North Korea: Normality, Hope Amidst the Perms and Lunacy

When the cover of The Economist magazine featured Kim Jong II with his permed hair and the caption “Greetings Earthlings,” it seemed to aptly sum up the world’s view of North Korea. It has the image of being so isolated and different that it may as well be from another planet.

But that popular image is based on the leadership and the policies of those at the top. There is no question Kim Jong Il and his cronies are corrupt, dangerous, isolated, or in some cases simply mad.

The infrastructure of the country is in tatters even as the leadership pursues the acquisition of nuclear weapons. People starve while resources are poured into long-range missiles.

But there is a different North Korea, not centered on Pyongyang but rather the rural communities that make up the bulk of the country.

Daily RFA News Summary December 10

This a summary of stories being carried on Radio Free Asia today December 10, 2009. Please use the links to go directly to the relevant RFA language website to listen to the stories or read original language transcripts. Some items are translated into English and are available on RFA’s English language page.

If there are stories that you want to hear more about or you would like to see covered we would love to hear from you. If you have a story to tell we will listen.RFAs main page has contact details for all the language services.

RFA daily news summary Thurdays Nov 12

Radio Free Asia’s Daily Language Service News Summary

RFA EXCLUSSIVE:  TODAY AN INTERVIEW OF PRESIDENT OBAMA’S BROTHER BY THE CANTONESE SERVICE .

This a summary of stories being carried on Radio Free Asia today November 12, 2009. Please use the links to go directly to the relevant RFA language website to listen to the stories or read original language transcripts. Some items are translated into English and are available on RFA’s English language page.

If there are stories that you want to hear more about or you would like to see covered we would love to hear from you. If you have a story to tell we will listen.RFAs main page has contact details for all the language services.

Lao:

1. Lao Ministry of Energy and Mining to inspect investors for those who get mining concessions but never start operations, hoping to sell to bigger players for profit.
2. UXO Lao severely short of funds and labor. The Government is under pressure to clear land for farmers but officials say they lack money and employees to keep up with demand.
3. AIDS center estimates 5000 HIV cases in Laos. Earlier the Government announced 3,900 HIV/AIDS cases, but has now increased the estimate.
4. Lao sports official says only 1000 tickets left for SEA Games’ opening and closing ceremonies.
5. Sky-rocketing prices in Vientiane generate more land-related conflicts.
6. According to health official, 1,500 people seek medical help every month for skin problems caused by fake cosmetics.
7. Vientiane lacks data about mining potential need to attract investors.
8. Lao university students concerned by the lack of education opportunities for underprivileged youth.

Tibetan:

1. Dalai Lama ends public teachings in Arunachal Pradesh by exhorting thousands of his followers to maintain Buddhist culture.
2. Chinese FM spokesman Qin Gang says President Barack Obama’s race and background should mean he is sympathetic to China’s opposition to the Dalai Lama and Tibetan independence.
3. China should abolish secretive “black jails” used to hold aggrieved citizens, Human Rights Watch says in new report launched ahead of President Obama’s visit.
4. President Obama leaves on his debut presidential tour of Asia seeking to revive America’s prestige as regional power. It is seen as a trip much heavier on symbolism than diplomatic substance.
5. U.S. Treasury Sec Timothy Geithner says a strong dollar is “very important” to the U.S. and praised China’s role in the global economic recovery.
6. The Dharamsala-based Active Non-violence Education Center calls for objective reporting by media to spread the message of peace according to Tibetan Administration-in-exile reports.

Burmese:

1. Japan most likely will resume Official Development assistance to Burma after the 2010 election according to the Japanese based NGO Burma Info.
2. India’s policy towards Burma one sided, says Human Rights Watch Asia director in press conf in India.
3. 88 student leader Ma Mee Mee transferred again from Insein to Kathar prison and Ko Thet Zaw from Moulmein to Insein.

Vietnamese:

1. Vietnam Parliament to supervise creation of schools and improvement in teaching standards.
2. Vietnam Parliament prepares the next week’s Q&A for Vietnam PM Nguyen Tan Dung.
3. Price of gold on Vietnamese market continues to soar.
4. OSC: French PM arrives in Vietnam for talks on economic ties.
5. UN Food and Agriculture Organization hails achievement of Vietnam in fighting hunger.

Mandarin:

1. RFA EXCLUSIVE – Family vows to resist forced demolition with blood in eastern China city of Linyi. PHOTO
2. Longtime Sichuan rights activist Liu Zhengyou arrested on charges of fraud.
3. Police round up petitioners in Beijing and Shanghai before arrival of President Obama.
4. Tiananmen mother Ding Zilin urges President Obama to rescue jailed dissident Liu Xiaobo.
5. Wife in letter calls on President Obama to help locate kidnapped rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng.
6. LA-based Chinese groups request President Obama push China on rights.
7. Human Rights Watch blasts China over “black jails” in which petitioners for justice and detained.
8. Panel: Obama’s China trip and US-China relations.
9. Shanghai petitioners express support for rights activist Feng Zhenghu, stuck in limbo at Tokyo airport as entry to Shanghai denied.
10. Canada-based Chinese activists mobilize to help Feng Zhenghu stuck in Tokyo airport.
11. Panel – New policy for addressing petitioners’ complaints: Central government officials will visit provinces, municipalities to meet local petitioners.
12. Reform of China’s education system.
13. Chongqing government promotes “Red-themed” stage plays.

