[A-List] North Korea: The Grand Deception Revealed (Part 2 of 2)

[Bill Totten <shimogamo@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

The Preliminary Report of the October 2003 National Lawyers
Guild/American Association of Jurists Delegation to the Democratic
Peoples Republic of Korea

Section IX - Particular Observations
Section  X - War and Peace
Section XI - Final Observations and Future Activities


IX. Particular Observations

A. The Juche idea of socialism

Our delegation began an exploration of the Juche form of socialism
developed by the North Koreans to better understand the goals and
intentions for society in North Korea.  An interesting expansion of
socialist philosophy is present in the very symbol of the nation and
Juche, wherein the hammer and sickle are joined by an artist's
calligraphy brush, symbolizing the intellegencia and artists, along with
the industrial and agricultural workers.

In simple terms Juche is the Korean word for independence, which is the
basis of their external and internal policies.  The North Koreans
consider that no country can maintain true independence of action unless
they are truly sovereign. Having experienced multiple invasions over
5,000 years and believing that socialism can be constructed in a single
country if the motivation is there, the North Koreans try to maintain as
much independence as possible while recognizing their interdependency
with the outside world. They also translate this into society itself.
"Juche" is often translated as "self-reliance".

For the North Koreans, Marx and Lenin were great revolutionaries insofar
as analyzing capitalist society and its transformation into socialism is
concerned, but they could not and did not understand what it meant for
human beings to live in a socialist society.  These 19th century
philosophers could only speculate about what a socialist society would
be like. The North Koreans believe that it was Kim Il Sung who developed
a philosophy of a socialist society.  While statutes and murals abound
to the later founder of the Country, Kim Il Sung, we observed no
references to Marx and other international socialist leaders.

The Koreans believe they have a way of looking at society that can
maintain socialism and the revolutionary and humanistic forces that are
needed too maintain and improve it. Kim Il Sung stated that individuals
in the society must have independence, creativity and consciousness.  If
any one of those three is missing no one can be a complete progressive
human being and no socialist society can exist.  It is the North Koreans'
contention that the fall of the USSR can be primarily ascribed to the
mistake of the Soviets in failing to create and sustain this idea and
spirit in the USSR, the result being a loss of faith in the revolution
in the USSR and a regressive slide back into capitalism.

This appears also to be their concern for China as well, that it has
slipped into capitalism due to a complete misunderstanding of what a
socialist society is and can be both for the collective society but also
for the individual as well.  Certainly our delegation's observations in
Mainland China supported that the market system is booming and that
vestiges of Mao's China appear hidden in the seams.

This notion of the role of the individual in socialist society and how
it is actually being played out in North Korea will be one of the topics
for further delegations to follow-up on.  Whether the North Koreans can
maintain their approach with increasing joint ventures with corporations
and further tourism remains to be seen. Furthermore, unlike stated
justifications for isolating other socialist regimes over the years,
such as their desire to export revolution, similar concerns seem
inapplicable in the North Korean context. We appear to be maintaining
this state of war and isolation, not because they are a threat to the
rest of the world, but soley because of their ideology.


B. The Role of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il

The US government and press have continually demonized the leadership of
North Korea as "evil dictators", the "last emperors", "ruthless", and
murderers of their own people. In fact, the US President G W Bush went
so far as to make insulting and discriminatory comments, calling Kim
Jong Il a "pygmy" and that "little" dictator. This attack on leaders
that appear to harness great respect from within their country appear
misguided and intended to thwart peace. The delegation voiced concerns
as to whether efforts to demonize and dehumanize another country's
leader aids in preparing the American people for another war.  Saving
face in Korean society, called che-myon, is very important and we urge
our leaders to understand Korean culture when they deal with this
complex nation. We cannot be respected unless we respect others.

