The Daily North Korea, South Korea

North Korean People 'Feel Sorrow' Over Protests Against U.S. Beef

"When we see the South Korean people protesting the resumption of U.S. beef imports rather than showing a sense of pride as citizens of a powerful and rich nation, we feel sorrow. The North Korean people are eating grass porridge to survive.  … We don't understand what the South Korean people are protesting. Why make such a fuss? … Here's some advice from people who are starving and have few opportunities to eat meat.  … we want the South Korean people to behave responsibly toward the world and North Korea."

-- Letter from a person 'involved with North Korean missionary work'

By Jung Kwon Ho

July 7, 2008

South Korea - The Daily North Korea - Original Article (English)

Dandong, China: On July 2 at a restaurant in Dandong of China's Liaoning Province, the Daily NK was handed a letter from a man doing missionary work for the North Korean people. The letter explains what the North Korean people think of the candlelight protests being held in South Korea, which have been going on for over two months now.

The person who handed in the letter said, “People in North Korea watch South Korean television. Since South Korean TV reports on [the vigils] every day, it seems that people in the North have begun to wonder what's going on. The man who wrote the letter said that he was very concerned with the situation in South Korea. I told him that he should write a letter about what he thinks of the candlelight rallies and that I would give it to a reporter. So the man wrote this letter two days ago.”

The man who wrote the letter came to China early last month with a travel permit. When he left North Korea in June, the candlelight protests were in full swing, and they continue to this day.

In many parts of North Korea, people can watch South Korean TV. Those who live in Pyongyang and in the surrounding Daedong River area, places neighboring Hwanghae Province and the West Sea (in the south and west) also get a good signal from KBS (South Korea Public Broadcasting). Most people get South Korean news about by watching KBS.

In South Korea, a wild rumor has been circulating that if you eat American beef, you'll develop holes in your brain - and many people believe it. That's why every day, a great number of people protest in central Seoul. Things have gone so far that the entire Cabinet of South Korea had to resign.

Having said that, let's see what the North Korean people think of the current situation in the South.

The man explains in his letter that he feels sorry that the entire country [referring to South Korea] has been plunged into chaos by massive protests and a police crackdown over the issue of U.S. beef imports. The letter doesn't mention the safety of American beef nor the political conflicts surrounding the issue. The letter simply stresses that the North Korean people feel frustrated about the chaos in South Korea.

The letter starts with the words, “I'd like to say these words to you, the citizens of South Korea … I'm writing this letter on the behalf of the people of North Korea. People here secretly watch South Korean television. When we see the South Korean people protesting the resumption of U.S. beef imports rather than showing a sense of pride as citizens of a powerful and rich nation, we feel sorrow. The North Korean people are eating grass porridge to survive. We have no hope for our regime. Instead, we pin our hopes on the prosperity and way of life in South Korea,” the letter says.

It goes on, “We draw hope and courage from South Korea. However, South Koreans continue to take part in these candlelight vigils which have lasted over two months, over an issue which should be left to each individual citizen to decide [whether to eat U.S. beef]. The North Korean authorities make fun of the situation in South Korea and use it to justify their own actions. 

Posted by WORLDMEETS.US

“We don't understand what the South Korean people are protesting. We think that anyone concerned with the safety of U.S. beef should simply not buy it. Why make such a fuss over it? The issue is a simple one that should be left to each individual. But now that the South Korean people have made such a big deal over this, the government has unfortunately ended up using coercion to suppress the protesters. The international community and the North Korean people are very disappointed with this instability in South Korea,” the letter said.

“Here is some advice from people who are starving and have few opportunities to eat meat. As citizens of a developed country, we want the South Korean to people behave responsibly toward the world and North Korea,” the letter said.

“We don't want South Korea to be seen as a nation of conflict in the eyes of the international community. We want the citizens of South Korea to value peace and security and provide hope for our future,” the letter said.

It's heart-aching to hear such words from a North Korean, frustrated to see the affluent and well-developed democracy of South Korea plunged into chaos over the issue of U.S. beef imports.

The Daily NK reporter told the man who gave him the letter that he wanted to interview the letter's writer. The reporter is now awaiting word from the man.

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[Posted by WORLDMEETS.US July 7, 9:34pm]