North Korea a culture of warriors

An interesting perspective on north Korea as the Guerrilla Dynasty which is the name of the book by Adrian Buzo (and I am surprised the author did not cite jim since he is a fellow Australian).  

Since she did not cite Buzo I will add this quote that provides what I think is also an important insight into north Korea and the Kim Family Regime:

“In the course of this struggle against factional opponents, for the first time Kim began to emphasize nationalism as a means of rallying the population to the enormous sacrifices needed for post-war recovery.  This was a nationalism that first took shape in the environment of the anti-Japanese guerrilla movement and developed into a creed through the destruction of both the non-Communist nationalist forces and much of the leftist intellectual tradition of the domestic Communists.  Kim’s nationalism did not draw inspiration from Korean history, nor did it dwell on past cultural achievements, for the serious study of history and traditional culture soon effectively ceased in the DPRK.  Rather, DPRK nationalism drew inspiration from the Spartan outlook of the former Manchurian guerrillas.  It was a harsh nationalism that dwelt on past wrongs and promises of retribution for “national traitors” and their foreign backers.  DPRK nationalism stressed the “purity” of all things Korean against the “contamination” of foreign ideas, and inculcated in the population a sense of fear and animosity toward the outside world.  Above all, DPRK nationalism stressed that the guerrilla ethos was not only the supreme, but also the only legitimate basis on which to reconstitute a reunified Korea.” (p. 27) 

But the article is important in describing some of the propaganda and illustrating the severe indoctrination of the north Korean people.  This is why in a post-conflict or post-regime collapse scenario I make these assumptions (and one imperative) when I think about planning on the Peninsula:

1.The threats will be irregular, dangerous and complex2.The ROK and its allies will not be welcomed with open arms by everyone in north Korea  – By some, perhaps many, but not by All – therein lies the threat3.US focus on Irregular Warfare does not take north Korean threats into account4.China will intervene to protect its interests5. While some planning has taken place, there has been insufficient preparation for collapse•Imperative:  ROK must lead unification –critical for long term legitimacy

V/R
Dave

North Korea a culture of warriors By Tatiana Gabroussenko  http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Korea/NL22Dg02.html " ... Young guerrilla girl Kumsuni delivers letters to comrades, and one day is caught by the police. When the policemen demand the girl disclose information about the guerillas, she spits into the faces of her interrogators. As the policemen drag Kumsuni to her execution, the heroic girl cries out 'Long Live General Kim Il Sung!'" ...Pre-teen boy Ri Kwang-ch'un is a member of a secret anti-Japanese children's organization. Along with others, he helps the "Red Guard uncles". However, one day policemen apprehend the boy. When the "bastards" torture the young patriot, Ri cuts off his own tongue in defiance. His last words are "Long Live the Korean Revolution!" Even if one supports patriotic education of the younger generation, one is still likely to find such notions of slicing off one's own tongue, torture or execution to be much too disturbing and complicated to present to children. Yet the plots cited above are from comics published in Kkotpongori (Flower bud), a North Korean monthly magazine for kindergarden-aged children. The designated audience of the publication may be deduced by the types of logic puzzles included in each issue, such as: "Look at the pictures of a pig, a tractor and a bike. Which one moves faster?"  Welcome to the world of North Korean childhood. In this world, cartoons such as "Pencil artillery shells", by Cha Kye-ok, call on children to study well. Unlike in South Korea, where the same imperative is justified by intellectual fun and social success of the students, the North Korean educational paradigm suggests another lucrative objective: good students are better prepared for the defence of their country against invaders.  In the constantly emphasized potential war, North Korean children are summoned to prepare for the worst. Verses of their songs widely employ idioms such as kyolsaongwi (desperate readiness to die [for the leader, the country, the party]) orch' ongp' at 'anadulttal, (sons and daughters of guns and bombs/living guns and bombs). See, for example, a typical children's poem by Kim Ch'angmu, They Envy Us, They Are Afraid of Us: The whole world envies us The whole world is afraid of us We are the nation of the sun The nation which shines under the slogan of juche [self-reliance] We are the sons and daughters of guns and bombs. (Continued at the link below) http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Korea/NL22Dg02.html