Here's something you don't see every day. This is a mashup of adorable propaganda videos I found via URL hacking on the web site of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in November 2004. These videos were removed from the site (perhaps, I speculate, because of the translation errors in the narration, particularly involving Kim Jong-Il's title). You can see plenty of Soviet and Chinese cultural and politcal influence, overlaid on Korea's basically conservative, Confucian, authoritarian mind-set.
Transcript:
"... independent, self supporting and self reliant and national defense. The parading units start marching across the square amid resounding cheers. Columns from military schools of different levels are marching proudly, demonstrating the vitality of the party's line of making the entire army a cadre army and modernizing the entire army. They are marching with a feeling of great honor of being under Kim Jong-il's leadership. The seasoned leadership of Kim Jong-il, the brilliant son and general, who strengthens the revolutionary armed forces to be invincible, has made it possible to develop an army of competant military commanders who are equipped with a Juche-orientated military thoughts and methods of rule. Kim Jong-il has strengthened the people's army into the main force of the revolution that lays the socialist course and enter powerful force capable of defending the country at any cost.
"Foundation of the people's country by president Kim Il-song after winning back the sovereignty of the nation was an epoch making event in the nation's history of five thousand years. The people of this country who are leading happy lives in the embrace of the party and their leader are in an irrepressible excitement looking up at Kim Jong-il the guarding and symbol of the republic. The Korean people hold the republic dearer than their own lives because they must have not suffered again the lot of the real nation must not forget the bloody lesson. (sic)
"Korea, which has victoriously brightened the years of stern trials of revolution, will prosper for a long time in accordance with the will of President Kim Il-song and the Great Leader Kim Jong-Il. (Note: The narrator says "great leader," but this phrase refers to Kim Jong-Il's father, Kim Il-song; Kim Jong-Il is officially refered to as the "dear leader.") The Korean people sing the song, 'Without you, Kim Jong-il, there would be no Motherland.'
"A vibrant scene of hope filled in majestic and merry dancing is unfolded by the young people who are living under Kim Jong-il's leadership in the socialist motherland. the young people and students have begun their torchlight procession in the brilliantly illuminated square. As the torchlight procession, headed by the flag of the Kim Il-song Socialist Youth League, the flag inscribed with a novel image of the president, enters the square, an (un)quenchable yearning and unbounded reverence for the president are overflowing the place. The revolutionary fighters who have steadily advanced the road of grim revolution following president Kil Il-song and the Great Leader Kim Jong-il are marching forward with swollen hearts and the firm determination to follow steadily the road of revolution which is started which is started in Mount Paektu until the day of victory. The earnest wish for the president's immortality is growing stronger at this night of celebration."
