They Fooled Them Again
From the Korean Central News Agency, February 19, 2007:
Articles Posted on Internet in U.S. to Celebrate February Holiday
Pyongyang, February 17 (KCNA) -- The U.S. Group for the Study of Songun Politics posted articles including "In Celebration of February 16, birthday of Kim Jong Il" on the Internet homepage "Red Banner of Songun" on Feb. 5 and 9 on the occasion of the February holiday.
The articles said that Kim Jong Il put forward the People's Army as a main force for the revolution and provided Songun leadership, achieving a high level of army-people unity. He has steadfastly adhered to the revolutionary principles and working class stand despite difficult and complicated situation, firmly protecting the sovereignty and dignity of the country, the articles added.
Referring in detail to the fact that the Korean people are pushing ahead with the revolution and construction full of confidence of victory under his wise leadership, they stressed that the era of independence is making dynamic advance as Kim Jong Il is leading the anti-imperialist struggle on the principle of attaching priority to the military affairs.
They said that Kim Jong Il wrote the famous works "Socialism Is a Science," "Abuses of Socialism Are Intolerable" and "On Preserving the Juche Character and National Character of the Revolution and Construction," clearly indicating the way of smashing the imperialists' moves for "globalization."
The Chairman of the Study Group is one John Paul Cupp, a man who in his own words may be sincere but to most people would seem deeply disturbed:
"A nuclear bomb as if a miracle sent from heaven! I was in Pyongyang during the glorious and historic testing of a nuclear bomb and always will be enthusiastic about this occasion, because it defied the imperialists and the White House. This is an experience I will never forget. The Korean nation is deeply lauding the nuke-and-lifeline stance and looking up to Marshal Kim Jong Il for making it possible."
It's bizarre to read a native English speaker writing exactly like a DPRK news release, complete with the clunky grammar and jargon. The rest of his trip to the DPRK in 2006 is chronicled at http://redbannerofsongun.org/atlastdprktrip.html. His site, http://www.geocities.com/songunpoliticsstudygroup/index.html, seems to be updated fairly often.
I originally wrote about him the first time he was mentioned in the KCNA website in 2004, when he and his friend Travis were living in Oregon and describing themselves as activists in something called the Homeless Front. The two of them appear to be the entire membership of the Study Group. I don't think the North Koreans know this.
They still appear to be a secretive bunch: "Membership is by acceptance of the Chairman and General Secretary [Travis], only. However, visitation at such gatherings is open to all anti-imperialists wishing to build solidarity with the DPRK, help us plan events, organize cultural gatherings, and publish solidarity letters. If you are interested in attending one of our invitation only meetings, or would like to learn more about the Songun politics, contact the Chairman and General Secretary." See http://ltmurnau.livejournal.com/61169.html for a picture!
Oh, and still not a word on KCNA about the agreement to give up nuclear weapons in return for food and fuel. I thought they would say something, at any rate - they even made an elliptical reference to that giant train explosion near the Chinese border a year or two ago.
Articles Posted on Internet in U.S. to Celebrate February Holiday
Pyongyang, February 17 (KCNA) -- The U.S. Group for the Study of Songun Politics posted articles including "In Celebration of February 16, birthday of Kim Jong Il" on the Internet homepage "Red Banner of Songun" on Feb. 5 and 9 on the occasion of the February holiday.
The articles said that Kim Jong Il put forward the People's Army as a main force for the revolution and provided Songun leadership, achieving a high level of army-people unity. He has steadfastly adhered to the revolutionary principles and working class stand despite difficult and complicated situation, firmly protecting the sovereignty and dignity of the country, the articles added.
Referring in detail to the fact that the Korean people are pushing ahead with the revolution and construction full of confidence of victory under his wise leadership, they stressed that the era of independence is making dynamic advance as Kim Jong Il is leading the anti-imperialist struggle on the principle of attaching priority to the military affairs.
They said that Kim Jong Il wrote the famous works "Socialism Is a Science," "Abuses of Socialism Are Intolerable" and "On Preserving the Juche Character and National Character of the Revolution and Construction," clearly indicating the way of smashing the imperialists' moves for "globalization."
The Chairman of the Study Group is one John Paul Cupp, a man who in his own words may be sincere but to most people would seem deeply disturbed:
"A nuclear bomb as if a miracle sent from heaven! I was in Pyongyang during the glorious and historic testing of a nuclear bomb and always will be enthusiastic about this occasion, because it defied the imperialists and the White House. This is an experience I will never forget. The Korean nation is deeply lauding the nuke-and-lifeline stance and looking up to Marshal Kim Jong Il for making it possible."
It's bizarre to read a native English speaker writing exactly like a DPRK news release, complete with the clunky grammar and jargon. The rest of his trip to the DPRK in 2006 is chronicled at http://redbannerofsongun.org/atlastdprktrip.html. His site, http://www.geocities.com/songunpoliticsstudygroup/index.html, seems to be updated fairly often.
I originally wrote about him the first time he was mentioned in the KCNA website in 2004, when he and his friend Travis were living in Oregon and describing themselves as activists in something called the Homeless Front. The two of them appear to be the entire membership of the Study Group. I don't think the North Koreans know this.
They still appear to be a secretive bunch: "Membership is by acceptance of the Chairman and General Secretary [Travis], only. However, visitation at such gatherings is open to all anti-imperialists wishing to build solidarity with the DPRK, help us plan events, organize cultural gatherings, and publish solidarity letters. If you are interested in attending one of our invitation only meetings, or would like to learn more about the Songun politics, contact the Chairman and General Secretary." See http://ltmurnau.livejournal.com/61169.html for a picture!
Oh, and still not a word on KCNA about the agreement to give up nuclear weapons in return for food and fuel. I thought they would say something, at any rate - they even made an elliptical reference to that giant train explosion near the Chinese border a year or two ago.