On left: North Korea Vice Minister of the North Korean military
On right: Kim Jong-Un
Was a North Korean General Really Executed by Mortar Fire?
Kim Chol who used to be North Korea’s vice minister of the North Korean military was shot at point blank by mortar rounds under Kim Jong-Uns command in January
So far this year there have been 14 senior party, government, and military leaders executed.
One of several senior Korean People’s Army officials executed or arrested after Kim Jong-Un took over power from his deceased father, Kim Jong-Il.
During North Koea’s official three-month mourning period after the death of their dictator, Kim Jong-Il, Kim Chol enjoyed liquor with a female colleague
He specifically violated Kim Jong-Un’s warning against, “singing or dancing, merrymaking or recreation” for three-months after his father died. After Kim Jong-Il’s death there was a 100-day mourning which had strict rules that must be obeyed by everyone in North Korea.
These stories usually stay in North Korea because they do not want the global public to find out what they are doing
- This story in particular first appeared in South Korea in March. They suggest that is was originated from gossip within North Korea.
- Stories of elites emerge from gossip inside the country from clerks, typists, telephone operators, workers in foreign trading corporations, and middle management in the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea
These actions of public executions commanded by Kim Jong-Un suggests to others on the outside that he will dictate North Korea in the same way as his father
Shocking statement made by an unknown source, “When Kim Jong-Un became North Korean leader…high-ranking military officers started disappearing…From information compiled over the last month, we have concluded that dozens of military officers were purged.”
Food for Thought:
1. If you were highly ranked in the North Korean military and you were threatened by death if you had “fun” within the 100-day period of morning for Kim Jong-Il, would you risk getting caught to have a nice dinner with your wife on your anniversary night?
2. What are your thoughts on Kim Jong-Un’s executions to these 14 military leaders because they drank alcohol within the 100-day period that North Korea was commanded to stay somber and to mourn for the death of their dictator?
3. Do you think Kim Jong-Un is doing these military executions to the top generals for disobeying his rules to be perceived from the general public as “powerful” and the new “dictator” even though people know he is a young North Korean trying to follow in his fathers footsteps?
Sources:
http://www.ibtimes.com/north-korean-army-figure-executed-kim-jong-un-continues-bloody-purge-853153
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2012/10/24/2012102400755.html
Post Made By: Ana Goldberg
North vs. South Korea 
Wow, it is actually saddening to say that none of this is surprising. North Korea is full of mysterious behavior and unknowns, and has for a long time remained the poster child for numerous freedom violations and oppression. What is shocking to me about this story, is that it is a high ranking official being executed. I don’t personally know that much about North Korea other than their basic reputation, but I didn’t think that high-ranking officials were subject to the same oppressive treatment. I mean he had a drink with a female friend? How did he even get caught? How a story like this escaped North Korea is also and interesting topic to investigate. This is a very interesting topic, and North Korea is definitely has one of the most extreme governments in the world. Great post, and seriously something that should be more prevalent in the public discourse! — Emily McKenna
Like Emily mentioned, it’s sad that none of this is surprising. It’s so sad to me that there are people who have to live under this regime and they know nothing else. They don’t know how life should be (forgive my American bias on what I believe life should entail). To answer the questions you posed, I think I would do the same as Kim Chol did in this instance. Yes, it’s unfortunate that the leader of your country has passed. However, this leader is also known all over the world for being repressive and deadly. Personally, when my friend was killed in a car accident after about two weeks, everybody effected was able to finally start going on with their daily routines. I think 100 days is a little much for anybody to have to refrain from any kind of “fun.” To put that number in perspective, that would be from now until March 9, 2013 halfway through our spring semester. I can understand a day of remembrance or something along those lines, however people deal with death in different ways. We all go through the stages of remorse, albeit at different times. But the most important thing to keep in mind is that some of us may sulk and cry and shrink away inside ourselves when death comes into our life while some of us prefer to remember the person for the good they did and like to sit back and reminisce on the fun times. So to call a 100 day mourning period, to me is a little forceful. I think Kim Jong Un is committing these executions to maintain this idea in front of his country that he will rule just like his father. If he falters in any way in front of the country, it might show a kind of weakness which people living in North Korea might see as being an opportunity to revolt against the current ruling government.
