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<DIV><FONT face=Arial>The saving of inanimate objects in times of danger is
obviously not peculiar to North Korea, and neither is the idea that soldiers or
others lay down their lives in seemingly futile gestures. There are plenty of
stories from the past of soldiers defending the flag in battle even at the cost
of their lives, and in Britain's case, portraits of the sovereign seem to have
been saved from burning embassies, residencies etc in the past. I also seem to
remember from the Spanish Civil War tales of priests being killed while
protecting the Host in churches, and no doubt there are many other
tales.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Once again, Korean experience/behaviour is not 'unique'
but similar to that of most other societies.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Jim Hoare</FONT></DIV>
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style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=jiyulkim@fas.harvard.edu href="mailto:jiyulkim@fas.harvard.edu">Jiyul
Kim</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=Koreanstudies@koreaweb.ws
href="mailto:Koreanstudies@koreaweb.ws">Korean Studies Discussion List</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Monday, April 03, 2006 5:27
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> *** SPAM *** Re: [KS] Human
Bombs</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>A few years ago I had an unforgettable experience of walking
through the battlefields of the first days of the Korean War as it was
experienced by retired General Paek Son-yop, who was the commander of the 1st
ROK Army Division that was stationed in the Munsan corridor, the main avenue
of North Korea's attack. It was the soldiers of his division who are
immortalized as human bombs in the War Memorial (and in many other venues). As
a soldier myself the story or its heroic version resonates at a very simple
level that is repeated through all time and all places in the history of war.
There are innumerable accounts of soldiers who willingly sacrifice their
lives, sometimes for idealistic reasons, but mostly for humanistic reasons,
for the sake of their comrades. I do not know the true circumstances of the
motivations of the actions of these soldiers, but it seems reasonable to me to
assume that it was the result of their sense of the immediate soldierly and
ultimately humanistic emotions that led to their actions. There are similar
actions committed by soldiers from all armies through all time. That these
soldiers are now immortalized as heroes in South Korea echoes what Sheila
Miyoshi Jager wrote about, the impulse to highlight heroic martial masculinity
to emphasize Korean identity, patriotism and subjectivity. <BR><BR>Jiyul
Kim<BR>Colonel, US Army<BR>Director of Asian Studies, US Army War
College<BR><BR><A class=moz-txt-link-abbreviated
href="mailto:Afostercarter@aol.com">Afostercarter@aol.com</A> wrote:
<BLOCKQUOTE cite=mid283.86efb44.315e716c@aol.com type="cite"><FONT
face=arial,helvetica><FONT lang=0 style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(255,255,255)"
face="Times New Roman" size=3 family="SERIF" ptsize="12" back="#ffffff">Dear
all,<BR><BR>Ruediger poses a very interesting question. Or possibly
two.<BR><BR><BR>A. For information: Searching the ever-useful nk-news.net
finds<BR>174 uses of the phrase "human bomb" on KCNA in the past
decade.<BR><BR>Rhetoric is one thing, action another. Searching "save +
portrait"<BR>yields a far smaller sub-set (6) of a fascinating variant:
heroes who<BR>saved pictures, busts etc of the Leaders at the cost of their
own lives.<BR><BR>I append these stories. In some cases the details are a
bit obscure.<BR>But clearly, the Leaders' image is more important than your
own life.<BR><BR>There also seems an implication that preserving this
inanimate object<BR>takes precedence over saving the real human lives of
your comrades<BR>(if forced to choose). But I'm not quite sure if that
inference is correct.<BR><BR>Again the same questions arise: Is this unique
to North Korea? and/or<BR>where did this come from?<BR><BR><BR>B. The other,
wider issue is raised in Ruediger's final sentence.<BR>I take this as an
invitation to <I>Methodenstreit</I>, and - as with another <BR>Frank
recently - feel impelled to rise to the bait.<BR><BR></FONT><FONT lang=0