One afternoon we visited the birthplace of Kim Il Sung, the first leader
of the DPRK. He appears highly respected and much loved here because he
fought his entire life for the sovereignty, independence and dignity of
the Korean people, first against the Japanese, then against the
Americans.  Despite the allegations made by some in the west that a
"personality cult" exists in North Korea, that was not our impression. 
On the contrary we found that their former leader Kim Il Sung is
regarded in much the same way as people regard, for example, Mao in
China, Churchill in World War II Britain, or Washington in the United
States.  Our visit to the birthplace, as one delegation member noted,
might have been a stroll around Mt Vernon  the home of George Washington.

Kim Jong Il appears to be respected as someone who continues to fight
for the same principles as his father.  He was not immediately appointed
after his father's death, but took a long period of mourning. The Korean
Workers Party and National Assembly took much time and allegedly engaged
in extensive discussion before electing him. He had been heading the
military for some time and continued in this role in the interim.
However, there appears to have been some chaos and an actual vacuum of
leadership during this time period. This may have contributed to the
economic struggles of the late 1990s.

We learned that under the Juche principle, a strong leader is necessary
to guide the will of the collective as represented in the Workers Party
and the Assembly.  However, as discussed below, the North Koreans have
an elaborate system from the shop or farm level up to receive input on
key national issues.  How well this is utilized is a project for further
delegations, but to assert that there is no democratic participation,
only top-down decisions, in the DPRK appears an exaggeration.

We did not meet Kim Jong Il, something that appears possible on a later
delegation.  We also cannot on such a short trip have sufficient time to
assess the basis of his apparent support.  However, the absence of
weapons and visible military intimidation makes the usual explanation of
a brutal intimidating dictatorship suspect.  We do know that a state of
war leads to a nation rallying around its leadership and North Korea has
had the threat of war hanging over it for over fifty years.  Until there
is peace, it is unlikely that we will fully understand the strengths and
weaknesses of the current leadership.

From all observations, in light of the survival of their nation under
great pressure and great obstacles, it appears that there are many
positives that are overlooked by the simplistic rhetorical bashing of
the media.  We can only conclude that the people we met appear to have
genuine respect for the insights and actions of the "Dear Leader" who is
guiding their country.  Yet, we questioned whether challenging him
openly would result in prison or other penalty. From our own experiences
in the US or Canada, we have seen people in our own countries persecuted
for their beliefs and opinions.  We have watched while Muslims are
attacked or detained without due process, teachers fired if they opposed
the war and brutal attacks by police against those opposing the war in
Iraq.  Look at the reaction to Michael Moore as "disloyal" for calling
the war fictitious and saying to President Bush "shame on you, Mr
President".

Our hosts answered that such challenges to the Leadership rarely happen.
The reasons for this might be tied to the Juche philosophy, the
reluctance to question a leader during a state of war (something
Americans can relate to), peer social pressure or, as some in the West
allege, fear of retaliation. We simply cannot know about a broad
cross-section of DPRK citizens from our short trip. As more delegations
travel to the DPRK, and a peace economy and society prevails, we will
begin to understand this relationship more.

One morning we traveled to the north of the country to beautiful Mt
Myohyang and the Museum of Presidential Gifts. The museum itself is
impressive in size and architecture, but its placement is stunning.  One
overlook where we enjoyed some ginseng tea took our breath away and
several of the delegation noted it was one of the most beautiful spots
they had ever seen.  The museum contains all the gifts given to Kim Il
Sung and Kim Jong Il by visitors and leaders of other countries.  The
stated purpose of the museum is to share the gifts with all of society,
but it also serves to project to the people the respect given to their
leadership by the international community.  These gifts comprise all
types of works of art and other objects from every country in the world
including the United States.  It was a spectacular display of fine
artwork, furniture and even a car.

