written by Elizabeth Khor
If you live in America, Australia, or Britain and are able to read this article right now, you’re also able to comment your opinions. Whether it’s on this article or the latest scandal, we can freely talk with each other in public, debate the effectiveness of our government, and even the flaws of our country.
We’re able to tweet furiously about our presidents and prime ministers, criticising their every move, without fear of any major consequences. Meanwhile, North Koreans are being thrown into prison camps or executed for attempting these very same things.
You might be wondering, why and how can their government suppress North Korean citizens’ freedom of speech? In order to delve deep into these questions, we first have to understand the history of North Korea.
In 1945, at the end of World War II, Japan surrendered Korea to the Allied Forces, dividing the Korean peninsula into two. The United States occupied the South, and the Soviet Union occupied the North, allowing these two countries to influence and separate the two sides of Korea. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea was formed in 1948, with a government structure mirroring the Soviet Union's. Later in the South, the government of the Republic of Korea was formed, with values that aligned with those of the United States.
North Korea’s government was built on the ideology of “Juche”, meaning self-reliance. Juche is the belief that if a nation is strong and independent, that nation can then achieve true socialism. Kim Il-sung, the first leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, was incredibly passionate about “Juche”, enforcing this ideology into a set of principles that are still used and followed today.
Compared to the South, or any democratic country in the world, North Korea is drastically different. The State not only controls the economy but also has full ownership of all property, private property simply does not exist. All media is monitored by the State, with foreign media being banned with harsh punishments. There are also tight restrictions on international travel; citizens cannot leave, and others cannot enter.
There have been countless articles, stories, and exposés that have shined the spotlight on the North Korean government. However, this has been at the expense of 25 million currently ignored stories that also need to be investigated, told, and heard. The inequalities that the residents in North Korea face are unlike those in any other country. These inequalities have only been further emphasised by the establishment of the Korean’s People Army. The lower-class, ordinary, plain residents not only have limited liberties but also have limited rights. Two of the most common freedoms that we take for granted and that North Koreans can only dream of are the freedom of movement and the freedom of speech.
Freedom of Movement
Our freedom of movement allows us to travel domestically and internationally, without fear of negative consequences. During the 2019 holidays, 1.4 billion people traveled internationally to the United States, France, Thailand, China, and other countries around the world. Domestically travel rates are still high, with Americans taking 2.29 billion domestic trips per year. We’re able to travel to different towns during the weekends to visit friends, explore tourist destinations or try out new restaurants. In North Korea, international holidays or traveling to another town with ease are nothing more than a dream. A dream that forces over 1,000 people per year to make the dangerous journey of nearly 2,700 miles across several countries (China, Laos, Thailand) using buses, trains, boats, or even their own two legs.
North Koreans who attempt this journey are on a constant lookout for authorities waiting to send them back to where they came from, where they will face harsh punishments. Unless these defectors can reach Thailand, the country that will allow them to travel to South Korea without any consequences, they will have to continue to hold their breath in the other countries they travel through. Yet many would still rather live in China, where authorities are constantly on the hunt for these fearful defectors than to return to North Korea.
However, this restriction on movement applies to those who wish to move freely between provinces in North Korea as well. Citizens have informed Amnesty International that in order to move between towns, approval from authorities is needed. With many residents having to bribe these officials for their approval too. In order to control and track their citizens, identification cards have been issued to monitor each and every move of North Koreans. Those who refuse to register are deemed to have left the country illegally, facing the consequence of a life sentence in a prison camp.
Freedom of Speech
At a young age, the children and future generations of North Korea are taught to worship and respect the leader of their country: Kim Jong-un. Yet as we see when these same kids enter university or illegally discover the outside world, doubt is planted into their minds. Maybe they start to have differing opinions about how the country should operate. Maybe they start believing that the conditions that many citizens live in could be better and should be better. Maybe they start realising that it’s time for a change.
However, despite their passion, their fresh ideas cannot ever become anything more than a dream. North Korea slaughters, crushes and stamps on the hopes and dreams of its own citizens.
Amnesty International did a report on the labour camps in North Korea, with shocking findings. Although the country constantly denies the presence of them, the camps are incredibly and undeniably large. So large that they can be seen from space. Those who are imprisoned usually have not committed serious crimes like murder. Instead, much of the 120,000 women, men, and children who populate these camps are imprisoned for the act of speaking against the regime or merely being in association with those who pose a threat to the government.
Freedom of speech is one of the most powerful liberties that have been given to us, throughout the globe. It is one of the most important freedoms that is constantly taken for granted. While we are able to tweet scathing criticisms of Donald Trump or argue about government failures, many North Koreans are instantly given the death penalty if found voicing any deterrence.
While using this freedom, we forget about those who do not receive the same privileges.
But we can use our privilege to spread awareness. Help those who manage to escape to share their stories. Give people a platform to talk about their experiences. Donate to organisations that are focused on helping North Koreans come to a place where the grass is truly greener. We can use our voices and speak for those who can’t.
Silence is the loudest sound. So why are we continuing to ignore the silenced screams and cries of help from 25 million people?
Helping:
Sources:
Cover Photo by Thomas Evans on Unsplash
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