American Perspectives: Response to "Crossing the Line"

Disclaimer: I am not a supporter of the DPRK. I am a supporter of learning about and understanding the various factors that have contributed to ongoing tensions which may sometimes come across as being a sympathizer.
 
 

I watched the documentary "Crossing the Line," today which is about Joseph Dresnok's defection into the DPRK. Appropriately, I have also been following the news about Travis King's recent defection. Prior to all of this, however, on my Instagram , I do a daily 2 part Story Time Reel where I read from books about Korean and Chinese History. One or two days prior to Travis King's defection, I had just gotten started on "The Reluctant Communist" by Charles Robert Jenkins and Jim Frederick. Talk about life having some really strange coincidences!

 
My intention with sharing "The Reluctant Communist" was to teach my fellow International K-Pop and K-Drama fans about the DPRK without a strongly prejudiced, anti-communist bias. As a result, I'm reading a variety of books on the topic, I even intend to read the subject and share it with my followers, so we can get a much clearer idea of where it's all coming from, instead of relying on heavily biased Western Media. I feel that in order to really appreciate K-Pop and K-Drama, the historical/cultural back story of the Korean peninsula needs to be learned, and whether anyone likes it or not, that does also include the DPRK.

 
My quest in learning about the DPRK, sharing what I know, sharing my opinion, has gotten me permanently banned from Facebook. For the record, I am not a supporter of the DPRK. I am a supporter of having an informed and intelligent opinion, and much of what I have learned growing up has been heavily biased due to a Nationalistic fear of Communism.
 
So, I watched this documentary, and I'm not really sure what to think. I know Dresnok has a real ax to grind with Charles Robert Jenkins, and it shows!
 
What I want to talk about first, however, is the issue of the "Fatherhood Liberation," which many Westerners who are aware of that distinction, have a tendency to mock. I will argue that Americans completely misunderstand that, due to cultural differences in perception. I will also add that I have a BA in Anthropology and Sociology, and the school of thought I subscribe to is Post Modernism, where we take the observations way beyond the surface level. Because my husband and children are Navajo, a group that also had to deal with intense historical trauma at the hands of the US Military, I have a slightly unique perspective.I think, to the North Koreans, the "Fatherland Liberation" is a victory in the sense that they succeeded in keeping the US Military from taking over and completely destroying their country. Suceeded in keeping them from bringing in unwanted Missionaries, unwanted Opium Wars, unwanted business interests (fun fact: the Kingdom of Hawai'i was overthrown and incorporated into the United States due to the business interests of the Dole Pineapple Company), unwanted military bases. Considering the rampage of dominating non Western countries that the US and Europe was going on prior to the Korean War, it's definitely a huge statement that the North was able to effectively push back.But, it also brings forth the question: is North Korea a good example of Decolonization/Anti-Imperialism/Cultural Preservation gone wrong? Or is it a good example of what happens when a country chooses not to embrace American values, and the punishment it will receive from the US and its allies? (And I hope I'm not crossing any lines).
But back to Dresnok. I don't think his attitude is as black and white as so many of us in the US so desperately want it to be. (It's so much easier to demonize, and to pick a side on the dividing line than to acknowledge the layers of complexity in such a situation). I think his emotions throughout his time in the DPRK have been mixed. How can they not be? He definitely embraced the culture and language, and it shows! However, he is a white American living in one of the most Anti-American countries in the world. As someone who has spent plenty of time in the Native American community, a community that has a lot of underlying anger towards white Americans, there are absolutely some very challenging and exhausting moments.I wouldn't be surprised if he went through similar. Overall, He indicates numerous times in the documentary that he does not regret his choice. Because he has handlers keeping an eye on him, it's easy to assume he's just saying that to cover his ass, but ... from what I could see, he did seem pretty content and relaxed. The documentary, and a supplementary article in the Guardian are quick to make implications about his heavy smoking, however, I know of many Americans with smoking and drinking problems, so I find the implication an example of reaching. I do wonder if culturally, in the United States, we haven't understood the entire purpose of the handlers.Obviously, reporting infractions is one thing, but do they also serve as a sort of personal guard and companion? I also feel that if Dresnok was miserable in the DPRK,
It is difficult for me to grasp that he prefers the life he made for himself in the DPRK, however, I have learned that there are people who thrive in an environment with a specific structure, clear cut consequences, and the bare minimum. And in the United States, we have two generations of people (millenial and Gen Z) with a myriad of mental health problems in connection to heavily permissive parenting, participation trophies, and few clear cut consequences. So, there are times where I'm left with more questions that answers. What I do know is that I wouldn't be able to live well in an environment that has such specific rules and harsh consequences. I would find it down right terrifying.