Some of the gifts were breathtaking, some surprising. For instance there
were two gifts from Jimmy Carter and even one from the Reverend Billy
Graham, described as "the religious leader of America".  Whether that is
Mr Graham's description of himself or the Koreans' misunderstanding or
an exaggeration of his position was unclear. Yet, most Americans would
not have realized in this world of myths and rhetoric that the North
Koreans not only allowed Billy Graham to come to North Korea, but
permitted him to preach in churches there.

The delegation came away from North Korea believing that the US
administration spends too much time demonizing the leadership of North
Korea and forgetting that it is also a nation of millions of people who
are peace-loving and, in the words of the North Korean Colonel we met at
the DMZ, of people who "have children, parents and families".  Even our
own experience shows that during times of threats and war, the best and
worst in governmental leaders comes out.  When former US Jimmy Carter
went to North Korea in 1994 it was in part because he was shocked that
with a crisis brewing, no one was speaking with Kim Il Sung.  Carter and
Kim met, dined together, took a boat trip and lived the Winston
Churchill declaration that it is always better to "talk, talk, talk than
to fight, fight, fight". From the understandings of the needs of each
side in that meeting, an agreed framework was negotiated by the Clinton
White House that reduced the threat of war.

It is clear that the North Korean leadership is willing to meet at
anytime with the United States.  Secretary State Madeline Albright found
Kim Jong Il to be not what she had expected in her visit to Pyongyang.
In fact, Kim Jong Il had invited Bill Clinton in 2000 and a trip was
being discussed at the end of his administration, but the election
debacle of 2000 and developments in the Middle East ended that dream.

The delegation is greatly saddened by the shift from a policy of
dialogue to one of demonization and commits to work to reverse this
dangerous and provocative trend.  It welcomes quite recent moves in the
Bush administration to reconsider signing a non-aggression agreement,
but urge them to also establish formal diplomatic and economic relations
and agree on a timetable to remove US troops. It takes more than
promises to be non-aggressive, as a nation's actions must reflect their
words.

C. The Legal System

We were told that the legal system is based on the Napoleonic Code, but
it appears to be more in line with the German Civil code, as introduced
by the Japanese. There is a structured court system in both the criminal
and civil fields, and there is a system of family and tort law as well. 
In our short trip we could not learn the details of the DPRK legal
system and we need to go back to learn more. We asked to be taken to
courts and law faculties to speak to professors and students, but due to
the short nature of the trip, and a misunderstanding about our arrival
date,  it was not possible to arrange.  We have also asked to visit
courts, but it was not possible on this trip.

Through discussions and research we discovered that the law of criminal
procedure provides that court proceedings shall be open, but also
contains a clause that allows a hearing to be closed if "there is a fear
of exercising a bad effect on society". Such a provision could lead to
abuses and to better understand it we need a sense as to how many
proceedings are really open. Is it used more broadly than some of the
privacy and national security claims made in the US, or the current
military tribunals for alleged terrorists, to justify closed or secret
hearings?  However, our hosts assured those of us from the delegation
who plan to return, that our future delegations would include visits to
the courts and meetings with more  lawyers and judges.

We were struck by the design of the DPRK criminal justice system.  We
even found in a bookstore the Criminal Procedures Act of the DPRK in
English.  Several principles seem quite progressive and reflect more of
restorative justice, than retributive justice.  The prime objective of
the criminal justice system is rehabilitation or setting an example, not
punishment.

There is an element of the latter, as there are jail terms for crimes,
but this is not the major thrust of their system.  In fact, they have
codified a process by which those affected by the decision or the
conduct of the accused have a real role in the process and those that
contributed to the delinquent act or were involved in educating the
person (ie, a parent or friend) have to be available in the process to
receive a "lecture" from the court.  Penalties include submitting the
accused to "social" or "public education".  Those arrested are required
to have their families notified within 48 hours.  A defense counsel is
to be provided to represent the rights of the accused.

