Ask me about North Korea

Kim Jong-il, the second ruler of the DPRK, transformed North Korea in many ways – willingly or not. During the years of his rule, North Korea became a semi-capitalist isolated society in possession of nuclear weapons, a country that would not leave the front pages of international mass-media outlets. An incompetent leader but a talented diplomat, Kim Jong-il managed to pull his authoritarian regime through the period of economic crisis – all that despite the ominous predictions of imminent collapse coming from American and European political scientists. In today’s episode we look at the political biography of Kim Jong-il and at the legacy he left behind.

Kim Il-sung is, perhaps, a name that you do not hear all that much these days, if you are not a North Korea watcher. What you might hear way more often is the name of his grandson, Kim Jong-un, who is the current head of the North Korean state. However, it was Kim Il-sung, who shaped North Korea as we know it today – as the most controlled society in the world. It was Kim Il-sung, who plunged the Korean Peninsula into the bloodbath of the Korean War and cemented the division of Korea. It was Kim Il-sung, who created a personality cult that remains unparalleled in humanity’s modern history. The founder of North Korea maintained his grip on power for almost half a century until he passed away in 1994. In today’s episode I try to take a broad look at how Kim Il-sung’s life as a political leader shaped North Korea as a country and society we know today.

As season one is approaching an end, in this brief announcement I outline what episodes will be coming next after a break of two weeks. I also ask for your help with promoting the podcast online - do not worry, it won’t take too much effort :)

One of the key pillars of the long-lasting North Korean authoritarianism is a highly complex system of mass-surveillance. Spying on your own citizens is something that is characteristic of many authoritarian regimes, but Pyongyang has certainly outperformed all of its undemocratic counterparts in this field. Some researchers even argue that the North Korean system has no equivalents in the world, while Amnesty International has christened the DPRK as ‘The Surveillance State’. Since using security and intelligence agents is a widespread practice in many authoritarian regimes, today I will talk about other more subtle surveillance mechanisms that are more specific to North Korea. For more details visit - askmeaboutdprk.wordpress.com

North Korea has been rightfully regarded by many economists as one the most least likely places to attract foreign investors. Poor infrastructure, chaotic and very toxic politics, as well as a regime of harsh international sanctions do not necessarily contribute to the country’s economic image. Despite all that, there are still some adventurous capitalists, who end up pumping their resources into that country. But why? Find out in today’s episode! For more details visit - askmeaboutdprk.wordpress.com

North Korea is known to the world as one of the most authoritarian nations. Despite the regular predictions of collapse coming from Western political scientists, the Kim dynasty succeeded in creating a political system that outlived all communist regimes in Central and Eastern Europe; a system that survived one of the biggest famines in modern history; a system that continues to exist today despite literally the harshest possible economic sanctions regime in the world. Why is the North Korean regime so resilient and stable? I will talk about that in today’s episode. For more details visit - www.askmeaboutdprk.wordpress.com

One of the most commonly used cliches about North Korea is that it is a destitute, starving country, where people are literally dropping dead from hunger in the streets. In the late 1990s, the DPRK experienced a major economic shock, which brought about one of the worst famines in modern human history. But are North Koreans still starving today? Throughout the 2000s and 2010s the economic situation has steadily improved there, but the country is still facing challenges in this area. Today, I will talk about the lessons of the 1990s famine and the current food security situation in the wake of the coronavirus recession. For more details visit —www.askmeaboutdprk.wordpress.com

One often wonders whether people lead their daily lives in the same manner even in the most totalitarian regime on earth. This series of episodes deals with various aspects of daily life in North Korea – ranging from individual interactions and work to education and cooking. This episode looks into such topics as traditions, celebrations, and religion. For more details visit - askmeaboutdprk.wordpress.com

In my blitz episodes, I combine different smaller questions that do not require as much elaboration as some broader topics that I normally discuss. Today I will be talking about why Korea has so many different names and why North Korean leaders are obsessed with travelling by train. And I will also unveil the mysterious meaning of the Kim-family-badges that so many North Koreans are wearing. For more details visit - askmeaboutdprk.wordpress.com

Many North Koreans embark on dangerous adventures to escape from their country – some of them flee for political reasons, but most for economic ones. Their motivation to move to South Korea is understandable – who would not want to live in a country that is thirty times richer than yours and offers greater political freedoms? North Koreans fleeing from the DPRK risk their lives for the sake of freedom and promise of prosperity. However, when they reach the South and settle down, many of them face integration difficulties and become disenfranchised. Why does it happen? I talk about this question in today’s episode. For the full transcript of the episode, references, and follow-up readings please visit the podcast’s website – www.askmeaboutdprk.wordpress.com