[Editorial] Arab Spring and N. Korea

Self-imposed isolation from the outside world has long been a hallmark of North Korea, a destitute, reclusive communist state, in which individuals are denied basic freedoms. Yet the walls of separation have been raised higher since the Jasmine Revolution started to shake despotic Arab countries.

One of the latest such cases is the recent suspension of direct flights between North Korea and Kuwait. North Korea has recently canceled the weekly flight of its flag carrier, Air Koryo ― an unmistakable move to deny its citizens access to news about popular uprisings in the Arab world, including the death of Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi.

The flight suspension followed an earlier order from North Korean despot Kim Jong-il not to allow North Koreans in Libya and Egypt to return home. A news report said an estimated 200 North Koreans, including medical doctors, nurses and construction workers, have since been stranded in Libya.

According to another news report, North Korea has tightened regulations on foreign residents in Pyongyang planning overseas trips. It is reportedly warning that their reentry would be in jeopardy if they visited certain Arab countries during their travels.

Foreigners’ trips inside North Korea are also restricted. Diplomats and their families are reportedly required to obtain a permit if they wish to go outside of Pyongyang. During their trips, they are put under the surveillance of North Korean agents ― a move to prevent their contact with North Korean residents.

North Korea has also strengthened the control of its border with China. A recent TV footage showed North Korean guards shooting to death North Korean defectors who had crossed the Yalu River over to China. With the border sealed more tightly, a growing number of North Koreans are now defecting to the South by sea.

But the efficacy of Kim Jong-il’s efforts to seal North Korea off from the rest of the world is questioned. He should be reminded that news from the outside world is destined to find its way into any country, not matter how reclusive it may be.

What Kim Jong-il needs to do is heed a warning from a sharp-tongued Bloomberg commentator, William Pesek, about his fall from grace. He says, “If you’re looking for a Moammar Gadhafi-like drama in Asia, a place where many of us would love to see an ‘Arab Spring’ uprising, North Korea is it.”