We were told that there was no death penalty and that the maximum
penalty for any crime is 12 years, with the objective being to try to
determine why the person committed the crime and to help that person
become a productive member of society.  A lack of a death penalty was
seen by the delegation as a sign of a civilized nation.  There appear to
be labour camps where people work out their sentences.  No effort was
made to hide the presence of these camps.  The US media's recent reports
on the poor conditions, high mortality rate and lack of proper care or
food, in the camps requires further investigation.  In light of the
false and exaggerated claims about starvation in the country in general,
these reports must be viewed with a grain of salt.  We will ask to visit
these camps on future delegations.

{The death penalty appears in some earlier codified statutes from back
in 1992, so the delegation is seeking more up to date information where
this change had been codified and when.}

{The reporting is under suspicion as the "Human Rights" organization
publicizing these allegations have substantial links to the CIA.}

We asked about the penalties for crimes against the state and whether
there was a separate system for those crimes.  There is not, but
provisions are made for crimes that present a "social danger".  This
seems consistent with a socialist society organized around the "common
good", but very general and could be subject to abuse.  How it is
applied remains to be discovered.  However, the North Koreans we met
with seemed professed to not understanding how someone would really
formally challenge the decisions of the collective, as there is,
according to them, an elaborate mechanisms for participation and input
at various levels off society.

D. Education

As in Cuba, education is free up to Ph D level.  University students are
paid a small stipend.  Universities and specialty colleges have been
established for all regions of the country and entry is by competitive
examination.  Any student can apply to go to any university or college
as long as they pass the entrance examination.  After the completion of
their education DPRK tries to place the students in the field in which
they are trained.  Apparently the country has the capacity to enroll
between 40 and 60% of the high school students in university at this
time.

E. Health Care

Again as in Canada, Cuba, and much of Europe, health care is completely
free of charge.  Moreover, doctors make house calls in rural areas. 
Every city has a main hospital and there are specialty hospitals in the
larger towns.  The system is then composed of regional, district and
local clinics all staffed by doctors and nurses so that no one in the
country is without medical care.  Further, doctors visit each village or
city district to ensure preventive techniques are used and that people
are doing their best to keep fit.  There is an on-going keep fit program
in place in the country in which the population has to maintain a
certain level of fitness appropriate for age categories.  However, in
light of economic sanctions there is a shortage of medical supplies.

The floods and drought periods caused disruption of the food supply and
caused malnutrition but this appears to have been overcome and the
population generally appeared in good condition.  Contrary to claims
that the disabled are hidden away by the secret regime, we observed
disabled people in public who needed canes or had amputated limbs. 
Further, a woman with a developmental disability was among the friendly
picnickers we encountered.  According to the North Koreans, parents of
children born with chronic conditions receive an extra stipend for their
care at home, so long as they are able to stay in the home.

F. Housing

Housing is also free and consists either of fairly modern high rises or
traditional cottage style houses with brick walls and tile roofs.  While
many of the high rises looked in need of paint or plaster, they appeared
well kept and clean.  On an evening drive through Pyongyang one of our
delegation observed beauty and barber shops on the ground floor of an
apartment building.  We also observed work crews working on refinishing
buildings within Pyongyang.  While the homes lack many modern
conveniences, we saw TV antennae attached to many of them.  Housing is
allotted by local peoples' committees in each area who decide who in the
area gets which accommodation taking into account various family needs
and availability.  Young people who are single and not away at school
generally live with their parents until marriage at which time they are
provided free accommodation.

G. Work Conditions

Labor unions exist but strikes are almost unknown as the government
consults with the unions and managers on all aspects of work including
wages and work conditions on what seemed to be a consensual basis.  More
needs to be learned about this process and the issues of unions in
socialist states with only governmental employers are very complex.  The
next delegation hopes to tour plants and meet with worker groups.

Miners and steel factory workers - those whose labor is most dangerous
and difficult - earn more than lawyers or doctors.  The professionals
take their reward out of the mental satisfaction of the job itself and
the prestige which comes with it.  So, unlike our society, it is those
who work the hardest physically who make the most.  Workers are
encouraged to speak out if they have ideas on improving things and
committees exist at the shop levels for input.

