True Believers

For John, BLUF:  Not everyone is from Belvedere Village.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

Friday evening CNN put up a news story by Kyung Lah, "North Korea's propaganda machine grips defector 11 years on".  Ms Chae Young Hee fled North Korea 11 years ago, but still feels the pull of the North Korean propaganda.

Loose talk of Korean reunification, or even responding to an attack by North Korea with an invasion misses the point that the People of North Korea have a religious like affection for their three leaders since WWII.  Per Ms Chae:

"Even if I tried to explain this, I don't think people here would understand.  They won't think this is real," she says, watching a news clip of adoring citizens waving flowers and rushing to the young leader.

"But this is true.  That is the truth.  And we can't think for ourselves.  When North Koreans watch news on the dear leader, they believe in it.  We live because of him."

Not everyone thinks as we do.

Regards  —  Cliff