The Travel Camel's next trip!

Does anyone know if the N. Koreans are in the habit of copying monuments from around the world, or is this the only one? Reply to this

Shanes next blog just hit the Front Page.

Eternal Vigilance Against Imperialist Aggressors Reply to this

The idea of a united Korea was a recurring them throughout this journey – monuments to it were constructed in the streets in Pyongyang and even the weather maps on the television news broadcasts showed Korea as one nation.

It is a pity they dont do more to achieve a united Korea than errect statues and make pretend maps. Reply to this

The Art of Isolation

Getting sleepy. Will have to wait until tomorrow to read this one. 😊 Reply to this

It is during these formative years that they are taught the wonders of the Great Leader and the perils that foreigners can bring.

With the universal abhorance of tyranny, the great leader has reason to believe foreigners are a threat. Reply to this

Anxious Times at the Border

Ah, cool! Another one. I thought the last one was the last one.
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I have been averaging 10 comments per North Korean blog, but none so far, so many people may have missed it.

I think a 6th blog would be great, if there is still more to say. People not commenting does not mean they are not looking and thinking about it. Some things are just too complicated to even know what to ask about them. Sometimes it takes me days to consider some aspect of politics or whatever, before I come up with either a question or an opinion on it.

One thing I find particularly difficult to discuss is the womens rights around the world subject. Often, I know there is something to say about it, but I cant get the thought into words. It takes an awful lot of patience and time to get those sentences into something that just might make sense to some people. Other political stuff is difficult to talk about too, but at least there is the bonus of it not being as personal as the women thing.

Next travel: Back to the Middle East and eastern Africa - but the latter will be slightly dependent on whether the terrible drought there breaks during the rainy seasons that starts about now.

Well, maybe I will see you in Turkey or Syria then. 😊
Which countries in E. Africa would you visit?

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Maybe I will start thinking about another trip to Africa. I dont know where yet. Ethiopia has been on my mind for a while but no real plan yet.

I kinda fancy Tanzania too, partly becaue it seems a bit more stable and safer than many of the other African countries. I meant to go there last time I was in E. Africa, but got distracted(in a good way 😊 ) and ended up in Uganda instead. Reply to this

An acceptance of the North Korean music and culture will go a long way to soothing the antagonism that nation displays to other countries.

So, if we all agree to listen to N. Korean music, the N. Korean government will stop war mongering and abusing the human rights of their citizens. If that would be the case, I would submit to that ludricous damand and listen to whatever amount of N. Korean music it would take and publicly declare my total respect for it.

But, demands for respect are often used by certain governments to disrupt discussions about serious issues. Reply to this

It is difficult to take an interest in N. Korean music and culture when the country is so isolated. But, I think the antagonism is caused by a certain greed minority in N. Korea, who would have a lot to lose(or at least think they do) if they risk allowing an influence such as tourists into the country. That might put a question mark in the minds of many N. Koreans about the current status quo in N. Korea.

I think taking a mutual interest in our cultures around the world can build bridges and warm feelings, but if things such as music and opera are discussed at a UN meeting set up to discuss things such as people being tortured and starved to death in gulags in N. Korea it would be a bit much. Anyway, if the New York Philharmonic Orchestra visited Pyongyang, then the world is already sharing its culture with N. Korea and taking an interest in theirs.

However, if the external threat is reduced, perhaps the internal dissension would not seem as threatening, as the stability of the nation is more assured

When nobody is watching internal abuses do not become less, as is evident with N. Korea which is probably the most isolated country in the world. To turn a blind eye and put on a pretence of amiable trading with N. Korea would be a crime against humanity. As well as that, they are a security threat with their nuclear weapons, so have to be negotiated with, even if human rights were not an issue. And, I dont think the stability of the country will be ensured by lack of cooperation with other countries. They cant even produce enough food. Isolation is generally not a healthy situation for countries.

N. Korea, Burma and DR Congo representatives were invited to a UN meeting a few weeks ago because they are the top 3 countries on the human rights abuse list. All 3 of them evaded the serious issues of starving people, torture.... by side tracking to the various insults to their cultures they claim happened during the meeting. This country or that did not call them their preferred name, somebody else issued some other insult.....

Anyway, the European Union, the US etc would like nothing better than to establish healthy trading with more countries, but with countries like N. Korea, DR Congo, Burma this would not be possible. None but the most scummy industries from N. America, EU... would touch them with a barge pole.
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