Agape international – North Korea

Editorial

nkcomo — Sat, 15 Oct 2022 21:00:00 +0000

The media has been quiet concerning Korea lately, which is not to say that the people of Korea have become less important to us.
Also, things are not quiet in the North of Korea – but as the borders are closed, no reports are coming through. The official publications, such as the “Korea Pictoral”, that we occasionally download from
www.naenara.com.kp, give us an idea of what moves the Korean people.

Of course, we read these texts with the reports of our media in mind, and we look at the pictures with our own pictures in mind. To the western reader the stories and reports seem embellished and idealised. This is their style. Nonetheless, it is informative and some of it quite interesting and is shared in our blogs.

Reasons to Celebrate

nkcomo — Fri, 30 Sep 2022 21:00:00 +0000

Before COVID led to widespread illness, there was one celebration after the other in April: First, the inauguration of a new district with a 80-story high-rise building in Pyongyang. For the reporter this so far tallest and quite futuristic building signals a “turning point of the development of civilisation of Korean-style socialism”. Besides celebrating the army anniversary with large parades, the 10-year anniversary of Kim Jong Un’s government and the 110th birthday of his (deceased) grandfather Kim Il Sung were also commemorated.

These celebrations filled the people with pride over everything they have endured and reached.

In South Korea a new president has taken over the government since March: Yoon Suk Yeol. He is focussing on different things than his predecessor. It remains to be seen if this will have positive or negative effects on the greater region in the future.

South Korea has begun to build up its own missile programme to demonstrate more deterrence towards the north. This is not well received in North Korea. No one can say if this will lead to a renewed escalation of the Korea conflict, as a reporter of the Swiss newspaper NZZ fears.

Others speculate that the opposite is also possible. We will refrain from predicting the future and prefer to pray for Korea and its surrounding countries!

People in Kubin are doing better

nkcomo — Sat, 24 Sep 2022 21:00:00 +0000

One of our project locations, Kubin, is featured in one of the above-mentioned articles in Korea Pictorial. The author describes the agricultural situation (hilly, poor soil and therefore challenging for the cultivation of vegetables and cereals) and that the village has specialised in goat breeding and milk processing in the last 20 years, and what this now means for the people. One of the farmers says, “Since then we have been doing much better!” These signs of life are dear to us.

Let’s defend

nkcomo — Wed, 31 Aug 2022 21:00:00 +0000

While our media reports that many people contracted Covid in the spring, the Korea Pictorial reports that the military and the healthcare professionals are caring for the sick, fighting the epidemic and are very engaged in helping the population.

They write about the ruling family making donations of medicine to an affected city and that prevention and the fight against the epidemic was an important topic at the «Enlarged Plenary Meeting of the Central Committee of the Worker’s Party of North Korea» and that it has kept the
government on its toes for the last couple of months.

Besides all the reports on prevention efforts, there is always an article on agriculture to show that despite all mandated restrictions crops are being cultivated so the next harvest is secured.

Movie off

nkcomo — Sat, 30 Jul 2022 16:59:00 +0000

A summer evening, a good movie, that’s what Koreans like, too. Movies, cinemas, have always played a major role in the KDVR: Both Kim Il Sung and his successor Kim Jong Il were big movie fans. Some films we also found interesting, others less so, some we would like to see again. In the last five years, however, not a single new film seems to have left the studios.

Now, however, there is something new for movie fans to see: “A Night and a Day”, the true story of the heroic nurse Ra Myong Hui and her patriotic activities. The trailer shows a lot of drama and melodrama (both key elements in almost all DPRK films).

Unfortunately, not all North Korean movies can be found on the Internet later on, but who knows?

But, curious to learn more? At Zoe Discovers: Her video explores everything concerning North Korean filmmaking, including background on the North Korean film industry, some of the best (and worst) movies, a walk through the film studios, and a new project featuring North Korea’s most famous actors and actresses.

A Deaf Child finds his Vocation

nkcomo — Tue, 11 May 2021 21:00:00 +0000

While browsing the «Korea Today Pictorial»12/20 (www.naenara.com.kp), I not only discovered an article on «our» goat farm in Pyongphungdok, but also an article on the personal development of a young boy whose dream it was to dance.

The boy’s name is Ryu Jin Hyok and he is deaf. Robert Grund, who is every engaged for the deaf in North Korea, says, «I have known Ryu Jin Hyok for over 15 years. When I first met him he did not know sign language because just like other forms of support for deaf children – it was inexistent.

Today things have changed: The work for and among the deaf is quickly developing. There are special kindergartens, the number of trained sign language interpreters is growing and Jin Hyok is a master dancer in the dance ensemble of the arts association!»

Endure the waiting Period

nkcomo — Sun, 09 May 2021 21:00:00 +0000

Have you noticed that reading the newspaper has become more monotonous lately? Maybe it’s just me, but I seem to only rarely find articles about North Korea … and when I do, the article has much in common with reading tea leaves in that there are merely interpretations of statements or events.

The reason for this is that there are practically no foreigners left in North Korea; embassy personnel, business professionals, NGO staff, etc. left the country months ago. Ever since there has been little to report.

We are glad about the opportunity to talk to embassy personnel and staff members of other NGOs. Listening to others or reading in the Korea Today Pictorials 12/20 (www.naenara.com.kp) about people we met a couple of years ago is encouraging and helps us all deal with the waiting period.