North Korea has been in the news constantly in the last few years and the world is beginning to pay close attention to the isolated nation and its numerous eccentricities. This article will explore the reasons why North Korea is often seen as so ‘dumb’ and try to understand the plight of the nation whose people are so very different from their neighbors in South Korea and the rest of the world.
To put it bluntly, North Korea is dumb because of its government. The governmental system is ideologically driven by a single-party socialist state – a dictatorship – and its accompanying rules and regulations serve only to preserve the power and control of the ruling elite. This system forces the citizens of North Korea to accept that their country will only remain ‘dumb’ if they don’t act to change it.
Perhaps one of the biggest reasons that North Korea is seen as so ‘dumb’ is its lack of international exposure. The country has remained largely closed to the outside world, isolating its population and severely limiting their access to outside information. This has left North Koreans disconnected and ignorant of the world around them, leading to the erroneous belief that their nation is the only truly safe and prosperous nation on earth.
It is easy to forget that North Korea was once a thriving and strong socialist state during the Cold War. This was a time when the country enjoyed strong economic growth and a strong military to protect it from external threats. Unfortunately, as its economy began to decline in the mid-1990’s, its people’s ability to obtain basic necessities and receive an education waned. Without a properly functioning system of governance, the country soon fell into poverty and a deep ‘stupidity’.
Not only has North Korea suffered from a lack of economic growth and opportunity, its government has engaged in numerous human rights violations and has been accused of numerous war crimes including the imprisonment and torture of its own people. This oppressive regime has created an environment where the population has no say in their own government’s decisions and has no way to challenge the decisions that it makes.
The North Koreans also suffer from a lack of access to technology and the Internet, which further limits their ability to expand their knowledge and understand the world around them. This has created an apathetic population that views the outside world as a scary place full of hostile capitalists. This fear of the outside world has severely restricted the ability of North Koreans to understand and adapt to global changes.
It is easy to criticize North Korea and its people for their ‘stupidity’, but it is important to remember that the blame lies firmly with the government and its oppressive rule. North Korea is not ‘dumb’, but instead a nation whose people have suffered greatest under the yoke of an oppressive and authoritarian regime. Hopefully, with the right support, North Koreans will one day obtain the freedom and opportunity they deserve.
Access to Technology
While it may not seem like it, North Korea actually has some access to technology. A small percentage of the population have access to the Internet, primarily through government-approved services like Kwangmyong. However, the government heavily censors the content on these services, and access is strictly monitored and restricted, making it difficult for North Koreans to gain access to outside information and knowledge about the world.
In addition to limited Internet access, the government also restricts access to mobile phones and computers. Most citizens are restricted to using older models of mobile phones and computers, making it harder for them to access the latest technological advancements. This lack of access further limits their understanding of the global world and contributes to their isolation.
North Korea is also failing to properly invest in their technological infrastructure. Telecommunications infrastructure is outdated, making their networks slower than those of their neighbors and making it difficult for North Koreans to access the rest of the world. The government also fails to invest in IT infrastructure, making it difficult for North Koreans to develop innovative products and services and improve their economy.
These restrictions on access to technology have been detrimental to North Koreans in terms of understanding the world around them and adapting and developing their economy. North Koreans are significantly behind their neighbors in terms of technological advancements, and this restricts their ability to be competitive and develop innovative products and services.
Oppressive Rule
Along with limited access to technology and knowledge, another reason why North Korea is seen as so ‘dumb’ is its oppressive rule. The government is authoritarian and its decisions are made without allowing for any political dissent or debate. This restricts the ability of North Koreans to express themselves freely and creates an environment of fear, as citizens could be punished for speaking out against the government.
In addition to stifling any political dissent, the government also restricts access to basic necessities such as food and medical care, leaving many North Koreans living in poverty and without access to proper healthcare. There have also been numerous reports of human rights violations, including torture and imprisonment, making it difficult for North Koreans to feel safe and secure.
The oppressive rule of the North Korean government has made it impossible for the North Korean people to challenge the decisions made by their leaders. This has led to North Korea becoming a closed off nation, with little say in the decisions made by their government and even less access to the outside world.
North Korea’s oppressive rule has made it impossible for its citizens to challenge their government and think for themselves. This in turn has hindered their ability to learn and understand the world around them, leading to the inaccurate view that North Korea is ‘dumb’.
Foreign Intervention
The foreign intervention by various countries in North Korea’s affairs has also played a role in the nation being seen as ‘dumb’. The heavily military-driven foreign policies of the United States and its allies in the aftermath of the Korean War have created a hostile environment and made it increasingly difficult for North Koreans to move beyond their militaristic mindset and embrace peace.
North Korea’s nuclear ambitions and its threats of aggression towards other countries have also played a role in its ‘dumb’ image. The nation’s posturing and constant rhetoric has made it difficult for the international community to take it seriously and see it as an equal partner in negotiations and negotiations.
Foreign intervention has contributed to the isolation of North Korea and further hindered its ability to engage in meaningful dialogue with its neighbors and the rest of the world. This has made it more difficult for North Korea to learn from the successes and failures of its neighbors and develop a more progressive outlook and policy towards the world at large.
Foreign intervention has played a major role in North Korea’s ‘dumb’ image, as it has been difficult for the nation to engage in meaningful dialogue with the rest of the world while under such intense pressure from other countries. This has hindered its ability to learn and understand the world around it and embrace the ideas of progress and reform.
Political Reform
Political reform is essential for North Korea to begin to understand the world around it and develop a more progressive outlook. For this to happen, the oppressive rule of the government must be addressed, as it has hindered and restricted the ability of North Koreans to think for themselves and challenge their leaders.
The government must also invest more in its education system and lift restrictions on access to technology and the Internet. This will allow the population to better understand the outside world and the latest advancements, and enable the nation to take part in the global conversation.
In order for North Korea to begin to understand itself and the world around it, it must also engage in more meaningful dialogue with its neighbors and the rest of the world. This will enable it to learn from the successes and failures of other nations, as well as to develop new ideas and approaches to policy making.
Finally, North Korea needs foreign intervention in the form of humanitarian aid and support. This will enable the North Korean people to gain access to basic necessities and help them to begin to rebuild their economy and infrastructure. This kind of aid will go a long way in helping the nation become more self-sufficient and politically independent.
Political reform is essential for North Korea to start understanding the world around it and develop a more progressive outlook. By engaging in more meaningful dialogue with its neighbors, lifting restrictions on access to technology, investing in its education system, and receiving foreign intervention, North Korea will be able to become more self-sufficient and politically independent.
