A North Korean Speaks On the Protests Against American Beef Imports

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Girded for battle: South Korean police block protesters from

the Presidential compound. The protests over U.S. beef and

a slew of other issues have continued for over two months.

The Daily North Korean, South Korea

A North Korean Speaks On the Protests Against American Beef Imports

"I can speak not only for myself. No North Korean citizen, apart from on holidays, ever eats meat. When I see protests against the import of U.S. beef, I only wish it could be sent to the North. On one side, people taste beef only a few times a year, while on the other, people protest beef imports - and at a very inexpensive price - it's frustrating."

-- An Chul-jin, a member of the 'North Korean elite class'

By Jung Kwon Ho

July 8, 2008

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

Dandong, China: On July 3, the Daily NK published the contents of a letter about the candle-light vigils over U.S. beef in South Korea, written by a North Korean citizen under the pseudonym An Chul-jin . The letter indicated that the vigils, which have been going on for over two months, have caused deep concern in North Korea.

Believing that there's an interest in the views of North Korean citizens regarding the nationwide confusion over the protests, the Daily NK sought an interview with the writer of the letter. The request was granted and the interview took place in Dandong, China, just across the border with Shinuiju, North Korea, on the afternoon of July 6.

The following is the interview with An Chul-jin, who belongs to the elite-class of North Koreans.

Daily NK: We know that the food crisis in North Korea is severe. What is your reason for taking an interest in the South Korean "beef issue?"

An Chul-jin: Since coming here to China, I have seen the candlelight protests on South Korean TV almost every day. It's hard to say that I can speak on behalf of all North Koreans, but while watching the candlelight protest campaign, my thoughts are that South Korea is not a completely realized democratic society. Rather, it is a country in a transitional stage of development.

Daily NK: Why are you concerned about South Korean society and why do you have such concern over its state of progress?

An Chul-jin: In North Korea, a majority fall into the poverty-level class. All products used by ordinary citizens are made in China. Accordingly, the sense of expectation about China is high. We also have great expectations about South Korea. On the economic and ethical fronts, we think South Korea surpasses China.

In an entire year, a North Korean worker earns less than a single month’s salary of a South Korean. Yet when I see the image of South Korean people fighting every day, it almost seems as though South Koreans don't appreciate such an abundant society.

Daily NK: Do you approve of importing U.S. beef to North Korea?

An Chul-jin: Of course I approve. And I can speak not only for myself. No North Korean citizen, apart from on holidays, ever eats meat. When I see protests against the import of U.S. beef, I only wish it could be sent to the North instead. On one side, people taste beef only a few times a year, while on the other, people protest beef imports - and at a very inexpensive price - it's frustrating."

Daily NK: Even now, many South Korea citizens don't trust the government and are calling for the resignation of the President. What's your sense of South Korean democracy after observing recent incidents?

An Chul-jin: In North Korea, due to the restricted lives that people lead, there is no sense of freedom. When North Korean people watch the candlelight protests, they probably think: why are they holding such protests when their standard of living is so high? The South Korean standard of living is unfathomable for North Korean citizens, so we wonder why they are fighting like that.

Daily NK: You have likely seen candlelight protesters acting violently toward police. We have heard that In North Korea, struggles between citizens and police are rare; what kind of punishment would North Korean citizens receive if they attacked a police officer?

An Chul-jin: I can't even imagine a citizen beating an agent of the People’s Safety Agency. Even if it's just a verbal attack, such a person would be automatically sent to the Labor Training Corps. As a consequence, citizens never speak out against them, even if the agent is at fault. If they physically assault an agent, they are taken to a reeducation camp. They're the ones with the power, so citizens are automatically captured, and sometimes subjected to terrible acts.

Daily NK: What kind of a response would a North Korean citizen give if they heard radio broadcasts about the continuing candle-light protests over the U.S. beef issue?

An Chul-jin: As a whole, they would think: why are South Koreans protesting like that? Why don’t they just import the beef and eat it? Perhaps they would think that South Koreans are overly concerned about health. I wish that South Koreans would also think consider national health. The country must be healthy to exercise influence and garner prestige.

I could understand it, if several tens or hundreds of people became ill from U.S. beef. But American and South Korean people are eating it right now, so what's the problem? I don't understand holding protests on the basis of hypothetical risks alone.

Daily NK: What kind of an interest do the North Korea people have in health?

An Chul-jin: North Korean people used to take lots of interest in health issues, but nowadays the situation has changed. If North Koreans were to see what South Koreans eat, they would be absolutely shocked. When I watch television, I see the variety of health-promoting fruit juices and nutritious foods that are made and consumed. We can't even dream of such things. In South Korea, there are expiration dates for food, but in North Korea, people will even eat food of bad quality. North Koreans often consider that even if they had bad food to eat, they could die happy. Nowadays, people can't eat at all, because there's a shortage of food …"

Daily NK: Have you ever eaten beef in North Korea?

An Chul-jin: I had never in my life eaten beef until recently. I have had it several times in China. In North Korea I only ate chicken, duck, pork and dog meat. In North Korea, cows are treated like humans. Cows are a means of production on the farm. If you don't have a cow, you cannot farm the land.

Posted by WORLDMEETS.US

So people don't use cows for food. Cows that die of old age are loaded into trucks and no one knows where they're taken. Individuals aren't allowed to raise cows; when a calf is born it is registered as national property. There is never an instance of raising one in order to eat it as one chooses. How could we eat our national means of production?"

Daily NK: Do you have any lasting words for protesting South Korean citizens?

An Chul-jin: I think the protesters are a minority that don't representative the South Korean population. I would urge them to stop. If someone feels threatened by U.S. beef, they don't have to buy and eat it. They should think of the nation and their neighbor North Korea rather than themselves. For North Koreans who only get to eat meat a few times a year, this is very sad to see.

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