North Korea and George Orwell's novel, 1984
North Korea is the most closed country in the world.
"North Korea was formed after Japan relinquished its 35-year occupation of the Korean Peninsula at the end of World War II. North Korea has been ruled by the Kim family, currently headed by Kim Jong-un, under a state-run socialist government that many consider to be a Stalinist dictatorship" (The New York Times).
"North Korea was formed after Japan relinquished its 35-year occupation of the Korean Peninsula at the end of World War II. North Korea has been ruled by the Kim family, currently headed by Kim Jong-un, under a state-run socialist government that many consider to be a Stalinist dictatorship" (The New York Times).
In the same year, when George Orwell published his book, 1984, in 1948, the North Korean government is officially constituted. There are many common points between North Korea and George Orwell's novel, 1984.
Big Brother and Kim Il Sung
Just like the posters that have caption of "BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU", there are many Kim Il Sung's bronze statues in Pyongyang (Orwell 4). Big Brother and Kim Il Sung are not only the objects of obedience, but also benevolent leaders. At the same time, people in those society must love their leaders, Big Brother and Kim Il Sung. The society imposes people to obey the leaders and also love the leaders.
Just like the posters that have caption of "BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU", there are many Kim Il Sung's bronze statues in Pyongyang (Orwell 4). Big Brother and Kim Il Sung are not only the objects of obedience, but also benevolent leaders. At the same time, people in those society must love their leaders, Big Brother and Kim Il Sung. The society imposes people to obey the leaders and also love the leaders.
Perpetual War
"The war is waged by each ruling group against its own subjects, and the object of the war is not to make or prevent conquests of territory, but to keep the structure of society intact" (Orwell 207)
In 1984, Oceania is always at war with another country. However, they pretend like they are waging war. Its purpose is to keep the civilians tense and control them. North Korea also exaggerates their situation with USA and South Korea to pretend that there is perennial wars, so the civilians always become tense. That is how the two societies work.
"The war is waged by each ruling group against its own subjects, and the object of the war is not to make or prevent conquests of territory, but to keep the structure of society intact" (Orwell 207)
In 1984, Oceania is always at war with another country. However, they pretend like they are waging war. Its purpose is to keep the civilians tense and control them. North Korea also exaggerates their situation with USA and South Korea to pretend that there is perennial wars, so the civilians always become tense. That is how the two societies work.
Control information and history
In Oceania, every information or history is corrected when the party needs to correct it. The party says, "Who controls the past...controls the future: who controls the present controls the past" (Orwell 37). Just like the party in 1984, North Korea also fabricates the information to their advantage. Both of them know that if they control the history, they can change people's values, so they control the future.
In Oceania, every information or history is corrected when the party needs to correct it. The party says, "Who controls the past...controls the future: who controls the present controls the past" (Orwell 37). Just like the party in 1984, North Korea also fabricates the information to their advantage. Both of them know that if they control the history, they can change people's values, so they control the future.
Proletariat in the Society
In socialism, the proletariat should be the people who run the country, but in both of the society, they are treated as animals. In North Korea, agriculture labourers are most suppressed, and they easily die of starvation. Oceania and North Korea, both of them say that they are socialist countries, but they do not follow the components that they need to follow.
In socialism, the proletariat should be the people who run the country, but in both of the society, they are treated as animals. In North Korea, agriculture labourers are most suppressed, and they easily die of starvation. Oceania and North Korea, both of them say that they are socialist countries, but they do not follow the components that they need to follow.