Sunday, August 10, 2008

Living in North Korea...

A few days ago I watch national geographic channel about living in North Korea. Surprisingly, the picture I saw is not what I expected to be. National Geography shot many places in North Korea, from Pyongyang to small village there. So I can see the reality of living there.

People in North Korea are mostly thin. And poor too (but they are seemed happy with their life). This is caused by long embargo by United Nations because of America suspicion about weapon of mass destruction (WMD) whereabouts in North Korea..Hmm, this is if I'm not mistaken..well someone please CMIIW :).

Most people in North Korea hate American because of this. A few years ago, there was famine widespread in North Korea and there were many victims - innocent ones - died. But it seems that United Nations closed their eyes and refused to help those people because of North Korea political status. Well, so the situation there can be easily understood. Politics is always used as an excuse for powerful people to justify their cruel acts. It's happened everywhere.

I still cannot accept the fact that people in North Korea are still using their bare hands for farming. And yet..there are no gas station in villages..wow. This depicts how underdeveloped North Korea is compared to South Korea. Another contrast scene can be seen at the border between North Korea and South Korea. North Korean army are really thin, yet they have full of nationalism and pride of being Korean, keeping guard of their borderline. While South Korean army are accompanied by American army there, looking in much better shape.

It's easy to see why South Korea is much more advanced than North Korea. They ally with USA and then get enormous benefits. Maybe in the eyes of North Korean nationalism, that maybe a disgusting act, selling their soul to the another country. That's why, tension between North Korea and South Korea is always high.

If you want to reach something higher, there always be something to be sacrificed for. At least that what I learned from watching this. And the other lesson I learned is even in the communism country there exists people who are more equal than others. This is the word I keep into mind deeply.

There are always unfair situations everywhere in the world and we cannot expect to receive same treatments as others who have higher level of society than us. In order to do so, it would require limitless efforts, efforts we do from our eyes opened in the morning until we go to the bed at night - exhausted....

But this is what makes life is more interesting....:)