North Korea Erases Executed Official From the Internet 276
itwbennett writes "The North Korean state propaganda machine has edited and deleted hundreds of news articles that mention Jang Song Thaek, the former top government and party official and uncle to leader Kim Jong Un, who was executed Thursday. Earlier this week, Jang was arrested in front of hundreds of senior members of the ruling Worker's Party of Korea and denounced for numerous alleged acts against the state and Kim Jong Un. From arrest to trial to death took only four days and the unprecedented fall from grace is widely being interpreted as an attempt by Kim Jong Un to keep officials loyal and scared."
Word unlocked. (Score:5, Insightful)
The term 'Orwellian' tends to be overused a bit these days. But, having read 1984, this is something straight out of that book. The adjective is appropriate in this situation: Go ahead and use it.
Re:Word unlocked. (Score:2, Insightful)
I am more than certain that not a single soul posting on Slashdot feels the need for anyone, anywhere, especially not one of their own, to give permission to use blatantly inflammatory language to describe anything at all.
Re:Obummer's exit plan (Score:4, Insightful)
How soon before what's left of your pathetic, useless brain leaks out the one nostril you don't pick?
Re:Arrest To Death in 4 Days for J.S. Thaek (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Word unlocked. (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Word unlocked. (Score:5, Insightful)
It's the North Korean Happy Fun Time Hour! Be sure to clap for Dear Leader very enthusiastically!
You might be joking, but one of the accused's crimes was, in fact, to not clap enthusiastically enough. It's almost like they are trying to parody themselves.
Re:House of Cards (Score:4, Insightful)
Maybe if he killed himself, everyone would win.
Re:Obummer's exit plan (Score:0, Insightful)
The US military oath is to obey the constitution first.
So is the oath of all public officials. What's your point?
A president who declared himself supreme leader would suffer from a case of high velocity lead poisoning very quickly.
No, most of you Internet tough guys would be cowering in your homes.
Re:Obummer's exit plan (Score:4, Insightful)
Senator Obama voted for warrantless NSA spying 4 months before he was elected President. Try paying attention some time.
Re:Arrest To Death in 4 Days for J.S. Thaek (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Word unlocked. (Score:5, Insightful)
He murdered his uncle for political reasons and doesn't want everyone to know about it, that kind of behaviour predates 1984 by several millennia.
This is not insightful. He murdered his uncle and erased him from history, and very much wanted every North Korean politician, military and ambitious individual to know about it. It's a demonstration of utter ruthlessness designed to ensure obedience.
When you work for a man capable of doing that to his own uncle, you tread lightly. And that's what he wants. He knows that you and everybody else knows the charges were false - he wants you to know that. But never say it. And if you're in North Korea, you won't.
Sympathy? (Score:5, Insightful)
This guy was one of the top brass in NK. Lets keep in mind how many millions of tortures and death he's likely responsible for. The worlds better off without him, and we can only hope NK becomes unstable soon. Those poor people that live there, my God. How can we still have such a place on this earth.
You'll never understand until you experience it (Score:4, Insightful)
The term 'Orwellian' tends to be overused a bit these days. But, having read 1984, this is something straight out of that book
Millions of Jews died in the hand of the Nazis. Those who went through holocaust hell but survived fully comprehend the meaning of "LIBERTY".
Many people tried to scale the Berlin wall but was shot to death. Those who were successful fully appreciate the importance of "LIBERTY".
Some brave souls from North Korea risk everything and went through a very dangerous journey crossing the very heavily guarded border into China. To them, "LIBERTY" is worth much more than all the gold in the world.
They do not need "1984" to tell them the horror. They have experience it first hand.
I had befriended several holocaust survivors when I was in the United States (back when many of them were still alive, in the 70's) and I found that, for them, the same thing happen : Mere words could never justify the horrors that they had gone through.
The scars that they had was much worse than the scars that I have. They had their family slaughtered right in front of them, and yet, when I asked them to describe how they feel, they just shook their head.
They couldn't.
It's not the "hurt" that stopped them from telling me what happened. It's that SPOKEN WORDS itself is not sufficient.
Now, when I see people like you justifying your "understanding" the horror with a fiction, I sadly shake my head.
"1984" is but an old fiction.
You guys might find it useful, but to us who had been through the horror, that book does not even come close to the actual experience.
To us, "LIBERTY" means much more than life itself.
To some of you, that word is, a word.
That is why I mourn for the loss of "LIBERTY" of the United States of America but too many born and bred Americans themselves don't even understand what they have lost.
I humbly ask for your forgiveness because English is not my mother tongue. There are times, like now, I am at a total loss of words to describe how I feel.
All I can say is this --- You will never understand the importance of "LIBERTY" until you have lost it.
Re:Word unlocked. (Score:5, Insightful)
What makes you think that most people who invoke 1984 have even read it?
Re:Obummer's exit plan (Score:5, Insightful)
You modern right-wingers collectively can't muster the balls of Timothy McVeigh (who failed to kickstart anything because the rest of you are gutless) so all you do is snivel on the internet, forward Faux News articles, and grumble like a bunch of blue-haired biddies in your little circle jerk of mutual affirmation.
You don't do shit, so quit bitching. You rant about the "Greatest Generation" but you aren't a bump on their collective posterior.
YOUR GOPs relentless incompetence and pathetic candidates are why Obama (who I also dislike) is in office in the first place! YOU got him elected twice.
The refusal of modern so-called "conservatism" to do anything other than preach like the White Trash Christian Taliban you are at heart while gargling the balls of rich people who wouldn't be caught dead with you is a disgrace.
Re:You'll never understand until you experience it (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:How does that work? (Score:5, Insightful)
Whispers are more powerful than shouts.
Re:Word unlocked. (Score:3, Insightful)
Just remember that Germany voted for Hitler. History can and does happen again, unless we care to learn from it.
And the US voted for Obama.
There is frequently a disconnect between the reason people vote for someone, and what that person actually does once elected.
Re:You'll never understand until you experience it (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Word unlocked. (Score:4, Insightful)
He murdered his uncle for political reasons...
...but - tell the truth - around the holidays, haven't you ever felt like killing someone in your family?
Re:Word unlocked. (Score:5, Insightful)