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(255,255,255)" face=Arial color=#000000 size=2
family="SANSSERIF" ptsize="10" back="#ffffff">but of course back in my mind
I expect to find one more instance showing that <BR>North Korea is part of
something earthly, not an alien entity from Mars.</FONT><FONT lang=0
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(255,255,255)" face="Times New Roman"
color=#000000 size=3 family="SERIF" ptsize="12"
back="#ffffff"><BR><BR>1.What exactly is being claimed here? Of course North
Korea is on the same<BR>planet. Also of course we all seek explanation, and
everything has its cause. <BR><BR>2. But if there is a further implication
that the DPRK regime is somehow normal<BR>- statistically, politically,
morally - in its structures, discourses, and behaviours,<BR>then that is
something else entirely. Not only would I dispute this, but I can't
see<BR>why anyone would want to argue this - except, perhaps, as an
epistemological<BR>category-mistake when what you really mean is to assert
(1) instead.<BR>(Then again, who would deny [1]?)<BR><BR><BR>This one could
run and run...<BR><BR>cheers<BR>Aidan<BR><BR>AIDAN FOSTER-CARTER<BR>Honorary
Senior Research Fellow in Sociology & Modern Korea, Leeds University
<BR>Home address: 17 Birklands Road, Shipley, West Yorkshire, BD18 3BY, UK
<BR>tel: +44(0) 1274
588586 (alt) +44(0) 1264
737634 mobile:
+44(0) 7970 741307 <BR>fax: +44(0) 1274
773663 ISDN:
+44(0) 1274 589280<BR>Email: <A class=moz-txt-link-abbreviated
href="mailto:afostercarter@aol.com">afostercarter@aol.com</A>
(alt) <A class=moz-txt-link-abbreviated
href="mailto:afostercarter@yahoo.com">afostercarter@yahoo.com</A>
website: <A class=moz-txt-link-abbreviated
href="http://www.aidanfc.net">www.aidanfc.net</A><BR>[Please use @aol; but
if any problems, please try @yahoo too - and let me know, so I can chide
AOL]<BR><BR><BR><BR>__________<BR><BR><BR><BR><B>Korean Women Model after
Kim Jong Suk </B>[2005]<BR> Pyongyang, September 21 (KCNA)
-- Kim Jong Suk, an anti-Japanese war hero and woman commander of Mt.
Paektu, is the great paragon for the Korean women. She showed the spirit of
defending the leader with her very life, revolutionary comradeship and great
love for the rising generation. Her noble traits have served as a priceless
heritage which all the Korean women should follow generation after
generation. <BR> In an interview with KCNA, Pak Kum Ju,
vice-director of a department of the Central Committee of the Korean
Democratic Women's Union, said the women are striving hard to model after
Kim Jong Suk so as to train themselves as female revolutionaries. Union
members are holding study meetings and gatherings for expressing impressions
on books dealing with her immortal exploits and other colorful activities
for following her noble traits. <BR> Such campaign proves
effective in practice. <BR> Ri Kum Bok residing in Rakwon
County and Sin Mun Ok in Hamhung City of South Hamgyong Province protected
the portraits of the three generals of Mt. Paektu from natural disasters
that hit their residential quarters. <BR> Yu Chun Hwa in
Orang County of North Hamgyong Province saved workers by shielding a stone
rolling down at a power station construction site. Sin Hye Yong in
Jongphyong County, South Hamgyong Province, pulled out a fellow's child from
drowning ahead of her own one. <BR> So Hye Suk in
Pyongyang, Ri Hui Sun in North Hamgyong Province and Pak Myong Bok in South
Phyongan Province are bringing up many orphans in their houses. This has
become a social trait in the country.<BR><BR><BR><B>Title of Hero of
Republic Posthumously Awarded to Student</B> [2005]<BR>
Pyongyang, June 30 (KCNA) -- The title of the Hero of the Republic was
posthumously awarded to Yu Kyong Hwa, former student of Kim Chol Ju
University of Education for fully displaying the spirit of devotedly
defending the leader and revolutionary comradeship. Early in January last
when there broke out fire all of a sudden, she protected the portraits of
President Kim Il Sung and leader Kim Jong Il and saved her revolutionary
comrades from the flames at the cost of her life. <BR> The
Title of the Hero of the DPRK and Gold Star Medal and the Order of the
National Flag First Class posthumously awarded to her were conveyed to her
bereaved family at an awarding ceremony held Wednesday.
