[KS] Jong-il Personality Cult

Fri Sep 26 22:58:50 EDT 2003

I agree with Choe Yong-ho on how to ask the questions concerning how the
Pueblo got to Pyongyang, and think Frank Hoffman's "scary" scenario was a
bit overblown.  If the "Pueblo" had been towed around to Korea's west
coast in the recent months, Frank might have a case because it has been a
quite touchy atmosphere out there.  But several years ago in quieter
times, I'm not so sure the DPRK would have taken on a battle over their
little trophy.  On the other hand, like Yong-ho I find it hard to believe
that an attempt to tow that hulk around the peninsula would not have been
detected and even publicized, and therefore believe the more credible
explanation is that the the DPRK broke the ship down and rebuilt it after
taking it to Pyongyang, as Frank first opined.
	While we're on the Pueblo, a bit of historical trivia with a
Korean twist might be diverting.  The "Pueblo" that was seized was the
third U.S. naval ship to bear that name.  The first "Pueblo" came into
being when "Pueblo" was chosen to be the name of the former "Colorado," an
undistinguished, small cruiser, in 1916; the Navy wanted the name
"Colorado" for a bigger and more important ship, so renamed the cruiser
for the third-rank Colorado town Pueblo.  But this "Pueblo" was just the
second U.S. warship to bear that name.  The first "Colorado" was the flag
ship of the seven-ship fleet whose Marines invaded Kanghwa Island in 1871.
Koreans, being a people who appreciate genealogy, might chuckle at the
long-term revenge exacted in 1968 for the doings of 1871.

Gari Ledyard

On Thu, 25 Sep 2003, Yong-ho Choe wrote:

> If this is indeed what happened---that is, the ship was hauled around Cheju
> island, this could have happened only under one of the following conditions:
>
>          1.  US has renounced the legal ownership of Pueblo.  (But has it?)
>          2.  US failed to detect its shipping.  (Most unlikely scenario.)
>          3.  US turned blind eye while it was being transported around the
> peninsula.  (Was this the case?)
>
> Hence, this question intrigues me (with no scary thought of going after the
> ship within NK boundary).
>
>
> At 09:22 PM 9/25/2003 -0400, Young-Jun Lee wrote:
>
> >Kim S^ong-ho, a member of the National Assembly, recently visited Pyongyang
> >to participate in the conference on the issue of changing spelling 'Korea'
> >into 'Corea.' In the course of prescheduled tour, he saw the Pueblo in
> >question and heard from an official that Pueblo was hauled via high sea,
> >turning around the south of Cheju island. (See Kim S^ong-ho's travelogue,
> >Chos^on ilbo, 2 Sept.,2003 )
> >
> >Young-Jun Lee
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: "Yong-ho Choe" <choeyh at hawaii.edu>
> >To: "Korean Studies Discussion List" <Koreanstudies at koreaweb.ws>;
> ><Koreanstudies at koreaweb.ws>
> >Sent: 2003³â 9¿ù 25ÀÏ ¸ñ¿äÀÏ ¿ÀÈÄ 5:00
> >Subject: Re: [KS] Jong-il Personality Cult
> >
> >
> > > Not directly related to the issues raised here, I have a question
> >regarding
> > > the disposition of the captured U.S. ship Pueblo.  The ship was captured
> >by
> > > NK near Wonsan in east coast, but it is now being displayed near
> > > Pyongyang.  How did NK transport it there?  I cannot imagine that the US
> > > would have allowed NK to remove it via high sea.  The only alternative
> >must
> > > have been by land.  Is it possible to move the ship Pueblo via ground
> > > transportation?
> > >
> > > At 06:34 AM 9/19/2003 -0700, Chris Springer wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > > > >1. Can anyone provide me with anecdotes that they have >read
> > > >about or heard about over the years attesting to >Jong-il's intellectual,
> > > >moral and physical prowess -- as >his flunkies have it? Is there
> > > >a web site or article that >lists them?
> > > >
> > > > >2. Fredonia Press in the U.S. offers a book called "The >Great
> > > >Teacher of Journalists," by or about Jong-il. .... >Has anyone
> > > >read the book? Does anyone know Fredonia's >background?
> > > >
> > > > >Victor Fic
> > > > >Seoul
> > > >
> > > >One notable anecdote given to visitors to the captured US ship
> > > >Pueblo, docked in Pyongyang: Kim Jong Il crafted the DPRK's Pueblo
> > > >policy, namely that the crew should be released in exchange for
> > > >a US apology and that the ship should be kept as a war trophy.
> > > >(He was 26 at the time.)
> > > >
> > > >For other lofty achievements by the Dear Leader, see "Great Man
> > > >Kim Jong Il" (Pyongyang) and "Modern Korea and Kim Jong Il" (Tokyo,
> > > >1984, by a pro-DPRK source).
> > > >
> > > >"Great Teacher of Journalists" was originally published in Pyongyang
> > > >in 1983. In this collection of anecdotes, Kim Jong Il instructs
> > > >journalists how to give his dad better coverage - e.g. photographers
> > > >should not approach Kim Il Sung too closely; reporters covering
> > > >a Kim Il Sung appearance should never let their attention stray.
> > > >At times Kim Jong Il even steps in and takes over - writing stories,
> > > >laying out photos, choosing typefaces.
> > > >
> > > >Myself, I'd like to hear from anyone who can tell me where to
> > > >find Kim Jong Il's book "Theory of Architectural Art," or who
> > > >has read it and can share its nuggets of wisdom.
> > > >
> > > >Chris Springer
> > > >www.hiddenhistory.info
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >---
> > > >Incoming mail is certified Virus Free.
> > > >Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
> > > >Version: 6.0.521 / Virus Database: 319 - Release Date: 9/23/2003
> > >
> > > Yong-ho Choe
> > > Department of History
> > > University of Hawaii at Manoa
> > > Honolulu, HI  96822
> > >
> > > Tel: 808 956-6762
> > > Fax: 808 956-9600
> > > E-mail: choeyh at hawaii.edu
> > >
> >
> >
> >----------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >----
> >
> >
> > >
> > > ---
> > > Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
> > > Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
> > > Version: 6.0.521 / Virus Database: 319 - Release Date: 9/23/2003
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >---
> >Incoming mail is certified Virus Free.
> >Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
> >Version: 6.0.521 / Virus Database: 319 - Release Date: 9/23/2003
>
> Yong-ho Choe
> Department of History
> University of Hawaii at Manoa
> Honolulu, HI  96822
>
> Tel: 808 956-6762
> Fax: 808 956-9600
> E-mail: choeyh at hawaii.edu
>