North Korean Leadership

To begin with, the North Korean government's extreme censorship of media is corrupt, since it can help increase influence over the public and control over the

In the book Escape From Camp 14, the child refugee Shin Dong-Hyuk faces unimaginable traumatizing experiences while being held captive in the Camp 14 concentration camp. Before Shin, no one has escaped or lived to share what life was inside a concentration camp in North Korea. Within Camp 14, the imprisoned families and individuals struggle through the severe realities that the North Korea government establishes. These laws and rights formed by the government and given to the citizens affect their human rights by violating their political, economic and also by treating them with unfair punishments. In the lawless land of North Korean, laws are just for decorative and show that the North Korea government knows what they are doing and

In North Korea all aspects of life are ruled by the government, which essentially takes away human rights. North Koreans, rich or poor have this idea put into their head that their dictator is a supreme god. If someone had the idea of not worshiping the supreme leader in public, they would be sent to a labor camp. North Koreans who try to leave North Korea without permission may be shot on the spot or sent to a labor camp where they may never be released. In every house, no matter where you lived, there is a picture of the supreme leader that you pray to every day. When the supreme leader of North Korea, Kim Jong II, died recently, on December 17th 2011, there was a parade held that had mourners when the casket passed by. As the Supreme Leader’s casket passed by , the mourners were observed to see if they were actually crying. If they didn’t seem like they were sad enough they were sent to prison camps along with other North Koreans that didn’t join the parade. At these Labor camps imprisoned North Koreans are taught how important is to worship the supreme leader and sometimes kept there with their families for as long as they live.

Reading Escape from Camp 14, provided me with a lot of thought provoking insight into some of the most extreme struggles of those living under a dictatorship, who are being denied of basic human rights. This also illustrates how propaganda is used to dispel the seriousness of the situation against North Korea, and to keep the citizens predominantly complacent.

Also the lack of jobs has led to the majority of the people to be below the poverty line. And the ones with jobs do not get paid much or at all due to government corruption. For example, “Men are forced to work long hours for the government, often without pay, and those that don’t show up for work risk imprisonment”. Which has led to men working worthless jobs and women becoming the breadwinners of the families but still not having the same respect as men. The North Korean government is forcing these men to work for free while their families have no food to eat. Brainwashing and propaganda are also major aspects of the regime to keep the people scared of the world outside North Korea, namely the United States, Japan and South Korea. As shown, “Ak (evil) may be the single most commonly used word to describe Americans. The derogatory term nom, similar to calling someone a bastard, is inevitably attached to the end of any word referring to Americans”. Children from a young age are taught to refer to Americans in such manner to install fear in them to always distrust Americans and their aid. Americans are the worst of the worst type of people, according to the Kim regime, because they prevented the reunification of the two Koreas. Followed closely behind by the Japanese, since there is still resentment from the Japanese colonial rule. South Korea is not as

In North Korea, a totalitarian or dictatorial government prevails, where one “Supreme Leader” is revered and even worshipped. This government features a monolithic system, which plays “a crucial role in enabling the continuing monopoly of power by a sole leader” (Park 5-6). All components of life and society thus become fully oriented toward the goals of the head of state, Kim Jong-un, and the Kim dynasty. According to Encyclopedia Britannica, the government-headed Korean Central News Agency heavily commands the “dissemination of information, and all papers are strictly censored” (Lee et al.). This control over the movement of ideas in the population not only fosters the spread of government ideology but also prompts citizens to remain ignorant regarding certain issues, such as government actions

North Koreas government uses its power to control information and restrict independent thought and freedom. The BBC News mentions, “North Koreas economic hardships or famines are not reported to the domestic audience” (North Korea’s Tightly Controlled Media). This shows how the government in North Korea uses their power to keep the inhabitants of the country blind to issues that would cause worry amongst them. The BBC News author later on mentions that rather than inform its citizens on real life issues occurring, they are informed of technological advances developed by their leaders’ revolutionary thinking. By doing this the North Korean government keeps the people blind and ignorant to complicated