I recently watched a documentary on North Korea and like others have said, don’t find a lot of this behavior shocking. North Korea is a really frightening place. What is interesting in this story, is that it points out that even highly ranked officials are not safe. North Korea suppresses not only the majority of their population, but even those that work for the government. No one is safe. I think it would be incredible to see how a story like this passed in to South Korea to be published, but we most likely will never know.
In answer to the questions in this blog post:
1. If I were a highly ranked official in North Korea, I probably wouldn’t even make it to have dinner with my significant other, because I don’t think I’d be able to live without making one wrong move. I find it so interesting how wired the whole country is that a top ranked official could actually be caught for having dinner… how do they know?!
2. It also isn’t surprising to know that officials were asked to not drink alcohol for 100 days while they were in mourning. I’m actually surprised they even were allowed to have alcohol in the first place. My thoughts on the limiting of alcohol during this period is the same as my thoughts on all the other useless rules they have in North Korea.. they really are unnecessary. But banning alcohol is definitely not the worst thing they could do.
3. I think Kim Jong Un was probably just trying to put the citizens of North Korea in their place (as if they’re not already in “their place”) and show them that not even the military officials are safe. Everyone no matter what rank they are MUST follow the rules of Kim Jong Un, and executions are a very easy way to get that point across.
This is so interesting to me because it seems as if the entire country has been brainwashed. The glorified level that the citizens place their leader is ridiculous. I recently watched a documentary in a political science class that showed an eye doctor go into the country to perform surgeries to remove cataracts. There is an extremely high rate of vision problems in the country because of the malnutrition problems. Once the surgeries were performed, the people removed their bandages and many fell to their knees in gratitude of their great leader. (Not the eye doctor who fixed their eyes) It was crazy to see how propaganda can manipulate an entire country.
This is just incredible. What happens in North Korea never ceases to amaze me. The world feels for Africa and the genocide and living conditions that people live under, but no one ever talks about N. Korea and its seems to me that they need help just as much as anyone. Who wants to live under those conditions. If I lived in North Korea I would escape, I would run. I would risk my life just get out of there.
The fact that the leader of North Korea order a 100 day morning period of everyone is outragous. Could you imagine President Obama saying (this was many years ago, but you’ll get the idea) President Lincoln died lets all mourn for 100 days of no music, good times or anything really. I am sure there would be some that were so touched by his death that they would abide but majority of the country would probably laugh in his face and be like “um, okay. NO”. The death of anyone (including a dictator) is saddening for everyone but this is just ridiculous.
However, if I was a military personal in the country and this was ordered on me or threatened with death I would probably abide. If you are in a militiary position then you are suppose to be a follower, I would assume of the dictator, and would want to listen to these rules. But, in Kim Chol’s defense having a drink with someone of the opposite sex (or your wife) isn’t exactly celebrating- even if it is your anniversay. It’s not like their having a life personal band and streams. Its a drink and dinner, come on.
I think the deaths of the 14 military men is tragic, I think that the UN and the world need to get involved in North Korea’s politics and think the reason why were aren’t is because they probably have very strong weapons that could potentiall hurt the world, however, the dictator could do so anyways. He is new to his position, and is kind of on his “high horse” to say the least. He needs a wake up call.
Someone needs step in and fast because if he can kill people over not rightfully mourning the death of previous dictator then what will he do when there is something more “deserving” to be punished…
This post leaves me feeling sick to my stomach. North Korea continues to brainwash their citizens, as well as remain a global outcast. It is ridiculous to have these mourning rules. Mourning is supposed to be a personal, and extremely emotional experience that is only effective if done in your own personal way. I cannot imagine being told how to mourn, let alone being punished for doing it “wrong.” With what is happening in North Korea, there is really no reason for anyone to mourn over this man in my opinion anyway. I don’t know what is more sad, the fact that people are being killed, or the fact that people are being deprived of individual thought.