this post was submitted on 19 Apr 2026
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Some introductory de-brainwashing links:
Thanks for the links. I'm curious if you see North Korea as an actual positive example of state governance or socialism, or if you simply mean to point out certain specific myths?
The haircut video is an interesting demonstration of how state-run media spreads falsehoods, but overall it's really more of an indictment of America than a defense of North Korea. South Korea paying people makes sense, I never really gave defectors too much credence anyway. The interview is interesting but I wish it were longer and more in-depth.
The DPRK is a success story, they succeeded in defeating both the Japanese and US imperialists (despite the US killing 1/5 of their citizens), fought the US comprador government to a standstill (which still serves as a US military base and carries out attacks and propaganda against the DPRK), and made it through the incredibly hard period of the 90s (the arduous march) after the fall of the USSR.
Socialism can take on many forms, all of which can't be divorced from the historical context in which they arose. Other comrades can give some deep dives into the DPRK's governance system, which can show how it's far more democratic than the capitalist dictatorship in the south.
We should all admire the DPRK for standing up to the US empire, and debunk the lies told about it first and foremost. Liberals tend to think its mordor or something, when in reality its a country where ppl go to work and live regular lives like any other.
Point taken that they overcame adversity and that there is propaganda against them. To be fair, that can be said to varying degrees about a lot of countries.
Everyone has reasons to do propaganda but if you're mostly exposed to western media then it's definitely a good idea to fact check everything they say about their geopolitical enemies, because they're always gonna be slandered to hell and even in countries with actual problematic leadership the idea isn't to uncritically defend them but just push back against narratives that will never serve the people in those countries regardless
Fair enough. The original meme seems to suggest, though, not just that people are subject to propaganda, but that North Korea is, in fact, good.
What does good mean here? That's a very vague idea by which to classify entire societies, it would probably serve our understanding better to have more concrete criteria. For example, I would say the continued existence of the DPRK has had a net positive effect on the development of the global south: their development under seige has created a blueprint for other countries to examine, they counterbalance the power of imperial vassals in the region such as Japan, and the military deterrence they provide against US aggression has most likely saved a lot of lives.
Yeah good is a Rorschach word. I interpret it in the context of states as in broad alignment with whatever political values you hold. If geopolitical positioning is what you care about them sure they might be good.
Think of it this way
Everything in you're seeing in Gaza today is what was done to North Korea once. Arguably to an even larger extent.
A society that has been subject to that level of violence and inhumanity can't be expected to be exactly like colonial countries in Europe in terms of its social norms, without even considering cultural differences.
Despite all of that, North Korea has not just managed to survive, it's maintained HDI that surpasses nearly every other under developed country. Remember that it is one of the most, if not the most diplomatically isolated and sanctioned country in the world.
Do you think a state run by tyrants and capitalism enabled fasicsts would do that?