We received some magazines showing the foreign trade of the DPRK.  One
publication asserts that it has trade with over 100 countries and the
government claims as a basis of trade policy that it is based on "the
principle of independence, equality and mutual benefit".  The
manufacturing sector produces generators, compressors, pumps,
automobiles and trains; mines include lead, zinc, cadmium and steel.  We
saw photos taken within plants of very modern looking equipment, but did
not have time to tour facilities.  The textile plants and silk mills
produce items and the many rivers make fisheries a growing business.  Of
interest was their development of solar battery production, seawater
plants for health and longevity, peppermint oil, Insam ginseng and
medicinal herbs.

H. Political System

As in Cuba and other one party socialist societies, North Korea has a
system of direct democracy in which elections are held for local peoples
committees, district and provincial committees and to the Supreme
People's Assembly.  The absence of other parties is not considered a
failing, as the entire society is socialist.  The question of multiple
parties did not even seem understandable to those we spoke to.  The
delegation questioned whether within that system, there is in fact more
participatory democracy than in the American federal system or the
parliamentary system in which democracy ceases to operate once the
elections are over.  It is more circular, with local committees sending
up to the next level requests, complaints and so on and so on up to the
national level with discussion, at least in theory at these levels and
then feedback to the local level until an agreement is reached based on
resources available and circumstances.

However, the issue is not whether we agree with DPRK's system or feel
that our democracy is better or more just.  The sharing of ideas,
principles and approaches can only come after establishing trust and
building relationship. The delegation feels that it is incumbent on the
United States to commit to peace and demilitarization of Korea and to
agree to more exchanges.  Through these exchanges ideas also change
hands and both societies can benefit from the dialogue.  The Bush
Administration's prohibition of the November 2003 Congressional
delegation to Pyongyang ignores the essential  need for increased
dialogue at this tense time.  Certainly we cannot say that only one
political system is successful and generates a participatory and healthy
society.  We hope that future delegations can learn more about political
dialogue within the DPRK system and share the pros and cons of our
system without blame or judgment.


I. Military Service

Military service is compulsory for young men and lasts for three years. 
Young men can choose to defer their service until after university. 
Women are not obliged to serve in the armed forces, but a significant
number do so out of a feeling of duty to the defense of the country. 
Substantial pride was evident in the manner in which troops appeared to
hold themselves in public and through our personal contacts with
officers at the DMZ as discussed above.

J. Reunification

The goal of the DPRK and the Republic of Korea (ROK) has been to reunify
the country.  Kim Il Sung, just prior to his death in 1994, wrote a
statement that declared that the two countries must make all efforts to
achieve reunification.  A monument to that historic document is found on
the north side of DMZ.  The country has been one for 1300 years, and two
for only 58.  In 2000, a joint declaration arose after a meeting between
the Presidents of the two splintered nations to use respective proposals
for a confederation to promote reunification.  They agreed to economic
cooperation and exchanges in "civic, cultural, sports, public health,
environment and all other fields".  The delegation urges the US to
support, rather than continue to frustrate, these efforts and exchanges. 
If the South Koreans can commit to such relations isn't it incumbent
upon the US to follow its lead?

The DPRK officials provided us with their written proposal for
unification that calls for a Federation with a joint Supreme Assembly to
pass laws for the federation, but one that allows each side to maintain
its systems of government.  Whether this is achievable remains uncertain,
but the point remains that both sides want to have a united and peaceful
nation.  Therefore, it is our observation that the US "defenses" may be
doing more than "protecting" the South Koreans.

In fact, a unified and peaceful Korea, with a combined popoulation of 77
million people, coupled with the growing economic power of China and the
increased trade with Japan, makes Asia an increasing threat to the
economic prowess of the United States.  Already China is the largest
manufacturing country in the world and has had an unparalleled growth
rate of 10-15% per year for over twenty years.  It was the opinion of
the delegation that by maintaining instability in Asia, the US can
maintain a massive military presence and keep China at bay in its
relations with South and North Korea and Japan and use it as a lever
against China and Russia.

