The homepage, which is in itself one of the strangest things I've seen for a while, also contains a FAQ-page. The first question - naturally - concerns the very serious inquiry of whether it is possible to buy a signed picture of Kim Jong II. And, yes, dear reader, it is! Question nr. 13: "Is North Korea a dictatorship?" And the answer:
No, the DPRK is a single-united-party constitutional democracy guaranteeing freedom of speech and assembly to all citizens. DPRK citizens play an active role in their nation's political life at the local, regional and national levels, through their trade unions or as members of one of the nation's three political parties, which include the Workers' Party of Korea, the Chondoist Chongu Party and the Korean Social Democratic Party.
And from the section for 'politics' in North Korea: "The basic principle in the organization of the organs in the country is the Democratic Centralism. All the power organs are elected by the masses and they must answer in front of them."
Well... 'Freedom of speech & assembly for all citizens'... I once watched a documentary about a German (or Austrian?) conductor who visited North Korea and arranged a concert with a few Korean students. The documentary did not deal with political questions directly, but it did reveal the power relations between the students and the teacher, the way the students were afraid to express themself too freely to the 'foreigner'.
Famine & poverty are not recognized. The homepage mentions a serious famine in the 80's, but since the end of the 90's, everything has been fine, it is claimed.
Curiously enough, the FAQ list also contained a lengthy reply about 'homosexuals'. North Korea has "embraced science and rationalism" and therefore recognizes, and respects, that some human beings are born with this particular genetic trait. And, in a smaller print, the homepage states:
Homosexuals in the DPRK have never been subject to repression, as in many capitalist regimes around the world. However, North Koreans also place a lot of emphasis on social harmony and morals. Therefore, the DPRK rejects many characteristics of the popular gay culture in the West, which many perceive to embrace consumerism, classism and promiscuity.
This really seems to be an issue that the maker of the home page thinks has to be dealt with - it seems important that North Korea is presented as an open-minded and rational country, a country that nevertheless has lost nothing of its traditional values.
Here's another blog focusing on North Korea.
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