A possible sign that things are not a well in the Progressive Mecca of North Korea (all powerful government, unarmed citizens, low carbon footprint, single payer healthcare) a well fed soldier who was shot 5 times by his fellow countrymen (happens a lot in Progressive countries) during surgery, was found to have massive intestinal worms, a sign of malnutrition. Soldiers in Progressive North Korea are the best fed too.
The NYTimes was still at a loss to understand why the soldier would flee in the first place
The problem here is that North Korea is a far right state.
They're a communist hell hole with a govt that fears its people so much that it must brainwash them into complete submission to idolatry and lies.
Do you know what I read? I read "I have no idea about North Korea, but someone told me they were Communist, so I'll call it a Communist hell hole".
But then again, hasn't the US been brainwashed into complete submission to idolatry and lies?
You should try to read a few books ie aquariams of pyongyang etc and you'll have a better idea.
The BBC did a good article about North Korea
Rape and no periods in North Korea's army interviewing a woman int he army.
What they said was this:
"
Trusting defectors
Juliette Morillot and Jieun Baek say Lee So Yeon's testimony accords with other accounts they have heard, but warn that defectors have to be treated with caution.
"There is such a high demand for knowledge from North Korea," says Baek. "It almost incentivises people to tell exaggerated tales to the media, especially if that comes with nice pay cheque. A lot of defectors who don't want to be in the media are very critical of 'career defectors'. It's worth keeping this in mind."
Information from official North Korean sources, on the other hand, is liable to be pure propaganda.
Lee So Yeon was not paid for her interview with the BBC."
There is something as a "career defector", someone who will say what the West wants to hear for money.
You can read all the books you like, but it doesn't necessarily tell you what's going on.