With the pressure to remove the US bases in Okinawa, the Korean military
operation remains a central point of American efforts to dominate the
region.  Furthermore, when read in light of the Cheney/Rumsfield and
right wing pronouncements for a New American Century and the Clash of
Civilizations, wherein they plan to fight several simultaneous theatre
wars to preserve Western culture against Islam and then Asia, it is
clear there is more at work here than we are being told.


K. The Role of Women

Most of people we spent extensive time with were men.  We asked about
the Supreme Assembly and saw photos of it.  Women had not achieved
proportional representation there.  In talks about gender issues there
appears to be a great deal of respect for women, and an indication that
they are recognized as capable for any job.  However, whether this
translates into a cultural paternalism was not clear.  Clearly the dress
is conservative and women did not appear objectified in the same ways
they sometimes are as in the west.  We met several very strong assertive
women who were guides at some of our stops and who clearly and strongly
put forth the Country's positions.  However, our nightly dinners with
DPRK lawyers were all male.

Some of the low representation may due to some cross communication about
the dates of our delegation that led to some last minute scrambling by
our hosts.  Therefore last minute arrangements and efforts to diversify
the group may have been thwarted by logistics.

Further, the women entertainers and guides we encountered were often in
"traditional" dress of organza in stark contrast to the garb of women in
other jobs.  The North Koreans have invited us to send a woman's
attorney delegation this next year and assured us that they would make
arrangements to have the delegation meet with women lawyers and judges.

X. War and Peace

The US military estimates that a new Korean war would lead to as many as
one million people killed, including 80-100,000 Americans, out of pocket
expenses of over $100 billion and an impact on the region of over one
trillion dollars.  Therefore, war is not a viable or civilized option. 
Yet, the US continues to spend from 20-30 million dollars a year to
maintain equipment and the military in South Korea.  The delegation
feels that this money could easily be diverted to the US for health care
or other important social functions.

The fundamental foundation of North Korean policy is to achieve a
non-aggression pact and peace treaty with the United States.  The North
Koreans repeatedly stated that they did not want to attack anyone, hurt
anyone or be at war with anyone.  But they have seen what has happened
to Yugoslavia, Afghanistan and Iraq and they have no intention of having
that happen to them.  It is clear that any US invasion would be defended
vigorously and that the nation can endure a long, arduous struggle.

The DPRK has given mixed signals on whether or not it has nuclear
weapons.  It refers to a "nuclear deterrent force".  One officer told us
that they do not have such weapons and other officials indicated that
they did.  So one can conclude nuclear deterrent force exists, though it
may be bluster to make the US think twice about an attack.

Nevertheless, the question is not whether the DPRK has such weapons, but
whether the US, which has nuclear arm capability on the Korean peninsula,
is willing to work with the North toward a peace treaty.  In the end the
cat and mouse game of "do they or don't they" begs the question.  We
found North Koreans avid for peace and not attached to having nuclear
weapons if peace can be established.  However, in this age of "regime
change" in Iraq, "pre-emptive war" doctrines, the US efforts to develop
low yield nuclear weapons and its abandonment of international treaties,
it was not surprising to us that the DPRK would play the nuclear card. 
The tragedy is how can the American people fail to demand that their
leaders exhaust all avenues of dialogue and peacemaking before even
contemplating aggression and the continual deceptions being spun to
justify maintaining a state of militarism on the Korean Peninsula.

XI. Final Observations and Future Activities.

Multiple reasons exist for having international delegations such as ours. 
First, we can be witnesses for peace and observe what is going on in
another country.  Second, we can carry messages of peace and friendship
to countries under attack by our policies.  Finally, we can carry back
information to our country to have people better understand what is
going on.  We have engaged in all of these tasks and will continue to
perform them. The above report seeks to share our observations and
activities.