Khmer:

1. Outsted Thai Prime Minister Thaksin speaks to 300 govt officials and business representatives at the Ministry of Finance in Phnom Penhy. He thanks Hun Sen for the opportunity. Later meets with Thai supporters in Siem Reap, visits Angkor Wat. No press interview.
2. Poipet security situation is normal but cross-border business is estimated down 60%. No Thais are allowed to cross the border to visit the Cambodian casinos.
3. National assembly set for Nov. 16 session on suspending Sam Rainsy’s immunity in order to investigate allegations he damaged state property by removing a Vietnam border marker.
4. A Chinese road construction company awarded U.S. $73M loan from China begins 50-km detour of Road 78 from Stung Treng to Ratanakiri to bypass hydroplant Sesan 2.

Cantonese:

1. RFA EXCLUSIVE: INTERVIEW with President Obama’s half brother who suggests his visit to China “has to respect the other side.” PHOTOS AND VIDEO
2. U.S. Embassy in Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai consulates invite local bloggers to one hour video meeting for background on Obama
3. visit. Bloggers speak on China’s Firewall.
4. Many organizations continue to urge Obama to speak on China’s human rights situation. HK group will demonstrate tomorrow. Dissidents in China under tight control.
5. Human Rights Watch report on “black jails.”

Korean:

1. Human Rights in Asia, a Japanese human rights group, stages campaign urging EC to press the Luxemburg Government to report transfers of Kim Jong Il’s allegedly illegally obtained funds from Switzerland.
2. Former State Dept senior economist William Newcomb recommends financial sanctions to counter North Korea’s illicit activities.
3. South Korea lambasts North Korea for what it calls its planned provocation in the West Sea.
4. FAO report on crop prospects in North Korea.
5. US envoy Stephane Bosworth to visit North Korea soon for direct talks.
6. News analysis – North Korea secret power succession.
7. News analysis – North Korea observatory: A song in praise of Kim Jung Un.

Uyghur:

1. East Turkistan Republic Day.
2. Conference on Uyghur region in Turkey’s Kocaoli city.
3. On the issue of illegal prisons in China.

 END

North Korea’s Short Missiles Fail To Please

SEOUL—North Korea test fired two types of short range missiles earlier this month but the tests showed a distinctly disappointing performance according to intelligence sources.

None of the five missiles tested found their target. Two missed, two fell into the sea and another failed to launch.

With a range of 75 miles (120 kms), the missiles are believed to be an altered version of the Soviet Union’s SS-21 missile.

N. Korean Defectors Bewildered By the South

A wonderful article bringing light on the plight of North Korean defectors in South Korea in the Washington Post.

North Korea Defies World Pressure

It must have been the most watched rocket launched ever: South Korea, Japan and the United States – at least – had radars and high-definition cameras scrutinizing the vehicle that might have ended in the water after it passed over Japan.

North Korea Perfects Its Diplomatic Game: Brinkmanship

From the New York Times’ Choe Sang-Hun: North Korea, a dictatorship armed to the teeth but unable to feed its own people without foreign aid, has specialized in provoking the international community for survival.

North Koreans Laugh Too

Is it possible to enjoy humor in a country as hopeless as North Korea?

There’s a lot of material, for sure, but do they get it? It seems they do.

Do they protest too much?

Soviet dissidents used to say the surest sign that an air crash had occurred back in the USSR was a sudden surge in official reporting on air disasters abroad. A plane would go down, and suddenly the airwaves were alive with grisly, fiery footage of Western crashes, from Illinois to Edinburgh—with no mention of what had just happened in Minsk. It’s no wonder, then, that North Korea-watchers grew mightily curious when Pyongyang’s official press began running detailed reporting this month on how to avoid bird flu and how North Korea had no cases of the deadly virus to report.

The joy of modern appliances in North Korea

Oh, the magic of modern conveniences!

Back in the American 1970s, realtors used to write “ALL MOD CONS” in flyers to indicate the presence of life-changing, labor-saving devices such as electric washers and dryers, and (don’t swoon) gas ovens. Then along came the slow-cooker, and suburban homemakers took off for paying jobs in the city. At least where I lived, that is. Without reliving my entire polyester-clad, ABBA-soundtracked, red-headed American childhood, I wish to make the following point: Sometimes a single household appliance can shift the world on its axis. And right now, Korea-watchers are pondering precisely this possibility.