Orientalism And The DPRK (North Korea) by John Marchant-Staffordshire KFA

Orientalism And The DPRK (North Korea) by John Marchant.

Every time that there is an authoritarian measure brought in by the state some people will shout the trope "it is just like North Korea!". The latest example of this was the derision poured upon the "One Britain, One Country" song which was introduced into the British primary school system by the  UK Education Secretary Gavin Williamson. The "One Britain, One Country" song was denounced as being akin to a North Korean anthem. A Left-Wing Group on its Facebook Page had a video mocking this song using DPRK imagery. Another instance of this orientalist approach towards Korean issues was "The Lazarus Heist" produced and broadcast by the BBC World Service. "The Lazarus Heist" alleged all sorts of fantastic tales about North Korea and computer hacking, with many inconsistencies. This BBC radio programme with its strange and sinister-sounding background music and over the top narrative was so reminiscent of the Fu Manchu stories with all its nasty "yellow peril" stereotypes. 

In his 1978 book "Orientalism" Edward Said described orientalism as the West's contemptuous depiction and portrayal of "The East". We have orientalism in abundance in regard to the DPRK being characterized as "a closed country", "the Hermit Kingdom", "Starving North Korea" and "the World's Worst Dictatorship". Through ignorance and prejudice, many people (and some on the Left who should know better?) do not understand or appreciate Korean history and the background to events in Korea or worse still, are not aware of the true nature of the political and social system of the DPRK.  Ultimately, this kind of Euro-centrism, chauvinism and bigotry is the recruiting sergeant for a possible war on the Korean peninsula by the imperialists. A lack of knowledge of the DPRK plays into the hands of the warmongers.

The Korean Friendship Association, all friends of Korea and Progressive forces have a duty to combat the torrent of lies and misconceptions told about the DPRK. Through the active exchange of information and culture about the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea among the public in the UK and other Western countries, can we begin to dismantle the curtain of orientalism surrounding   

 People's Korea and fight for solidarity with the Korean people.