Such principles that resonate with many of the citizens include the fact that Goldstein is an enemy of Big Brother, their leader. Therefore, The Party naturally engages their citizens into an activity that directs hate towards Goldstein in which, “the face of Emmanuel Goldstein, the Enemy of the People, has flashed onto the screen” (11) which then prompts a public backlash against him. This scenario in which propaganda is used to alter the public’s mindset is also frequently seen in North Korea’s government. The government along with North Korea’s leader aim to “create an image of god like proportions about themselves by controlling the information that their citizens have about them, and using their own selected media to sway the people’s thoughts and opinions” (Martinez). In order to fulfill these requirements, North Korea has a history of brainwashing their citizens by providing them false information. These tactics include dealing with many negative situations that involve their government.

Life in North Korea’s high contrast with life in the United States is marked by nonexistent personal freedoms and harsh punishments. One example of restricted freedom in shown in their leader, Kim Jong-un. He, who they address as Dear Leader, is treated like

North Korea is a totalitarianism that is considered the strictest in the world. Among other things, North Korea has been selected as the nastiest in the world when it comes to press freedom. All the media in North Korea are controlled by the regime and top managers sitting on important party posts. For example, in every home in North Korea there is a radio fit in the wall. The radio cannot be turned off and out of it, it sends out North Korea propaganda.

Envision, walking down the street and seeing posters plastered all over persuading and screaming out at you how terrific, strong, and successful your leader is, wouldn’t you feel pretty great about your country? In North Korea, their society is exactly that, the article “Cult of personality: why do so many leaders force their people to worship them as heroes?” by Fred Bratman and the National Geographic video explain this concept very well. Between North Korea constantly shoving propaganda, statues, and myths into their citizens faces unequivocally their citizens will be manipulated and believe their leader is a god in disguise.

The rhetor needs to consider that the audience lives in a different society. As Rowland’s textbook states, “Confrontation as a rhetorical strategy only works in a democratic society…,” this reminds the rhetor that North Korea does not share similar ideas. Since they follow the socialist-communist system, confrontation cannot apply to them without free press.

North Korea recognizes a totalitarian system of government with an absolute monarchy. The government limits the amount of information it gives to its citizens, and most of the content that is provided is propaganda that ensures loyalty to the ruling party. Also, there is no internet access except for a few high-ranking government officials and a few other citizens that were granted permission by the government in special circumstances. The constitution technically grants freedom of the press, although in practice the government strictly punishes anyone who receives or discloses information domestically. According to rsf.org, a press freedom index calls North Korea an, “Information black hole.” “The government rarely grants press visas to the foreign media, limiting them to visits by foreign officials and cultural events. Officials monitor visiting foreign reporters closely and prevent them from talking to the general public, who live in fear of being sent to a concentration camp for listening to a radio station broadcasting from abroad,”

Therefore, it has a critical influence on the North Korea society. The media in North Korea is strictly controlled by the government and it has ranked as the single most censored nation on the globe. From newspapers, television to radio are all run by the state. Since Kim II Sung took control, the government strictly monitors and limits all information that enters the nation. Most news in the North Korea is delivered and approved by the government. Television is very restricted. In fact, television sets sold in North Korea are specially designed to show only state-run channels. Broadcast include propaganda movies and official footage of North Korea parades or other events. Similarly, some North Korea home, especially in Pyongyang, come equipped with radios. They tune into just one station, which broadcasts official news and patriotic music. While some other cities have movie theaters, they show only the state’s own propaganda (Behnke,

State media sources are tightly controlled so as to prevent the North Korean public from accessing any information that does not come from the country's strict government bureau of information, and this means that many North Koreans are grossly misinformed about the position of North Korea in the world and believe, for example, that their meagre lifestyles are preferable to the terrible conditions in other countries. Visitors to North Korea routinely report tight levels of control, with mobile phones confiscated for the duration of the visit and all movement tracked by an official government-supplied 'tourist guide'.