If you've seen the pictures and video of the funeral for Kim Jong-Il, you've probably asked yourself the same question that a lot of people have....ARE THOSE TEARS AND WAILING REAL OR FAKED????
The answer is probably a little bit of both. Some things to keep in mind:
1) Any pictures or video you see are released SOLELY by the government of North Korea. There are no independent AP videographers, no twitter or facebook mobile phone cams, no tourists taking pics and emailing them out (on a sidenote, I tried to get a visa to go and witness the funeral for myself and it was not possible). And, these pics and videos are meticulously edited before release to the outside world (see this site as an example: Photo from Kim Funeral ) So while you are seeing lots of crying, you are also only seeing what they want you to see.
2) It is also quite likely that the tears are rehearsed and while not "forced", it is certainly in the best interests of the people at the funeral to show their tears and to be seen "acting appropriately" as they were instructed by local officials during the announcement of the funeral details. In addition to goverment agents every where (personal experience with this during my trip there and even on my return to Malaysia), there are also government appointed monitors who watch their neighbors. These people have day to day duties of organizing local clean ups and other local activities, but they are also responsible for reporting neighbors who seem to be acting in an anti-revolutionary manner or who may seem suspicious.
3) And finally, there is a simple numbers game. The population of North Korea is around 24 million people. It is estimated that there are around 3 million people in Pyongyang. It is also estimated that there are 4 million members of the Workers Party of Korea (the ruling communist party) in the entire country. Pyongyang is generally reserved for thos people of excellent songbun (family background), which means that the majority of the 4 million party members live in Pyongyang. And those who arent party members are still family member of the party members or at least of some excellent songbun and therefore lead a priviledged life which is in some part thanks to the Kim dynasty. It was estimated that around 200,000 people lined the streets for the funeral (many fromt he military who also benefit greatly from the Kim leadership) and that another 100,000 turned out for Thursday's memorial service in Kim Il Sung square. 100,000 to 200,000 people is actually a relatively small percentage of even just the KWP membership and/or the Pyongyang population. Therefore, it is entirely believable that you could find that many people from that subsection of the population who are genuinely distraught by the death of Dear Leader.
It is also worth remembering that evertything is controlled by the party. This can very easily include movements of the people. One cant not leave your city or enter another city without permission from the government. It is likely that during such an important event to the government as this funeral that even movement within the city was highly restricted. ALL North Koreans are meticulously classified by the party into 51 different groups which are subcategories of three classes which, in general terms, are: "good", "uncertain" and "hostile". We can be fairly certain that only the best of the "good" class were allowed anywhere near the funeral procession or the cameras.
Real or imaginary tears?!?!?! Like everything in DPRK, it's not really clear!
The answer is probably a little bit of both. Some things to keep in mind:
1) Any pictures or video you see are released SOLELY by the government of North Korea. There are no independent AP videographers, no twitter or facebook mobile phone cams, no tourists taking pics and emailing them out (on a sidenote, I tried to get a visa to go and witness the funeral for myself and it was not possible). And, these pics and videos are meticulously edited before release to the outside world (see this site as an example: Photo from Kim Funeral ) So while you are seeing lots of crying, you are also only seeing what they want you to see.
2) It is also quite likely that the tears are rehearsed and while not "forced", it is certainly in the best interests of the people at the funeral to show their tears and to be seen "acting appropriately" as they were instructed by local officials during the announcement of the funeral details. In addition to goverment agents every where (personal experience with this during my trip there and even on my return to Malaysia), there are also government appointed monitors who watch their neighbors. These people have day to day duties of organizing local clean ups and other local activities, but they are also responsible for reporting neighbors who seem to be acting in an anti-revolutionary manner or who may seem suspicious.
3) And finally, there is a simple numbers game. The population of North Korea is around 24 million people. It is estimated that there are around 3 million people in Pyongyang. It is also estimated that there are 4 million members of the Workers Party of Korea (the ruling communist party) in the entire country. Pyongyang is generally reserved for thos people of excellent songbun (family background), which means that the majority of the 4 million party members live in Pyongyang. And those who arent party members are still family member of the party members or at least of some excellent songbun and therefore lead a priviledged life which is in some part thanks to the Kim dynasty. It was estimated that around 200,000 people lined the streets for the funeral (many fromt he military who also benefit greatly from the Kim leadership) and that another 100,000 turned out for Thursday's memorial service in Kim Il Sung square. 100,000 to 200,000 people is actually a relatively small percentage of even just the KWP membership and/or the Pyongyang population. Therefore, it is entirely believable that you could find that many people from that subsection of the population who are genuinely distraught by the death of Dear Leader.
It is also worth remembering that evertything is controlled by the party. This can very easily include movements of the people. One cant not leave your city or enter another city without permission from the government. It is likely that during such an important event to the government as this funeral that even movement within the city was highly restricted. ALL North Koreans are meticulously classified by the party into 51 different groups which are subcategories of three classes which, in general terms, are: "good", "uncertain" and "hostile". We can be fairly certain that only the best of the "good" class were allowed anywhere near the funeral procession or the cameras.
Real or imaginary tears?!?!?! Like everything in DPRK, it's not really clear!
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