved to be a thread discussing both North and South Korea and their leaders - I have changed the title of the thread to reflect both.

SETTING UP A THREAD ON NORTH KOREA:

I think that North Korea has become quite newsworthy again (possibly for all of the wrong reasons) but nevertheless. So once again so as not to overwhelm the Today In the News thread; I have opened up a thread in the Current Events section dedicated to discussion about North Korea.

Currently, we have the situation with the two journalists being held, NK's nuclear program, and their plans on July 4th to launch a missile in the direction of Hawaii (what are they thinking?).

In advance of their maneuverings, I have opened a thread to discuss these situations and the potential repercussions.

Additionally, if any of you have read books or watched movies/videos about Korea which you have found to be informative, please list them here and tell us what you found interesting and/or informative about them. You can easily add the cover to your posts.

Bentley

GOOD DOCUMENTARY INSIDE NORTH KOREA:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJ6E3c...

Brief Synopsis: Directed by: Peter Tetteroo, Raymond Feddema:

The winner of the 2001 International Emmy award for Best Documentary, Welcome to North Korea is a grotesquely surreal look at the all-too-real conditions in modern-day North Korea. Dutch filmmaker Peter Tetteroo and his associate Raymond Feddema spent a week in and around the North Korean capital of Pyongyang -- ample time to produce this outstanding film.

Fox News:

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/...

Notice Me Now Rocket:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/0...

'pretty funny'

N KOREA MAKING NOISE AGAIN:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090624/a...

Hello Kate,

It really doesn't make sense; maybe they want to be viewed like a modern day David taking on Goliath; even NK's friends (Russia and China) are getting worried about NK's overt actions.

I am not sure what books are set in North Korea; there must be some about North Korea though. If anyone does come across some, please of course post them here.

Kate, the url above will let you view the documentary; choose high quality because it is a little grainy; but still worth viewing. Most of the starving people are shipped to the countryside; any folks who are disabled or in any way challenged are forced to stay out of sight. They are only interested in the fittest. Within the documentary, there is some footage that had been taken by Chinese relief workers who were allowed to enter North Korea and feed the hungry, I guess some very sad situations exist.

Bentley

Here is a site called Books for Understanding: http://aaupnet.org/news/bfu/korea/lis...

They seem to have a lot of books published by a variety of institutions of higher learning on different aspects regarding North Korea; I have not heard anything about any of these books.

This is a list from Time Magazine which seems to be at the other end of the spectrum (someone tells all):

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/art...

The New York Review on Books has two which I have heard of before but never read; one is touted as the best book written on North Korea:

http://www.nybooks.com/articles/17721

Here are the three that I seem to have heard of the most - I have not read any of them:

North Korea seems to be at it again

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/as_koreas_...

ENVOY TO COORDINATE NORTH KOREAN SANCTIONS

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/27/wor...

Source: New York Times

NORTH KOREA RATTLING THE CAGES ONCE AGAIN; BUT HINTS AT TALKS


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacif...

INTERESTING NEWS: BILL CLINTON IN N KOREA:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32277010/...

THINGS ARE LOOKING UP:

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Intern...

ITS OFFICIAL: N KOREA HAS PARDONED THE TWO JOURNALISTS AND THEY ARE ALLOWED TO RETURN HOME (GOOD JOB BILL):


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacif...

PYONGYANG'S PARDONS

http://www.cfr.org/publication/19970/...

POSSIBLY BILL HAD SOME EFFECT ON KIM


This is relatively good news:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090817/a...

Some more good news; Kim Jong II wants summit with the South:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32534186/...

North Korean delegation arrives in Seoul to mourn late president


http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/w...

U.S. North Korean envoy heads to Asia


http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asi...

Some more good news:

Reports: North Korea releases South Korean fishing boat

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asi...

And some not so good news:

Storm over North Korea-Iran arms vessel

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Korea/KI...

Seems like some more tit for tat; but overall things are not as bleak as before:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacif...

US Says it is Ready for Direct Talks with North Korea:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf...

That seems more hopeful than a few months ago.

SEPARATED KOREANS ABLE TO REUNITE:


http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pi...

CRISIS GUIDE: THE KOREAN PENINSULA:

http://www.cfr.org/publication/11954/...

Chinese premier in N Korea visit


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacif...

U.S. official hails close cooperation on North Korea

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsMa...

