The Orwellian State Of North Korea
MBA Education & Careers
The Orwellian State of
North Korea
A state of war only serves as an excuse for domestic tyranny.*
BHARAT C. JAIN
I
n February 2012, in a piece published in this space, this
Kim Il-sung had led North Korea since the Korean peninsula
author had written about how precious little was known
was split in half by the Korean War (1950-53). Although the two sides signed a ceasefire in 1953 they remain technically at war.
about Kim Jong-un, who had just then become the leader
of North Korea. In his first remarks, soon after assuming the leadership, Kim spoke like his father’s true son: “North Korea will not give in to the imperialist designs of the United States,
Japan, and South Korea, by giving up its nuclear weapons programme.” He threatened the U.S., South Korea and Japan with decisive military action if they dared challenged his country’s military strength.
As is the case with Orwellian States, there is very little information available in the public space about the ruling dynasty of the Kim family. This has to be seen in the light of the fact that all information and propaganda flow in an
Orwellian State, especially of the communist type, is tightly controlled by the rulers.
And yes, Kim lived up to his word. On 12 February, 2013,
North Korea successfully tested a nuclear device at the
Punggye-ri underground nuclear test site. While this was North
Korea’s third such test, after its 2006 and 2009 tests, the latest
North Korea is probably the most politically isolated country in the world.
test set off alarm bells in global capitals, especially after the
ecological environment.” The use of the term “miniaturized”
Ruled with an iron-fist by a dictatorial regime, the North is widely seen as an international pariah, a view that contrasts sharply with the global perception of the South as a democracy and economically advanced nation. The difference in the fortunes of both the Koreas lies in the paths they adopted soon after the end of
The Orwellian State of
North Korea
A state of war only serves as an excuse for domestic tyranny.*
BHARAT C. JAIN
I
n February 2012, in a piece published in this space, this
Kim Il-sung had led North Korea since the Korean peninsula
author had written about how precious little was known
was split in half by the Korean War (1950-53). Although the two sides signed a ceasefire in 1953 they remain technically at war.
about Kim Jong-un, who had just then become the leader
of North Korea. In his first remarks, soon after assuming the leadership, Kim spoke like his father’s true son: “North Korea will not give in to the imperialist designs of the United States,
Japan, and South Korea, by giving up its nuclear weapons programme.” He threatened the U.S., South Korea and Japan with decisive military action if they dared challenged his country’s military strength.
As is the case with Orwellian States, there is very little information available in the public space about the ruling dynasty of the Kim family. This has to be seen in the light of the fact that all information and propaganda flow in an
Orwellian State, especially of the communist type, is tightly controlled by the rulers.
And yes, Kim lived up to his word. On 12 February, 2013,
North Korea successfully tested a nuclear device at the
Punggye-ri underground nuclear test site. While this was North
Korea’s third such test, after its 2006 and 2009 tests, the latest
North Korea is probably the most politically isolated country in the world.
test set off alarm bells in global capitals, especially after the
ecological environment.” The use of the term “miniaturized”
Ruled with an iron-fist by a dictatorial regime, the North is widely seen as an international pariah, a view that contrasts sharply with the global perception of the South as a democracy and economically advanced nation. The difference in the fortunes of both the Koreas lies in the paths they adopted soon after the end of