<BR> At the ceremony speakers referred to the brilliant
life of her who always lived with rare desire and hope to be a true daughter
of Songun Korea, adding that was why she displayed to the full the intense
loyalty and noble comradeship to the last moments of her
life.<BR><BR><BR><B>Army Full of Spirit of Guarding Leader</B>
[2005]<BR> Pyongyang, April 26 (KCNA) -- "Let us defend
the headquarters of the revolution headed by the great Comrade Kim Jong Il
with our lives!" is a slogan reflecting all the Korean servicemen's
unswerving oath. The slogan is based on their belief that they will always
emerge victorious under the command of Kim Jong Il. <BR>
The servicemen, who regard guarding the leader as their life and soul, carry
this slogan into practice. <BR> It was proved by what
eleven servicepersons belonging to Kim Ji Song unit of the Korean People's
Army did some time ago. <BR> Their ship met an accident on
a mission. <BR> At this critical moment they took measures
to protect portraits of President Kim Il Sung and leader Kim Jong Il hung in
the cabin and badges bearing the image of the President before diving into
the roaring sea. <BR> Such spirit is displayed by officers
and men of the three services of the KPA. <BR> A pilot
would have saved his life if he escaped from the burning plane as ordered by
his commander. But he nosed his plane into the sea to protect the
headquarters of revolution. Soldiers covered hand-grenades with their bodies
before explosion to protect portraits of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il. And
servicepersons plunged themselves into raging flames to protect trees
bearing slogans written by anti-Japanese guerrillas without hesitation.
<BR> It is the servicepersons of the 73-year old KPA that
unhesitatingly sacrifice their lives and youth for their supreme
commander.<BR><BR><BR>P<B>yongyang Kangdong senior middle school renamed</B>
[2001]<BR>Pyongyang, May 19 (KCNA) -- Pyongyang Kangdong senior middle
school was renamed Hero Kangdong Senior Middle School.
<BR> This school has produced a dozen heroes of the
republic and labour heroes from among its graduates, including Ri Chun Do
who protected the portraits of the President Kim Il Sung and Marshal Kim
Jong Il and saved many revolutionary comrades from the explosion of a
hand-grenade with his body and now enjoys an eternal life.
<BR> Informed of this school that has produced many
heroes, Kim Jong Il showed such loving care for them as seeing to it that
the school was renamed "Hero Kangdong Senior Middle
School."<BR> A ceremony of renaming the school was held on
May 17. <BR><BR><BR><B>Noble spirit of People's Army soldiers
</B>[1997]<BR>Pyongyang, June 16 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Gun and Hong Gyong Il,
officers of the Korean People's Security Forces, were awarded the title of
hero of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea a few days ago. Kim Jong
Gun and other servicemen and crewmen were hit by a strong typhoon while on
duty in the sea. They wrapped up in vinyl sheets portraits of President Kim
Il Sung and Secretary Kim Jong Il which were hanging at the cabin and set
them with a life-belt afloat on the sea before meeting their doom. The
life-belt was found in the Korean West Sea off Sinmi Islet on May 2, 20 days
after. The spirit of defending the leader at the risk of their lives is in
full play among the soldiers of the Korean People's Army. Choe Pong Su, an
officer of the KPA, and his soldiers braved the fire which broke out at a
building in October, 1992. They secured a plaster bust of the President and
over 200 portraits from the file with superhuman power. Mun Ghang Bok, a
hero of the DPRK, safeguarded a portrait of the President hung at a barrack
and saved tens of servicemen by covering a handgrenade with a safety ring
free with his body in October, 1990. Pilot Kil Yong Jo, a hero of the DPRK,
is one of the servicemen who devoted his youth to defending the leader. In
December 1993 engine of his plane was out of order all of a sudden while in
flight and he had 25 seconds enough to bail out. But he took a firm hold of
the control lever and defended the top echelon of revolution at the risk of
his life in 25 seconds. KPSF soldiers Kim Chol Jin, Kim Gyong Chol and Jong
Kwang Son and a KPA soldier Kim Yong Il defended the dignity of the Supreme
Commander in the spirit of human bombs in defiance of all appeasement behind
the enemy line and came back home. This is the spirit of the servicemen
prevailing in the KPA under the flag of the Supreme
Commander.<BR><BR><BR><B>Servicemen, fishermen faithful to leaders
</B>[1997]<BR>Pyongyang, June 5 (KCNA) -- Another example of devotedly
defending the leader was set in Korea, deeply moving people. Servicemen and
fishermen who were aboard the fishing boat "8115" belonging to the Korean
People's Security Forces (KPSF) saved portraits of President Kim Il Sung and
