1. There's this KCNA article which has awful homophobic comments

  2. This KCNA article which compares Obama to a "black monkey"

  • This article** does analysis which states that the monkey comparison was merely referring to being a "trickster" which ignores:
  1. This KCNA article which is the worst of them all. The racist comparisons are unmistakable in my opinion.

**The aforementioned analysis article has what I find to be pretty unconvincing excuses for the homophobic comments, the quote, "a disgusting old lecher" is not properly addressed.

I'm willing to hear any possible explanations. I don't know what's going on.

  • blight [he/him]
    ·
    2 years ago

    They're not really a multi-ethnic society so they can't have structural racism in the way have, which should make comments like those relatively harmless. They're not connected to a wider system of oppression. Nitpicking a people, who we genocided, about racist comments also seems misguided to me.

    • robinn [none/use name]
      ·
      2 years ago

      It's not nitpicking. The third article is an extremely detailed rant comparing Obama to an "African monkey". This is important because it shows a general racist attitude. These comments may not have a direct material effect but that doesn't excuse them. What you're essentially saying is that these comments are fine since the DPRK hasn't had the chance to discriminate against black people. I don't want to support a state that would treat black people in the same manner as the U.S. if they had the opportunity. Again, there may be an explanation but your justification doesn't land.

      • anoncpc [comrade/them]
        ·
        2 years ago

        The problem is the DPRK doesn't have the history like US. Capture African people and enslave them, as others pointed out, they actually aid Africans overthrowing apartheid and white supremacists. The problem in this occasion I could said stemmed ignorant and hatred on Obama since he's american president. East Asian country in general, especially in rural area doesn't interact much with people of different skin color since they're homogeneous country. I remembered China also had this problem and still have it in current time, especially in their society, which is why they introduce many more law to prevent anti discrimination.

    • space_comrade [he/him]
      ·
      2 years ago

      It's still racism though. You're right that it's harmless since the black population of the DPRK is presumably zero but it's clear that racism is alive and well there and even seems to be state sanctioned, which sucks but also isn't a reason to go full lib on the DPRK and denounce them entirely.

      What's not harmless is the homophobia since gay people live in the DPRK too, but, again, moaning about it on hexbear.net doesn't help one single gay person in the DPRK. It's at least good to be aware that these issues exist there I guess, I dunno I'll shut up now.