By Bernard Rowan
I'm finding it sad and disturbing to read about Otto Warmbier. He's the American college student who took a trip to North Korea in 2015 and then suffered arrest and imprisonment at the hands of the authorities. Afterwards he likely had a heart attack and existed in a coma-like state. Last week, the North Korean government released him. Other Americans and nationals of other countries remain imprisoned there. On June 19, Warmbier died.
It's a fool's errand to visit North Korea. North Korea isn't a friendly place. It's not an exotic location. It's not a suitable destination for an "adventure"! North Korean regime survival includes displays of using foreign nationals as propaganda tools, as kinds of human shields to impress other countries of their seriousness and power. These acts show desperation and weakness.
Warmbier's alleged crime is stealing a sign from his hotel praising Kim Jong-il. After a lengthy detention, Warmbier uttered a confession about taking the sign. The North says he did it because of a bribe and to impress a fraternity Warmbier wanted to join.
I remember when going to Russia was a big deal for college students wanting to see the "Other" side. Russians liked to barter for blue jeans and other products symbolizing America. I've heard of tourists having run-ins with authorities trying to engage in this "adventure" in Moscow.
My point is that even if Warmbier committed this immature social act, there's nothing to suggest he threatened the North Korean regime with his actions. I realize that any tampering with images of Kim stands as a state crime. I think the way to read this is more akin to cursing an emperor or king in the Middle Ages. Historically, tightly wound royals often behave no better than street thugs or rogues. Just looking at Kim the wrong way potentially results in death perhaps.
When in Rome do like the Romans. A trip to Pyongyang runs the risk of prison. Stay away from Pyongyang and North Korea! The government doesn't want friendly relations.
North Korea shows its complete neglect of reason and justice in this case. There's nothing about Warmbier's act or confession to justify what has become of him under the North's care. No serious state and government wants its stamp on pettiness. Nothing about retaliation for sanctions makes sense either. Kidnapping civilians can't overturn a foreign policy.
The sad truth could be the North didn't want Warmbier to decline further and to die in their hands. Of course, that's basically and nearly what's happened. He was just short of death. I'm glad President Trump and countless other individuals worked for Otto's release. I seriously doubt the release symbolizes goodwill by the North, I'm sad to say.
The possibility of Korean unification fades this century because the North cares little for anything beyond its dignity. There's little pretense of justice or rightful authority. The round flab of pathetic power pours forth from the hot pot of Kim's government, respecting neither the North's citizens nor foreigners.
Kim Jong-un craves attention, more so than his father and grandfather. His government insists on having the limelight cast over the darkness of their authority's provenance. But no amount of humanitarian exchanges, tourist visits, and sports diplomacy pandering PotCoin changes reality.
The first natural right is the right to life. In organized states, it needs support by government that limits its actions according to the rule of law. That rule embodies respect for people against unjust imprisonment. It also includes a proportionate conception of justice applied to political behavior.
One can't find in any parsing of terms a way to ascribe to North Korea the basic respect for people, except the sovereign. The basic forms of human dignity embodied in United Nations agreements and declarations exist only for Kim Jong-un.
If governments take pause because of the continuing amassing of weapons, conventional and nuclear, that is one thing. But the sacrifice of Warmbier for the ego of the North Korean leadership and government shows the country isn't ready to join the world community of nations.
The fundamental political distinction looks like a doorway that admits or excludes the stranger, that demarcates two (or more sides) as different. The North Korean government likes the closed door, and it only opens to trap the naive.
Bernard Rowan is associate provost for contract administration and professor of political science at Chicago State University. He is a past fellow of the Korea Foundation and former visiting professor at Hanyang University. Reach him at browan10@yahoo.com
.jpg/dims/resize/740/optimize) |
It's a fool's errand to visit North Korea. North Korea isn't a friendly place. It's not an exotic location. It's not a suitable destination for an "adventure"! North Korean regime survival includes displays of using foreign nationals as propaganda tools, as kinds of human shields to impress other countries of their seriousness and power. These acts show desperation and weakness.
Warmbier's alleged crime is stealing a sign from his hotel praising Kim Jong-il. After a lengthy detention, Warmbier uttered a confession about taking the sign. The North says he did it because of a bribe and to impress a fraternity Warmbier wanted to join.
I remember when going to Russia was a big deal for college students wanting to see the "Other" side. Russians liked to barter for blue jeans and other products symbolizing America. I've heard of tourists having run-ins with authorities trying to engage in this "adventure" in Moscow.
My point is that even if Warmbier committed this immature social act, there's nothing to suggest he threatened the North Korean regime with his actions. I realize that any tampering with images of Kim stands as a state crime. I think the way to read this is more akin to cursing an emperor or king in the Middle Ages. Historically, tightly wound royals often behave no better than street thugs or rogues. Just looking at Kim the wrong way potentially results in death perhaps.
When in Rome do like the Romans. A trip to Pyongyang runs the risk of prison. Stay away from Pyongyang and North Korea! The government doesn't want friendly relations.
North Korea shows its complete neglect of reason and justice in this case. There's nothing about Warmbier's act or confession to justify what has become of him under the North's care. No serious state and government wants its stamp on pettiness. Nothing about retaliation for sanctions makes sense either. Kidnapping civilians can't overturn a foreign policy.
The sad truth could be the North didn't want Warmbier to decline further and to die in their hands. Of course, that's basically and nearly what's happened. He was just short of death. I'm glad President Trump and countless other individuals worked for Otto's release. I seriously doubt the release symbolizes goodwill by the North, I'm sad to say.
The possibility of Korean unification fades this century because the North cares little for anything beyond its dignity. There's little pretense of justice or rightful authority. The round flab of pathetic power pours forth from the hot pot of Kim's government, respecting neither the North's citizens nor foreigners.
Kim Jong-un craves attention, more so than his father and grandfather. His government insists on having the limelight cast over the darkness of their authority's provenance. But no amount of humanitarian exchanges, tourist visits, and sports diplomacy pandering PotCoin changes reality.
The first natural right is the right to life. In organized states, it needs support by government that limits its actions according to the rule of law. That rule embodies respect for people against unjust imprisonment. It also includes a proportionate conception of justice applied to political behavior.
One can't find in any parsing of terms a way to ascribe to North Korea the basic respect for people, except the sovereign. The basic forms of human dignity embodied in United Nations agreements and declarations exist only for Kim Jong-un.
If governments take pause because of the continuing amassing of weapons, conventional and nuclear, that is one thing. But the sacrifice of Warmbier for the ego of the North Korean leadership and government shows the country isn't ready to join the world community of nations.
The fundamental political distinction looks like a doorway that admits or excludes the stranger, that demarcates two (or more sides) as different. The North Korean government likes the closed door, and it only opens to trap the naive.
Bernard Rowan is associate provost for contract administration and professor of political science at Chicago State University. He is a past fellow of the Korea Foundation and former visiting professor at Hanyang University. Reach him at browan10@yahoo.com
![[INTERVIEW] Director of 'A Model Family' on blending Korean and European-style thrillers](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/da0446f3210348a3a09b2adaedd1f41d.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
![[INTERVIEW] YouTubers bridge Korean, Muslim and Latin American cultures](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/945e0052fe3c4dadb967f8bed43d0487.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