Secretary Kim Jong Il under unexpected circumstances, defending their
revolutionary faith and obligation to the last moment of their lives. Since
the boat left Nampo port on the West Sea of Korea on April 3, its
whereabouts had been unknown. On May 2, fishermen of the Roha Cooperative
Farm, Sonchon county, North Phyongan Province, happened to find a bag
floating off Sinmi island. Contained in the bag, wrapped water-tight in a
vinyl sheet, were portraits of President Kim Il Sung and Secretary Kim Jong
Il, a logbook and a letter. It is by the logbook and letter that their
heroic death has become known to the people. When the boat was sailing back,
it was wrecked by a typhoon at around 2 a.m. April 13. The servicemen and
crew made desperate efforts to save the boat, but to no avail. What they
worried about just before the boat was submerged was not themselves but the
portraits. They wrapped the portraits, which had been hung in the cabin, in
a clean vinyl sheet, put them into a bag and set afloat the bag tied with a
life belt. The letter says that, at the last moment, they sang the song "No
motherland without you" praising Secretary Kim Jong Il, looking up to the
sky above Pyongyang. Secretary Kim Jong Il sent gifts to their families and
honored them with certificates of bereaved family of a Martyr. KPSF officers
Kim Jong Gun and Hong Kyong Il were awarded titles of the DPRK hero and the
master of the boat, Yun Chun Gyong, and seven others the order of National
Flag First Class. Their heroic death shows well how steadfast the servicemen
and people of Korea are in the spirit of devotedly defending the leader,
becoming human bombs and making suicide
attack.<BR><BR>____________<BR><BR>In a message dated 31/03/2006 11:16:36
GMT Standard Time, <A class=moz-txt-link-abbreviated
href="mailto:rfrank@koreanstudies.de">rfrank@koreanstudies.de</A>
writes:<BR><BR></FONT><FONT lang=0
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(255,255,255)" face=Arial color=#000000 size=2
family="SANSSERIF" ptsize="10" back="#ffffff"><BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: rgb(0,0,255) 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"
type="CITE">Subj:<B>[KS] Human Bombs </B><BR>Date:31/03/2006 11:16:36 GMT
Standard Time<BR>From:<A
href="mailto:rfrank@koreanstudies.de">rfrank@koreanstudies.de</A><BR>Reply-to:<A
href="mailto:Koreanstudies@koreaweb.ws">Koreanstudies@koreaweb.ws</A><BR>To:<A
href="mailto:koreanstudies@koreaweb.ws">koreanstudies@koreaweb.ws</A><BR><I>Sent
from the Internet </I><BR><BR><BR><BR>Dear list,<BR><BR>my warmest thanks
to all who have so kindly shared their knowledge on the<BR>question of
North Korea's population in 1945. I really appreciate your
support.<BR><BR>On another issue: After having read Sheila Miyoshi Jager's
book (Narratives of Nation<BR>Building in Korea: A Genealogy of
Patriotism), where she mentioned the Statue of Brothers,<BR>I felt like
visiting the Korean War museum in Seoul a few months ago. Inside, I think
it<BR>was the second floor, I<BR>was intrigued to see another, much
smaller bronze statue honoring three (or was it four?)<BR>ROK "human
bombs" during the Korean War. Obviously due to my ignorance, I had
previously<BR>associated this term only with North Korea (in particular in
connection with slogans like<BR>"let's turn into human bombs" etc., often
quoted by Western media with at least indirect<BR>reference to 9-11).
Among the latest instances was the Jan. 2006 New Year Joint
Editorial.<BR><BR>Now I read a post on another list about Japanese "human
bullets" during the Russo-Japanese<BR>War (Tadayoshi Sakurai. Human
Bullets: A Soldier's Story of the Russo-Japanese War), and<BR>then of
course the kamikaze etc. a few wars later came to my mind, as did the
stories +<BR>comics that I read during my childhood in the Soviet Union
about Red Army heroes who<BR>personally delivered a hand grenade to a
German bunker, although I do not remember the<BR>term "human bomb". A
quick google search of "human bomb" reminded me of the suizide<BR>bombings
in the Near and Middle East and Sri Lanka.<BR><BR>Clearly, the concept of
"human bomb" or "human bullet" seems to have been known with a<BR>positive
connotation to other (East) (Asian) nations during various periods,
although I was<BR>not able to find any reference to these terms in
connection with China. Is anyone out<BR>there who has done some serious
research on that issue, or, more general, on<BR>self-sacrifice as a virtue
and as a military concept in East Asia and Korea? I am just a<BR>curious
individual, but of course back in my<BR>mind I expect to find one more
instance showing that North Korea is part of something<BR>earthly, not an
alien entity from Mars.<BR><BR>All the best,<BR><BR>Ruediger
Frank<BR><BR></BLOCKQUOTE><BR></FONT><FONT lang=0
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