I find it very disturbing to know that some of people from my country praising Kim Jong Un, the supreme leader of DRP Korea (North Korea). How could that be possible?

And even more flabbergasted is that our military regime extending and strengthening diplomatic relationship with the DRP Korea. If you think this is unbelievable and ridiculous, I must say that you are so naive because our military government representatives had just discussed human rights topics with the DRP Korea counterparts at the latest meeting couple of months ago. It is ironic, isn't it?

Many many of us in Thailand had been led to believe that our way of life was corrupted by the influence of western nations, and if I say western nations, I mean, for the most part, america (no offense to my american friends). Our elites think that we should have our own style of democracy and some even preach us democracy is not always good, and it has to be tailored to fit our culture or our life style. Suffice it to say that we never thought about changing our way of life to fit in with democracy as if we want to be as we were hundreds if not thousands years ago and do not take any changes in the world into consideration. That being said any actions from westen nations must be rebuked one way or another. However, I should point out that most of those elites who preach us send their children to study in western nations such as America and UK, and many of them would come back and tell us not to rely on or beleive in them or their way of thinking (again, it is ironic, too too ironic, isn't it?).

One of the strategies to counteract the western influence is to try to get close with others who also do not like the said western nations (the enemies of our enemies are our friends) in this context are Russia, China, and DRP Korea. Very creative, isn't it? With this mean I think it is not surprised to see that Kim Jong Un has become a figure of strong and independent leader (to some people) who leads a nation without fear of western (or american) influence which is, I firmly beleive, WRONG.

Because one must not rationalize the wrong so that one can live with it. If you do not know what is like to be born in DRP Korea I strongly recommend this book - a thousand miles to freedom: my escape from North Korea - written by a woman who had fled the country and now takes refuge in South Korea.

The following excerpts are from the book

Studying the lives of our country's leaders was one of the most important subjects

In North Korea, the best way to ensure the success of one'schildren in school was to offer gifts to the teachers

The entire country was littered with these worrisome people (the military appointed heads of neighbor), who even this day ensure that the regime maintains its iron grip over the lives of twenty-five million North Koreans

Going to Kim Il Sung's birthplace has become a national pilgrimage for North Koreans

There was no reason for me not to beleive and there was no way for me to hear any other version of the truth (about North Korea)

My country is ruled under hands of blood thirsty family dynasty. The Kims are not our loving fathers but are ruthless tyrants.

Watching foreign television programs, making phone calls abroad, or exchanging mail with foreigners are all strictly prohibited and punishable by imprisonment in one of the country's infamous labor camps

It was estimated that at least 500,000 lost their lives, but the real figure could reach a million during the great famine in 1990s

In taking them apart (pictures of founding father and his son), my mom just committed a crime punishable by death

They told us stories of several families who had escaped into China and we're doing just fine

A regime that that let its people fall victim to misery and famine, all while giving the international aid it received to the army and privileged class

----------