Dandong, China — On the afternoon of July 2, Daily NK received a letter from an individual involved in missionary work for the North Korean people at a restaurant in Dandong, Liaoning Province of China. The letter was about how the North Korean people thought of candlelight protests of South Korea which have lasted now for more than two months.
The individual who gave the letter to the Daily NK said, “People watch South Korean TV in North Korea. They must have been wondering about candlelight rallies because South Korean TV reports about them everyday. The man [who wrote the letter] did some reading about candlelight protests and U.S. beef imports on the Internet installed at a special residence here [in Dandong]. I had a chance to talk with the man and he was very concerned with the current situation in South Korea. I told him that he should write a letter about what he thinks of candlelight rallies and I would give it to a reporter. So, the man wrote this letter two days ago.”
[imText1]The man who wrote the letter came to China with a travel certificate early last month. Candlelight protests were in full swing when he left North Korea in June. The protests still continue in South Korea.
People can watch South Korean TV programs in the many parts of North Korea. Those who live in Pyongyang surrounding the Daedong River area and places neighboring Hwanghae Province and the West Sea (south and west regions in North Korea) can get a good signal from KBS (Korean Broadcasting System) TV 1. Most people get news on South Korea from watching the KBS TV1.
In South Korea, a wild rumor has been flying around that if you eat U.S. beef, you would have many holes in your brain, and many people believe it. That is why everyday, a great number of people protest in central Seoul. Things have gone as far as the entire Cabinet of South Korea had to resign.
Having said that, let’s look at how the North Korean people would think of the current situation in South Korea.
The letter mainly said that he felt sorry that the whole country [referring to South Korea] was plunged into chaos after days of mass protests and police crackdowns over the issue of U.S. beef imports. The letter talked about neither the safety of U.S. beef nor political conflicts surrounding it. Instead, the letter stressed that the North Korean people felt frustrated with the current chaos in South Korea.
The letter started with words, “I’d like to say these words to you, the citizens of South Korea.” It went on to say, “I am writing this letter on the behalf of the people of North Korea. People here watch South Korean TV secretly. We felt sorry when we saw the South Korean people protesting against the resumption of U.S. beef imports rather than showing a sense of pride as citizens of a country which is powerful and rich.”
“North Korean people are eating grass porridgeto survive. We find no hope in our regime. Instead, we pin our hope on the prosperity and high living standards of South Korea,” said the letter.
“We find hope and courage in South Korea. [However, the country is being torn apart because] many South Korean people continue to participate in candlelight vigils, which have lasted more than two months over the issue which can be left to be dealt with by each individual citizen. The North Korean authorities make fun of the current situation in South Korea and use it to find justification in their actions,” the letter said.
“We do not understand what the South Korean people are protesting for. We think that those concerned with the safety of U.S. beef should not buy the beef. And why make such a fuss about it? The issue is simple, and should be left to be handled by each individual. However, people in South Korea made such a big deal out of it. Unfortunately, the South Korean government ended up using coercion to suppress the protesters. The international community and the North Korean people are very disappointed with this instability in South Korea,” the letter said.
“And this is advice from people who are starving and few opportunities to eat meat. We hope the South Korean people behave responsibly towards the world and North Korea as citizens of a developed country,” the letter said.
“We don’t want South Korea to be viewed as a country of conflicts in the eyes of the international community. We want the citizens of South Korea to value peace and security and to provide hope for our future,” the letter said.
It is heart-aching to hear words of a North Korean who is frustrated to see South Korea which is affluent and has a well-developed democracy, have plunged into chaos over the issue of resuming U.S. beef imports.
The Daily NK reporter told the man who gave him the letter that he wanted to interview the writer of the letter and listen to his words. The reporter is now waiting to hear from the writer.