We are currently planning three delegations in the year 2004 and have
invited DPRK to the National Lawyers Guild Convention in October 2004. 
One of the delegations will focus on women's issues and one will combine
the trip with a visit to South Korea for a regional progressive lawyers
conference.

As to messages of peace we have taken steps to share them at every
opportunity.  Congressman Dennis Kucinich told the delegation to carry a
message to Kim Jong Il that "there is someone running for President who
won't demonize him, genuinely believes in peace between our nations and
will stop all the rhetoric".  At Mt Myohyang we left a written message
for all visitors to see that was immediately written out and translated
in Korean:

To the People of the DPRK:

Thank you for the many inspirations from our trip to Mt Myohyang and
across the country.  We carry you in our hearts as we head back to the
United States and Canada to work for Peace, Friendship and a positive
future for our nations and the our world.

The USA/CANADA NLG Peace Delegation October 2003

When we met with groups of people in parks or at gatherings, or even
with soldiers along the DMZ, we let them know that there are millions of
peace-loving Americans who are supportive of a peaceful co-existence
with the DPRK.  As with Americans before we left, the Koreans seemed
relieved and hopeful that our trip can play a part in healing this
conflict.

Upon leaving we left our hosts and the government with a message of
thanks for their warm hospitality and declared:

We will return to America and Canada and join in the struggle to have
the US ends is aggression, establish full diplomatic relations and
remove US troops from Korea, thereby leaving the Koreans free to
establish a peaceful unification.

On the nuclear issue, we believe that both sides should destroy all
weapons of mass destruction and model for the world a peaceful
relationship based upon respect, understanding and the principles of
international law.

Already since our return we have appeared on television and radio,
written articles, talked in Peace Centers, schools and meeting halls. 
We've held meetings with Presidential candidates and are drumming up
support for further peace activities.  Talks in the first few weeks have
been given in Toronto, New Hampshire, Boston, Albuquerque, Los Angeles
and Minneapolis.

The night before we left, one member from the delegation ran into the
Congolese diplomats who had entered the country with us.  They were
asked what their experience of the country had been.  They stated that
they were shocked.  That everything they had heard about North Korea,
all the negative propaganda, was false.  They added that it would be a
dream for most Africans to have the life that people in North Korea had. 
They repeated that they were shocked and were intent on telling people
so.  It takes each of us to get the word out.

Upon leaving the country we met a Scottish businessman from Edinburgh
who was enthusiastic about the country and was hoping to get in on the
ground floor, a British journalist who was teaching web techniques and
training on international stock markets to journalism students and
government officials,  and a Finnish nurse who had been there for three
years.  All had positive feelings for the country and its people, none
wanted war and all hoped that the people of America would learn the
truth.  We carry their hopes and aspirations with us.

The people of the world have to be told the complete story about Korea
and our government's role in fostering imbalance and conflict.  Action
must be taken by lawyers, community groups, peace activists  and all
citizens of the planet, to prevent the  US government from successfully
generating a propaganda campaign to support aggression in North Korea. 
The American people have been subjected to a grand deception.  There is
too much at stake to get fooled again.  This peace delegation learned in
the DPRK a significant piece of truth essential in international
relations.  It's how broader communication, negotiation followed by
maintained promises, and a deep commitment to peace can save the world
literally from a dark nuclear future.  Experience and truth free us from
the threat of war.  Our foray into North Korea, this report and our
on-going project are small efforts to make and set us free.

Submitted by the 2003 NLG Korea Peace Project Delegation
Neil Berman
Christopher Black
Peter Erlinder
Jennie Lusk
Eric Sirotkin

To contact the delegation call 505-266-2753 in the United States or
email us at sirotkin@igc.org. Our web site is at www.nlg.org from
November 2003.