This is Randi Hacker with another Postcard from Asia from the KU Center for East Asian Studies.

North Korea has the fourth largest standing army in the world but it’s not laughing. Not even at a comedy show that’s written just to raise troop morale The show’s called It’s So Funny but, really, the only thing funny about it is that not funny. It’s So Funny has been on the air for 20 years. A recent show featured two army personnel, a man and a woman, who did a skit about the benefits of eating beans which include good health, happiness and, of course, the strength to prevail against US Imperialist dogs. There was not a single mention of, you know, gas. I guess it takes a totalitarian, state-run TV station to do an entire comedy show about beans and never once resort to flatulence or, indeed, humor.

From the Center for East Asian Studies, this is Randi Hacker. Wish you were here.