We review a documentary about a North Korean family called "Under the Sun," by Russian director Vitalij Manskij. On the surface, the documentary is a story about a young girl in North Korea who was chosen to take part in the well-known variety stage show "Spartakids." Under the surface, there is another layer to the movie. The movie is also about the North Korean propaganda people who are controlling the every movement of the characters in this "documentary."

Sug and Dan break down this movie and its implications, what it says about North Korea, and what it says about human existence. There are PLENTY OF SPOILERS.

Support the Show.

1. NORTH KOREANS SUFFER IN FREEZING WINTER
   1. Due to firewood shortage, North Korean residents have difficulty heating their homes and staying warm this winter. North Koreans usually prepare kindling or charcoal briquettes in autumn, but a source in North Hamgyong Province said that most people were unable to purchase enough due to the high price of firewood which climbed from KPW 2,000 in mid-November to KPW 3,000 in December.
2. NORTH KOREA LAUNCHED HYPERSONIC MISSILE IN 2024
   1. According to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, North Korea fired a suspected intermediate-range ballistic missile into the waters off the east coast of the Korean peninsula. The hypersonic missile flew about 1,000 kilometers (around 600 miles) at a maximum altitude of at least 50 kilometers (around 30 miles) before landing in the sea.
3. LOW-KEY BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS FOR KIM JONG-UN
   1. Kim is speculated to have turned 40 this year, but unlike previous years where large funds were raised to give away candies to children ahead of the leader’s birthday, North Korea has significantly lowered both the quantity and quality of candies this year.
4. NK RESTAURANTS RACIST TOWARDS SOUTH KOREANS
   1. As Korean food has become more popular around the world with the rise in popularity in K-pop and K-drama, Pyongyang has also taken advantage of the K-trend and actively opened state-run restaurants across Asia, the Middle East and Europe as a stable source of foreign income despite United Nations sanctions banning North Koreans from working overseas.
5. NORTH KOREA NO LONGER INTERESTED IN REUNIFICATION
   1. During a year-end party meeting, North Korea’s leader warned the nation to prepare for further economic hardships in 2024 and gave orders to accelerate war preparations against the U.S. Kim Jong-un encouraged his people to wage a “more courageous and resolute struggle despite the ever-increasing challenges and difficulties” in the new year.
6. JU-AE: NK'S NEXT LEADER?
   1. According to South Korea’s spy agency, the National Intelligence Service, the 10-year-old Ju-ae is seen as her father’s likely heir apparent. In addition to being called Kim Jong-un’s “most beloved” or “respected” child, photos and footage showing her accompanying Kim at public activities prove her rising political standing and closeness with her father as analysts speculate that Ju-ae is receiving training to take the reins of the hermit kingdom.
7. KIM JONG-UN IN TEARS AS HE CALLED ON WOMEN TO HAVE MORE CHILDREN
   1. Kim Jong-un urged women to have more children to strengthen national power at the National Mothers Meeting. The leader was moved to tears as he expressed gratitude to mothers in North Korea to boost national morale, “I too always think about mothers when I have a hard time dealing with the party and the state’s work.”

Support the Show.

This episode is about North Korea's unofficial bribery season. It's when budgets are being formed and pockets are being lined. Before Sug and Dan get into this, they have an obligatory venting session about Chicago's winter weather (it's also that time of year).

Yes, this is an official season in North Korea. Bribes go up and down the chain of command. They are exchanged from government offices to other government offices, from people to government offices, and between people. One common bribe, for example, is to up ones social status (or Songbun) or for parents to bribe teachers for better instruction or more attention in the classroom. According to Radio Free Asia, "It's rare for a government agency to submit a budget without a bribe."

But before we point a finger at North Korea, let's examine our own society. We discuss the hard and soft ways that people in positions of power benefit from their seats in government. Dan and Sug share their personal experiences with bribery.

Dan also shares his stories about the bribery that Crossing Borders was subjected to in China in regards to half North Korean, half Chinese children in Crossing Borders network.

Kim Jong Un has publicly stated that he wants the bribery to stop in his country but we know the practice is alive and well. But these bribes fund his nuclear program.

But who the culture of bribery hurts is the North Korean people.

-----------
ARTICLES

Bribery Season on Crossing Borders website
Radio Free Asia Bribery Season

-----------

Welcome to The Demystified Zone (DMZ) presented by Crossing Borders, a conversation about North Korea that spans from the geo-political games, crazy hair-styles to real issues affecting the lives of North Koreans today. Join us for a chat about the funny and heartbreaking things we notice about the Hermit Kingdom today.

Learn More about The Demystified Zone (DMZ), the new Crossing Borders Podcast
https://www.crossingbordersnk.org/podcast

CROSSING BORDERS
Crossing Borders Ministry is a Christian, faith-based 501(c)3 non-profit that offers assistance to North Korean refugees and their children living in China and South Korea.
https://www.crossingbordersnk.org/about-crossing-borders

ELIM HOUSE
Elim House is a new initiative launched in 2020 to provide respite housing to battered North Korean women who live in South Korea. Learn more here:
https://www.crossingbordersnk.org/elimhouse

Help North Korean defectors
https://www.crossingbordersnk.org/north-korean-defectors

Support the Show.