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What do you think about the fact that by traveling to North Korea you're lining the pockets of regime supporters?




Thanks for posting that link.

I'll also add something I put here in my two posts on common questions I got about North Korea -- http://joshuaspodek.com/common-questions-visiting-north-kore... and http://joshuaspodek.com/common-questions-visiting-north-kore....

> Aren’t you supporting a repressive regime?

> Briefly, I know of no popular tourist destination where tourism hasn’t strongly affected the indigenous culture. I believe touring North Korea will increase its trade with the rest of the world and open it up.

> Many people have tried many solutions, including aid, sanctions, diplomacy, and military action. None have decreased the regime’s hold. Doing nothing sustains it as well. If you have a better plan, please let me know.

The regime has shown itself incredibly stable over several generations. I don't see how tourism makes it more stable. Lack of tourism doesn't hurt them. For anyone who wants to change it, what do they propose that hasn't been tried unsuccessfully repeatedly?


I'd have a lot more respect for his conclusion if he didn't take such pains to relativise and intellectualise it.

He went because he wanted to go and nothing is ever without consequences, anyway.




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