January 23,2019 : After reading the article, “Hardly Known, Not Yet Forgotten, South Korean POW’s Tell Their Story,” it appears that during war in the 1950s the South was worse off than the North. The South gave back 76,000 POW’s while the North only gave back 8,000 POW’s. The North kept 72,000 POW from South Korea and denied their existence.
In the book, “Nothing to Envy,” it portrays that in today’s era the North seems like a horrible place. But, when you look back at history, Southern people have ran to the North. Stated in the article, “Former POW’s who managed to escape back to South Korea said they were simply not informed that a prisoner exchange was taking place, or even that the war was over,” (Radio Free Asia 1). This shows how they did not know what was going on with their people and country.
Barabara Demick went to North Korea interviewed many people there and came back with a story. As an author, she only got bits and pieces which makes me question her writing and the information she states. I would rather hear a story from actual North Koreans than an American. She also states, “..their country has betrayed them,” this is very astonishing because the North Koreans do not speak this way about their people nor their culture. I would also want to know how she met these individuals she interviewed. What lengths did she take and how did she come up with the interviews she took? What makes her interviews and stories so valuable? How many other journalists have similar stories as her? I believe she is taking World History and is mimicking and infusing it into this story. Could I be right? Looking forward to read more!
sweetleilani 