Human rights violations in North Korea

Is anyone else bothered about what is going on in NK? When I read and hear about what people (and I can only imagine what is happening to animals) have to endure, the feeling of helplessness, sadness and anger is almost unbearable. Imagine people at the mercy of this ill person and his henchmen.
Should anything be done, and if so, what can realistically be done?

Check this article. I am sure you will find other reports as well
http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/no-korea-guilty-crimes-against-humanity

 

I think it's sad. I might not have had as much sympathy in years past. After all the NK people more or less brought this upon themselves by thinking socialism/communism was a good idea, and even attempting to force it upon more people in the south. However now it's pretty much people who had nothing to do with any of that suffering.

However I don't think there is much of anything that can realistically be done that would not result in more suffering in the short term in the North Korea as well as quite possibly causing death and destruction in South Korea. If you want to do something I'd suggest praying that something internal to NK causes the madness to end peacefully and maybe act to prevent people elsewhere in the world from committing the same mistakes, however well intentioned.

 

I was stationed close to the DMZ back in the mid 70's. We all knew then what was going on. This information is not new. Hard to believe it took the UN so long to come out with a report. After the Korean war many people were trapped on the north side of the 38th parallel. They didn't want communism. Most want their freedom and be with their families in the south. Why the North Korean regime has been able to continue the abuse of it's people for so long is beyond comprehension.

 

So long as China enables the NK regime, nothing will change.

Sad

 

Indeed, internal actions might be the only option. If surrounding nations would engage, that could be another, but with many violating human rights on their own, i won't hold my breath.

 

China is worried so many refugees will cross their border.

 

Sorry, it's nothing new.
It's still sad though.

As for what can be done. Well invasion isn't really feasible due to the potential casualties and of course no one is really sure what China would do in such a conflict.

Internal rebellion would be difficult to inspire and assist for obvious reasons.

Unfortunately unless Kim Jong Un changes the DPRK's policies which might prove difficult in itself as it may be possible that the army may be pursuing it's own agenda.

 

China helped to create this mess, let them, along with the UN come up with a plan. Yes, many will be killed if an invasion takes place. But what's worse? A lifetime of fear and torture or dying for freedom? I think most NK's would prefer dying for their freedom. Right now the oppression is contained in NK. What happens when they get a working ICBM? And please people, stop calling North Korea the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea. You are only playing into the regimes propaganda.

 

Close your eyes and image, just for a minute, or just sacrifice something for a day, something you really enjoy. There is your answer.

 

Doubt it. Revolution only occurs when people are without choice.

Unlikely. We're not even sure if their nuclear tests were genuine.

No. The DPRK is the legally recognised name and it's not contributing to their propaganda.
There's no one on this planet that believes they are democratic.

 

Nothing can be done; threats and sanctions do nothing but hurt the already oppressed population even more. Furthermore trying to deal with a dangerous lunatic who regards even the mildest criticisms of his regime as acts of war is totally futile.

 

Last winter starvation levels in North Korea reached an all time high and stories of cannibalism were being told and done so fairly accurately in some cases.

China which has a massive poverty issue of it's own told the North it would donate Noodle Soup and other food and the North Korean leader told China the North would ONLY accept such food aid if China also included some Metals and other raw materials that North Korea said it needed to build more Weapons systems to fend off the eventual Nuclear Confrontation with the U.S. Military.

Now THAT...is just how CRAZY the North is.

AboveAlpha

 

Anything can be done if countries united behind this atrocity. The people suffering in NK would welcome an overwhelming push to bring down the insane regime. Even if it means people get killed. The suffering going on by so many is not any kind of a life. The further NK gets with their nuclear weapons program, the more the rest of the world will also be threatened by the NK regime. The way things are going it is inevitable NK will get an ICBM capable of reaching the US. Do we really want to wait until then? Maybe it is easier for other's to see the dire situation in NK if we think of the NK people as dead people walking. The NK regime is using their own people as hostages.

 

At some point, their grandparents entered them into that 'social contract'.

China keeps NK like a thug keeps a pitbull on a chain.

 

North Korea, according to latest estimates, has armed forces numbering around 9.5 million, including regulars, reservists and paramilitary personnel. That's approximately 40% of the population of the country, making it the largest military organisation on the planet. If I were a war planner I'd rate any military action against North Korea as futile.
It's a very difficult situation, to put it mildly, and the potential nuclear threat is a very real concern.

 

People who consent to oppression totally deserve it ( and i don't want to read about "they don't like to be shot" if this was the case i would live in Turkey and most of you in colonial England).

Some interesting thoughts

http://gowans.wordpress.com/2014/02...ld-be-about-the-united-states-or-south-korea/

 

I don't understand. How do you consent to oppression?

 

By doing nothing to bring oppressors down . If you consider your life more important than your freedom then you will consent to the will of anyone with ability to eraze it.
As some local revolutionaries said here in 1820's : better live an hour as a free man than a life as a slave .

 

It was a little more complex than that - in the first 20 years or so North Korea was (Relatively speaking) a dictatorial paradise. And it was only in the 70's that South Korea's economy passed the North in GDP and other such measures. North Korea hit the skids once the Soviets began to spend less on client states, and things have gone down hill ever since. And while I am not trying to defend North Korea, the country has a natural disadvantage it will never get around. Using the best technology, best market practice and ideal growing seasons, North Korea will never produce enough food to feed itself. At best only about a 30% shortfall could be expected

 

So what is the solution? Aren't they secluding themselves?

 

The possible solutions for now all involve very risky scenarios. The good news is it seems even the elite of the nation are starting to become unsettled. A lot of western media is getting into the country and the people are starting to become a little more defiant, wondering why they can't have the same things they see on TV . As revolutions go, this one is glacial, but we have to let it germinate from within, and be ready to all out to help when things do begin to collapse.

 

Either we fight against a large military with conventional weapons, or we fight a large military that has nuclear weapons too. If country's are hoping the NK regime will just collapse on it's own, it's a very bad assumption to make. The clash with NK is inevitable. Either we clash on our terms, or we clash on theirs. And so far it seems all theirs.

 

You underestimate the NK regime the same way Johnson underestimated the North Vietnamese. And we do know NK's nuclear weapon's program is legit. Just ask Japan and South Korea who monitor their progress. And you are promulgating North Korea's lie when you call it the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea.

 

40% seems like it's close to their figure of able-bodied men. I imagine this would be a conscript army. But I also imagine that they won't be fully committed to defending their "dear leader". They might pray to him because they have to, but that doesn't mean they'll die for him. I imagine a large chunk of their guns will point inward from the moment they notice their government are attacked. If enough of them plan their treason accordingly, to take out officers on the chance, then the whole army would become more of a liability than anything. Any invading forces should see masses upon masses of suspenders approach that turn themselves over for safety before even firing a shot. Of course they will be told they are the evil ones, and not necessarily know they can be trusted because of the media blackout, so that might reduce this amount. Then again, you'll get a lot of citizens with a vendetta against the UN dynasty' I can't imagine too many of them have never lost a loved one to the gulags or execution.

 

It's not necessarily fear for you own life. There are plenty of these people. That's why the the government kill you due to your infraction, but your family get dragged off to the gulags, or executed as well.