AMARÁS AL LÍDER SOBRE TODAS LAS COSAS - DOCUMENTARY

1. Do some research and explain the origin of the North-Korean communist regime.

When World War II ended in 1945, Japan lost control of Korea to Allied forces. In much the same way that Germany was split after the war, Korea was divided at the 38th parallel, with the Soviet Union administering the northern half and the United States administering the southern half.

The foreign administration of North and South Korea was intended to be temporary, and plans had been laid for free elections in the two districts. However, in 1948, Kim Il-sung, communist-aligned leader of the Korean People’s Army, convinced Soviet leaders not to allow UN authorities north of the dividing line. So the election never took place in North Korea.

By the end of 1948, two new nations had been formally established:
The Republic of Korea was established in the south, led by the democratically elected President Syngman Rhee.
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea was declared in the north, with Kim Il-sung established as Premier (with support of the USSR).

Most US forces had left South Korea by the summer of 1949, leaving behind a weak government and inexperienced army. North Korea, on the other hand, had the financial and military backing of the USSR and China and had built up a strong army.

The separation point between the two factions — the 38th parallel — was a focus of constant bloody skirmishes for two years. Then, on June 25, 1950, North Korea made a surge into South Korea. The Korean War that followed pulled in forces from the United Nations, the United States, and China, as well as military advisors from the USSR. It lasted until 1953, when the Commander-in-Chief of UN forces, the Supreme Commander of the KPA, and the commander of the Chinese People’s Volunteers signed the Korean Armistice Agreement.

The Korean Armistice Agreement re-established the line of division at the 38th parallel, with a demilitarized zone extending two kilometers in both directions.

After the war, Kim Il-sung set out to purge North Korea of his enemies, both real and imagined. By 1961, the last vestiges of opposition to Kim had disappeared.

The organizational structure of North Korea was modeled after that of Stalinist Russia, with a large focus on military build-up and heavy industry, especially mining. Kim stuck with his Stalinist philosophy even as his communist neighbors evolved their governments.

In the 1970s, North Korean mining production had reached its peak. Sudden rises in the price of foreign oil combined with falling prices for North Korea’s native minerals hit the economy hard. Surrounding nations began building up economies based on computers and other technology, a shift that North Korea — so focused on mining and military might — was unable to keep up with. Kim made the tough decision to take on foreign debt to keep the economy afloat.

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, relations between North and South Korea, as well as between North Korea and the rest of the world, were a veritable roller coaster. Discussions about reunifying split families, co-hosting the 1988 Seoul Olympics, and economic cooperation started, stalled, restarted, and failed. International tensions mounted, too, as North Korea announced its growing nuclear program, which included experiments in uranium enrichment, a first step in the creation of nuclear weapons.

Both North Korea and South Korea officially joined the United Nations in September 1991. The 1990s were characterized by unkept promises from North Korea to shut down or freeze various parts of its nuclear program and to allow international inspectors to examine their nuclear capabilities in exchange for oil and aid. Using their nuclear program to elicit international aid would become a common theme in the decades to come.

Kim Il-sung died of a sudden heart attack on July 8, 1994. Although the means of succession had not been strictly set down, Kim’s son, Kim Jong-il, succeeded his father by becoming the chairman of the most powerful state institution in the country, The National Defense Commission. Kim Jong-il adopted an ideology known as Songgun — “Army First” — which transformed the country from a traditional communist government to a military dictatorship.

North Korea’s nuclear ambitions were overshadowed by famine in the late 1990s after the country suffered first through horrific flooding and then through drought. Because of famine, a failing economy, and a disintegrating infrastructure, North Korea now relies on international aid to keep its citizens fed.

In 2005, North Korea announced that it had completed its first underground nuclear test, and its ongoing nuclear program continues to be a point of contention in the international community. Outcry over unconfirmed violations of human rights by the North Korean government has also stymied international acceptance.

Kim Jong-il died on December 17, 2011, and his son, Kim Jong-un, took power.


2. Find three recent news about North Korea from different digital newspapers and include the headings and the links to them.

North Korea news

President Trump to Meet Kim Jong-un of North Korea

President Trump: North Korean summit a 'mission of peace'  


3. What are the names of the North-Korean leaders mentioned in the documentary? Who is the current leader of the country?

The documentary mentioned: Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Il and Kim Jong Un.

Kim Il Sung that was the first Supreme Leader of North Korea from its establishment in 1948 until his death in 1994 and he is considered the eternal president of the country.

His son, Kim Jong Il, was the leader of North Korea until he died after a heart attack in 2011.

And finally the current leader of the country is Kim Jong Un, Chairman of the workers' party of Korea.

4. What are the instruments used by this lidersto mantein this dictatorial regime?

The main instruments they use to maintain this dictatorial regime are the isolation of the inhabitants and the lack of real information. People are educated to think in a certain way and only believe what the leader says, moreover, this education is usually based on fake or exaggerated events or evidences. People have not access to information, there is no internet, no access to books that can go against regime, etc, and if someone question the lider, he will be punish.





5. What´s the meaning of the word "Gulag"? Where does it come from? Is there anything similar in North Korea?

The word Gulag was firstly used by a Communist Party of the Soviet Union to mention a type of concentration camp where they sent criminals but also politicians. In North Korea a Gulab is a labour forced camp for political prisoners. It seems like as a reeducation camp for those who need to correct their behaviour. A forced-labor camp for political dissidents and for people with mental or physical disabilities.



6. According to the video, what are the main characteristics of a dictatorship?


La dictadura es un estado totalitario que controla todos y cada uno de los aspectos de la personalidad humana, y lleva en su seno todas las actividades humanas en los ámbitos social, económico, político, educativo, religioso y cultural. In dictatorship only one party is allowed to exist and it is the dictator's one. Other political parties, associations and organizations are not allowed to func­tion. These are banned in any opposition to the dictator is ruthlessly suppressed.

Also, the leadership is given to a single man, full faith is to be concentrated in the leader because the leader is supposed to represent national unity, he is considered to be a symbol of national prestige. He is the final authority in every matter and his word is supreme and no criticism against himr is tolerated. People are supposed to believe and obey. The president is regarded as God on earth. The state is considered to be the end and the individual a means to that end. People are supposed to sacrifice their lives on the altar of state. Democratic slogans of liberty, equality and fraternity are replaced by slogans like duty, discipline and sacrifice.

People does not enjoy any liberty or rights under dictatorship, they are not allowed any liberty of speech, association or press. All agencies of education and propaganda such as schools, colleges, radio, papers or films are controlled by the state.

Dictators glorify war and we have seen it in the video. The dictators adopt a war-like policy and glorify brute force as the means for achieving national greatness and they also preach racialism.


7. Compare the life of a North-Korean family with your own. In addition, try to describe the life of a North-Korean teenager of your same age.

If I compare my life with the one of a North-Korean family, I realise that I am so lucky, because I can express my ideas and opinions freely, contrast any type of information, travel all around the world in order to know other cultures and form my own ideals, study what I really like, whatch TV, wear what ever I want and other things that we do in our day a day and that they can not.