Korean War of words
Dear Editor,
The article by Michael Harrold on North Korea was misleading. Although he stated that there is a "propaganda" onslaught in North Korea, I think some readers may come away with the idea that he also believes the propaganda that "It doesn't take much imagination to realise that the Americans are responsible also for the food shortages that have afflicted the country, since the US was a party to the decision to divide the Korean peninsula in 1945, which bequeathed the bulk of the fertile land to the people south of the 38th parallel, while their fellow countrymen in the north were left to scratch out a living from land that is 80% covered by mountains."
If, in fact, he doesn't believe this statement, he should have stated this and also noted that the only reason the north is suffering, while the south is prospering, is exactly because the communist regime is still in place in the north. So the truth is actually the totally opposite than what was stated.
I believe Mr. Harrold should have made this more clear to set the record straight. The main reason most "undeveloped" countries from Cuba to many African countries to North Korea are struggling is due to the oppressive regimes in place. As long as this remains, things will continue to deteriorate for the natives.
Brian Burrough
Michael Harrold responds:
What I do or do not believe is irrelevant to this discussion; it is what the ordinary people of North Korea believe - rightly or wrongly - that is at issue. There is enough substance to the argument - that the division of Korea, imposed against the wishes of the Korean people, left the North with barely enough agricultural land to survive on - for it to be used by the authorities as a weapon in the anti-US propaganda that is such a strong prop
The article by Michael Harrold on North Korea was misleading. Although he stated that there is a "propaganda" onslaught in North Korea, I think some readers may come away with the idea that he also believes the propaganda that "It doesn't take much imagination to realise that the Americans are responsible also for the food shortages that have afflicted the country, since the US was a party to the decision to divide the Korean peninsula in 1945, which bequeathed the bulk of the fertile land to the people south of the 38th parallel, while their fellow countrymen in the north were left to scratch out a living from land that is 80% covered by mountains."
If, in fact, he doesn't believe this statement, he should have stated this and also noted that the only reason the north is suffering, while the south is prospering, is exactly because the communist regime is still in place in the north. So the truth is actually the totally opposite than what was stated.
I believe Mr. Harrold should have made this more clear to set the record straight. The main reason most "undeveloped" countries from Cuba to many African countries to North Korea are struggling is due to the oppressive regimes in place. As long as this remains, things will continue to deteriorate for the natives.
Brian Burrough
Michael Harrold responds:
What I do or do not believe is irrelevant to this discussion; it is what the ordinary people of North Korea believe - rightly or wrongly - that is at issue. There is enough substance to the argument - that the division of Korea, imposed against the wishes of the Korean people, left the North with barely enough agricultural land to survive on - for it to be used by the authorities as a weapon in the anti-US propaganda that is such a strong prop
