Created by a British-run China-based company that leads tours to North Korea, Welcome to Pyongyang is a collection of staged shots and the official explanation for each. It's a glimpse, not into North Korea's reality, but into how the country wants to be seen. The introduction from Nick Bonner makes this very clear, this book provides a window into North Korea, it does not attack it.
A gatefold image of Pyongyang's empty boulevards is waved away "you cannot see many cars the street because Sunday is declared as a walking day to prevent pollution". Nearly everyone in the pictures stands at attention and every description speaks of how happy they are with their jobs and their lives. Captions are filled with phrases extolling the virtues of the Kims and damning the American imperialists. It's a fascinating peek into one of the most secretive nations on Earth.
But the book offers no perspective and no dissenting views. We're never told that only the most loyal and the most fit North Koreans are allowed to live in Pyongyang. We never hear that the highrise apartment houses don't have working elevators. And there's certainly nothing in there about starvation or prison camps.
But that's not what this book is for. This book gives the official point of view of North Korea, as long as readers have the background and can provide that perspective it is an interesting read but if you're looking for an honest assessment of North Korea this is not the book for you.
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他の国からのトップレビュー
Kid Kyoto
North Korea in its own words
2010年7月28日にアメリカ合衆国でレビュー済みAmazonで購入
