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North Korea Erases Executed Official From the Internet

Posted by Soulskill on from the personhood-redacted dept.

itwbennett writes "The North Korean state propaganda machine has edited and deleted hundreds of news articles that mention Jang Song Thaek, the former top government and party official and uncle to leader Kim Jong Un, who was executed Thursday. Earlier this week, Jang was arrested in front of hundreds of senior members of the ruling Worker's Party of Korea and denounced for numerous alleged acts against the state and Kim Jong Un. From arrest to trial to death took only four days and the unprecedented fall from grace is widely being interpreted as an attempt by Kim Jong Un to keep officials loyal and scared."

5 of 276 comments (clear)

  1. Word unlocked. by SuricouRaven · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The term 'Orwellian' tends to be overused a bit these days. But, having read 1984, this is something straight out of that book. The adjective is appropriate in this situation: Go ahead and use it.

    1. Re:Word unlocked. by phantomfive · · Score: 5, Insightful

      It's the North Korean Happy Fun Time Hour! Be sure to clap for Dear Leader very enthusiastically!

      You might be joking, but one of the accused's crimes was, in fact, to not clap enthusiastically enough. It's almost like they are trying to parody themselves.

      --
      "First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
    2. Re:Word unlocked. by arth1 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      He murdered his uncle for political reasons and doesn't want everyone to know about it, that kind of behaviour predates 1984 by several millennia.

      This is not insightful. He murdered his uncle and erased him from history, and very much wanted every North Korean politician, military and ambitious individual to know about it. It's a demonstration of utter ruthlessness designed to ensure obedience.

      When you work for a man capable of doing that to his own uncle, you tread lightly. And that's what he wants. He knows that you and everybody else knows the charges were false - he wants you to know that. But never say it. And if you're in North Korea, you won't.

    3. Re:Word unlocked. by Nimey · · Score: 5, Insightful

      What makes you think that most people who invoke 1984 have even read it?

      --
      Hail Eris, full of mischief...

      E pluribus sanguinem
  2. Sympathy? by Charliemopps · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This guy was one of the top brass in NK. Lets keep in mind how many millions of tortures and death he's likely responsible for. The worlds better off without him, and we can only hope NK becomes unstable soon. Those poor people that live there, my God. How can we still have such a place on this earth.