Source: Reuters

Quote:

"I have rarely seen better coordination between China and the United States in particular," Campbell told reporters on Wednesday in Beijing, where he has met Chinese officials."

An Interesting Site; Central Intelligence Agency on North Korea:

https://www.cia.gov/library/publicati...

North Korean diplomat to visit US

"Ri Gun has been a senior negotiator for North Korea
A senior North Korean diplomat will be allowed a rare visa to visit the US later this month, officials have said." Source: BBC

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacif...

This is interesting..the fact that he was granted a visa.

North Korea holds 154,000 political prisoners in 6 camps: SKorean lawmaker says

http://www.google.com/hostednews/cana...

Your next vacation - North Korea is looking for tourists!

Source: Time

http://www.time.com/time/travel/artic...

PS: Did I fail to mention that they now serve pizza!

I know I mentioned in message 30 that North Korea was encouraging tourism and was looking for tourists:

Well here is is (smile) except for those from USA

http://www.korea-dpr.com/travel.htm

TWO MINUTE FIRE FIGHT BETWEEN N AND S KOREAS:

http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_c...

Yes... I was wondering why they were building such a large hotel, however it seems that there is a reality shift with such kind of regimes i.e. 'normal' common sense in the Kim Il Jong politburo is rather different to the perspective of most of the 'real' world. Maybe they DO believe their own myths! In fact I would put money on it (and I'm NOT a betting man) that they think many tourists are just itching to get a glimpse of their own 'paradise'.

Harvey...welcome..I think you are probably correct...I just got a chuckle out of it. I believe that they think that overnight that there will be a great influx of tourists wanting to see North Korea and spend their money there.

It is very abnormal considering the circumstances. I think their isolation must be very difficult for their leader as well as their people. Most of what Kim does is to get attention and respect from the rest of the world.

This was an interesting Time article in photography:

What the World Eats - Part One

http://www.time.com/time/photogallery...

What the World Eats - Part Two

http://www.time.com/time/photogallery...

Yes.... a kind of ironic, sad chuckle. But then the very isolation they have imposed on themselves has to have had the very effect that makes it almost impossible to have a balanced 'world' view.

By the way, the Time article, What the World Eats is interesting!

Very true Harvey...it is not good for anybody or any people to spend too much time alone. Unless you have a good bottle of Margaux to yourself, a nice cozy fire if it is winter with snow outside and a wonderful new book (smile). Some time to yourself away from the family and younger members is sometimes hard to find.

Probably in your case Harvey..you would just forego the fire and like a nice air conditioned room with a wonderful chair.

I guess we would not find much traffic in North Korea and/or many crowds to contend with. It is kind of sad on so many different levels especially for the North Korean people who have had so little to live on.

I am glad that you liked the Times article..it was interesting from the viewpoint of the different kinds of food that the different cultures eat as well as the amounts.

...not to mention prices!

Yes, very very true.

S.Korea leader says ready to meet North's Kim

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/...

North Korea's Kim says China friendship "unbreakable"


http://www.reuters.com/article/worldN...

Exclusive - North Korea Star An Yong Hak: Please Underestimate Us At The World Cup!

All over the world, thoughts are turning to the draw...

http://goal.com/en/news/1863/world-cu...

Korean Nuclear Summit Proposed:

http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia...

Well this is news!

AP source: Obama writes letter to NKorean leader

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091216/a...--

North Korean plane stopped in Bangkok


http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/in...

North Korea's Cyberspying Streak

http://www.forbes.com/2009/12/21/kore...

Bosworth met with North Koreans earlier this month:

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Foreign-...

New Years Message from North Korea:

N. Korea calls for end to hostilities with U.S.
Pyongyang seeks nuclear-free future ‘through dialogue and negotiations’

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34663992/...

Desperation fuels North Korea's leniency

Score one for the great North Korean propaganda machine.

American missionary Robert Park walked across the frozen Tumen River from China into North Korea on Christmas Eve bringing "Christ's love and forgiveness" to Dear Leader Kim Jong-il, and now he is to go home thankful for the "love" he got from the North Koreans.

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Korea/LB...

Source: Asia Times

Seoul Sees North Korea Moving Away from Confrontation

http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz...

Source: Businessweek

North Korea - Sixty Second Guide

http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2010...

Envoys go to North Korea for nuclear talks push

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTR...