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[Vattic]

I'm sure lots of them are, but that's the power of brainwashing. I have yet to read it myself, but I know that the author of Escape From Camp 14 talks about how even most of the people in North Korea's death camps believe the state rhetoric and will report dissenters to guards.

He said the the propaganda in the camps was less than outside. People reported each other because of fear and rewards like sex with other inmates (how his parents met).

[IronyOwl]

Thanks for the article and translation, Guardian.

I'm sure lots of them are, but that's the power of brainwashing. I have yet to read it myself, but I know that the author of Escape From Camp 14 talks about how even most of the people in North Korea's death camps believe the state rhetoric and will report dissenters to guards.

He said the the propaganda in the camps was less than outside. People reported each other because of fear and rewards like sex with other inmates (how his parents met).

Well that's an interesting story.

"So how did you two meet?"
"Well you see, I'd just snitched on someone, and what do you know I get paired up with the cutest little stoolie as a reward!"
"I remember I was so desperate to see him again, I actually started making things up so I could rat people out over them. Teehee!"
"..."

[misko27]

"So how did you two meet?"
"Well you see, I'd just snitched on someone, and what do you know I get paired up with the cutest little stoolie as a reward!"
"I remember I was so desperate to see him again, I actually started making things up so I could rat people out over them. Teehee!"
"..."

A match made in Heaven. Well not really. Actually fairly close to the opposite. But at least they're happy.

[Vattic]

From what I understand he could have gained favour by other means, but snitching was mentioned specifically as something that worked. The guy barely knew his father.

[Mephansteras]

China bans some weapons exports to NK. Sounds like China really is getting fed up with North Korea pushing the boundaries so much.

[MetalSlimeHunt]

They've been fed up for a long time now.

[IronyOwl]

They've been fed up for a long time now.

Sending someone aid and having them steal the trains it was delivered on will do that, I imagine.

I do wonder why/how fed up they are with the actual weapon stuff, though.

[Mephansteras]

They've been fed up for a long time now.

Sending someone aid and having them steal the trains it was delivered on will do that, I imagine.

I do wonder why/how fed up they are with the actual weapon stuff, though.

I doubt they actually care about that too much, but it's an issue that the UN & the West have been focused on for a long time. Adding their support to that area makes them look good and gives them more pull in other areas.

[FearfulJesuit]

Switzerland engages in serious human rights abuses.

[ibot66]

Haha wut

[Xantalos]

This is serious business.

[IronyOwl]

I wonder if the Imperialistic And Unjust West could get some actual concessions from something like that. Probably not, as once he's got them there's no reason to hold up his end of the bargain, and most Western powers are more concerned with detoothing NK than any of the stuff he might actually be willing to compromise on to make his people's lives better.

More likely they'll just try to have China launder some for him or something, though China's got some bones to pick as well at the moment.

[Sensei]

Honestly, if they can make missiles and huge hotels, I'm surprised they can't make at least a ski lift. Jerry rig something together. Seriously.

[Andrew425]

Machinery is one of those difficult things though. You need a few things to build it.

1. Proper metallurgy, which comes from years of empirically tested materials translated into engineering handbooks.
2. A large amount of engineers who can apply known methods to the problem at hand
3. The facilities in which you can build solid pieces of machinery
4. A knowledgeable worker base that can use the tools to build that machinery
5. A long list of every conceivable thing that the Machinery can take and its limits, start up procedures and the like.
6. All the electronics that would run it.

I doubt North Korea has enough of 2,3,4 or 6.

I remember my dad talking to me about a planned conveyor belt that they had to put onto a side of a hill carrying ore from a mine. The amount of engineering hurdles they had to go through to get something as simple as that working was crazy. This was after they had bought all the machinery from a Swiss company that specialized in building ski lifts and stuff.

I'm fairly sure that's why the Koreans are angry about it. It could take them years until they have workable pieces and for the dear leader that just won't do.

[Mrhappyface]

Don't they get money from importing nuclear waste? Or is that only negligible money?