North Korea

[sorn]

After reading Escape from Camp 14, a question pop in my mind. What is the purpose of these camps? Why doesn't the North Korea government cancel all these camps? I mean I find it very stupid. Okay, their parents might betrayed the country and decided not to support the leaders but why does the children, innocent children have to be the one who has to also suffer with their parents? What is the purpose of this kind of system? To make the people feel guilty and slowly die suffering?
If you had your own country and people decided not to support your ideas... What would you do? Would you punish them like this?

[JustinK.]

Im not sure, but heres my guess~~ Since N. Korea is a communistic country and have been like this for a long time, there must be an answer to that. In the book, it provided contrasts to other regions with similar gov. system. Most prisoners in the camps were political enemies, which i guess will be dangerous to just let them be. Kim Jong Il basically eliminated all possible threats. and i agree with you about punishing innocent offsprings >< As a country's leader, you must try your best to satisfy your people. You work for the people, not they work for you. This will then connect to the different kinds of government systems. If you want to satisfy the people, you must give them more rights to speak.

[munisa]

I'm not reading escape camp 14, but I think that the reason why they have these camps still till this day is because they got used to the idea of having this, it's normal For them ,even tho is seems kinda unusual to us. I watched all kinds of videos of N. Korean people on youtube, and they are very loyal to their leader, and if they saw someone betray their leader, the immediate thought of what they should do for them, is to punish that betrayer. I'm not saying that it's right, it's totally wrong, but just look at things from their point of view.

[james]

First of all, north korea is ruled by communism. Which is why, citizens must follow their leader and must not go against them. Even a little single thing that goes against their leader will be punished immediately. Well, the purpose of the camps is to help to keep the country running. I mean people of various camps are the people who are actually running the country i guess. Because more than million people just work work and work. They work for the country for the rest of their lives. Even if they work super hard, the government doesnt have to pay them. Also, providing a crappy working condition and living condition, the government saves money and they dont even have to pay. Ive known this for years but the leader of north korea enjoys his life while his people are suffering to death. Just like justin said, the leader must run the country for the people of the country not for his own satisfaction.

[jungholee]

well, they do that for make free workers. there is mining, farming, the factory for make goods. Even if they are just little kids, if you see long term, like only 15 years, the country can get a lot of free labors, who started working when they born. They are really good/skillful workers, and they are isolated. So they are alone, there is nowhere to lean, make them if they escape from the camp, they cannot live. Also North korea is communism, they don't really care who follows the leader. They just make citizens to follow the leader by force, if the citizen do not follow them, just make them to work whole day, by force

[gb1708]

I didn't read this book but through reading your question, i have a connection. In ancient asian country, especially China, If you insult the King, only you but you and your whole generation (include every body have the same lineage with you) will be killed to avoid the revenge.

[sazad100]

I thought of the same thing as u Sorn. I also think the camps have no purpose and they are completely unnecessary. I wouldn't punish my citizens if their argument made sense but i wouldn't hesitate to punish them either if their arguments were not good.

[linnie]

Well, the purpose of the camp is as you know, to prevent the civil movement or some sort that might go against government. I'm pretty sure government also thinks that this is kind of ridiculous way to keep people in. The most weird thing is that so many people are brainwashed in North Korea that not lots of people think of escaping or try to get rid of this ridiculous government. That makes me really mad. But I think North Korea had no other choices. If they let citizens who wants to rebel like that would influence others and it will cause bigger chaos.

But I'm pretty sure there are other ways to prevent that. The way they chose is really stupid and inefficient. But I understand their purpose. They KNOW their government is retarded, so they prevent people to rebel, right?

If I had a country and I am a president of the country, I would prevent people from rebelling as well but in different ways. For example, I can invite those people to somewhere to discuss how to improve and if they make sense and they are reasonable, we can improve the country. Well, since my country isn't going to be communist country so I will listen to people's idea. If I do this, people would rebel less because I will say the reason not accepting it in logical way. That will really help to improve my country. But before that, I should practice speech and discussion about it, so I rock not fail like debate I had last time.

[lukejoo1092]

I think it's more of an excuse to get more work. It's quite perfect actually. By the law they must go to prison for their crimes so they can't say much about it, and North Korea gets to have free labor. Also don't forget to mention about the propaganda you can inflict on them, giving them false ideas about the wretched country. And come to think of it, the North Korean officials probably would prefer to have more people under their absolute control, in this case by having them as prisoners. They can order them to do the things whatever they want them to do. The camps are mainly about total control I think. To have great power over the country.

[munisa]

Well I don't think that I have the right qualities to make a leader, would be a bad leader, and I would totally understand if my people didnt support me, so no I wouldn't punish my people the way the North Koreans punish their people. I would try to make my country a better place unlike North Korea. I hate them! They do horrible things (( VANT they waste their money doing good things o their country instead of punishing their people like this

[yeajinchoi]

I think North Korea needed workers for the factories and farms and rather than trying to persuade them, I think they felt that forcing them was the most efficient way to do that. Of course they don't have the right to do that though.. Also in a way I think the camps remind the citizens in north Korea that if they deny the government, then you will be tortured in the camp.

[sergeyfen]

I think North Korea is just like that since the beginning, probably all people were brainwashed by the first leader to rule the country. I agree that its ridiculous and stupid, because children are not like their parents they are totally different, so they shouldnt suffer. I guess i will try to do more for people and communities so people will like me more because its their choice to not support me and its not illegal so i would probably be fine with it.

[jooyoungpark]

North Korea is a country led by a dictator. Most men when they acquire power they want to keep the power and they fear to lose it. I think this is why North Korea is doing all this horrific stuff to remain in power. I think they really want to drill the idea of horror in to their minds, to make them not forget about them.

[akari]

hi

[woori]

hi