Comments on: Lankov In Newsweek On What to Do with North Korea

By: san diego limo

san diego limo — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 22:37:06 +0000

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By: Was the movie “JSA” prophetic about choco pies? « Extra! Korea

Was the movie “JSA” prophetic about choco pies? « Extra! Korea — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 07:16:25 +0000

[...] launch, the restarting of its nuclear program, and continuation of human rights violations. As blogger G.I. Korea noted, Dr. Andrei Lankov, an expert on Korea, advocates a radically different kind of policy, one [...]

By: Burma Bob

Burma Bob — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 20:01:51 +0000

I am familiar with the work that George Soros's OSI did in Eastern Europe and Burma, at first with fax machines, and later computers and printers, then with multimedia. Basically "flooding the zone" with all sorts of IT and dissemination tools. Prof. Lankov is advancing an argument for a program that worked in the former Eastern Bloc.

In Burma, however, the junta doesn't really care what the people believe. The junta has the guns.

By: GI Korea

GI Korea — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 06:24:40 +0000

I think the problem with the economic engagement is that no one has quantified what the giving of tens of millions of dollars to the North Koreans at Kaesong for example has done.

How many South Koreans did these workers interact with every day? What was the regime propaganda being used to justify the existence of these South Koreans at Kaesong? Did the workers believe it? How much did these workers really bring home in pay? Were they really working 24 hour shifts as reported? Etc., etc.s

Thee same questions should be asked to people that worked at the Kumgang Resort as well if any have defected.

That is why I think interviewing workers at either of these facilities would provide for some interesting reading that could better support a case for supporting the economic projects.

By: Lankov

Lankov — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 18:07:52 +0000

RE DVDs. It is good idea, but some people have already tried something like that (not with DVD player), and it did not work, since local Chinese vendors began to buy the subsidized items for resale in China. RE documentaries. It's one of my favourite idea, too. Cheap and very efficient. The NK is hungry of information.

By: Lankov

Lankov — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 17:53:04 +0000

Alas, right now I have to rush, so cannot write in detail, but the disagreement about engagement is a major one and should be discussed (this is the reason why I wrote about engagement, not support for opposition, in the above-mentioned Newsweek piece). Frankly, I would expect that the 'destructive engagement' will be responsible for, say, 60% of the program success while the old good opposition endorsement policies will bring in the remaining 40%. Perhaps,I can write about it later. In a nutshell: regime believes it can take money for cognac and limos from the engagement while neutralizing the political impact on its population. In the long run, it's their mistake.

But, at any rate, even if only subversive parts are done, it's still OK (40% are far better than nothing). Unfortunately, not much is done in that way either. Broadcast is growing, but not much else.

By: GI Korea

GI Korea — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 17:25:04 +0000

Bob you need to be more specific in regards to your Soros comment because I seriously doubt Dr. Lankov has anything to do with George Soros.

By: GI Korea

GI Korea — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 17:23:56 +0000

I just left Dr. Lankov a comment above, but I to like the digital material idea as well. If you read Dr. Lankov's AEI article, he cites that some 25% of affluent areas in North Korea have DVD players. Smuggling in small DVD players may be another option along with radios to further spread subversive information into North Korea.

By: Angus

Angus — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 17:15:41 +0000

As per Lankov's comment about the need for digital information….how about $10 DVD players flooding the northeast China market place and $1 collections of all the trashy Korean TV would help. Any chance of getting documentaries into the mix?

By: GI Korea

GI Korea — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 17:13:49 +0000

Dr. Lankov thanks for commenting and leaving a link. The paper was a great read and does a good job of summarizing all the topics you have advocated for in the past.

I had not realized how widespread DVD players had become in North Korea. That would really make your idea of spreading digital material more relevant.

I agree with all of your proposals except with the musical and economic engagement you favor. I wouldn't have a problem with either depending on how much money the regime is getting compared to the amount of engagement we are getting in return.

Plus at Kaesong you criticize the "slave labor" label for the place, but what else do you call having workers work 24 hours straight?

http://rokdrop.com/2009/03/04/north-korea-demands…

Plus much of the pay the workers receive reportedly end up in the pockets of the regime.

You should try and interview the Kaesong worker that defected and see how much money she actually received plus how much contact the workers really had with South Koreans.

http://rokdrop.com/2008/12/15/kaesong-complex-wor…

With more information and improved work conditions I could be persuaded to support the Kaesong project but the way it is run right now I do not.

Once again thanks for commenting and I appreciate the feedback.