cross-posted from: https://lemmy.zip/post/1517933
Archived version: https://archive.ph/soqYt
Archived version: https://web.archive.org/web/20230816125643/https://www.euronews.com/culture/2023/08/15/north-korea-enforces-an-anti-shorts-law-but-its-only-affecting-women
Tankies are out in full force today I see…
I’m as anti American as they get, but to go from that to pretending that any and all reports about places that happen to be anti-American (but in no shape or form pro anyone but the dictator and his minions) must be false because “CIA” (who actually do legit horrific things but tankies sleep during those) is the most not only ridiculous (and so so fucking western, which is ironic af), but actively counterproductive stance I could imagine taking.
I understand why people are skeptical. The source is Radio Free Asia which is literal US propaganda. I’m not super familiar with their reporting standards though. Even propaganda can have different levels of trustworthiness.
Edit: looks like they editorialize but reporting is largely factual, assuming this source is accurate: https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/radio-free-asia/
The only people who dismiss Radio Free Asia are those looking to deny the Uyghur genocide.
LOL radio free Asia is LITERALLY a military intelligence operation. What are you fucking talking about? Everyone and their mother should be dismissing RFA for literally everything.
For example, this article written by an operative that uses an anonymous interview as their sole source. Let’s do some basic critical thinking here. How long have women worn shorts in DPRK do you think? How many pairs of shorts exist in the DPRK?
Now, what is the point of sanctions? It’s to create discontent in the masses so they will be more willing to undermine the country’s leadership. What would banning shorts for women, after decades of shorts wearing, do to the level of contentedness of women and the men who support them? It would decrease their contentedness making them more susceptible to US influence. This move would be very much not in keeping with any former moves by the DPRK who is focused entirely on keeping their people content enough to not revolt.
But how do sanctions work? Economic hardship, reduced access to materials and goods. What happens when you ban shorts for half your pop? They all need to obtain more pants and skirts. So now you have an economic pressure to expend more labor and more resources just to deal with a whimsical ban for the purposes of oppressing half your nation?
No. This is a stupid concept at every single level and only raging orientalists who suckle at the teat of Western anti-Asian propaganda would believe it, let alone get angry at people for not believing it immediately
I don’t think it should be dismissed but it’s important to keep in mind that its primary goal is to promote the interests of the US government. That doesn’t mean it’s false but what stories they cover and the way they are covered will reflect that agenda.
This sounds extremely fake.
I hate north korea as much as the next guy but this don’t sound too real to me brotha imma be honest
“I hate this dictatorship as much as the next person, but I find it extremely hard to believe that it would impose arbitrary rules that marginalise women”
What world do you live in where misogynistic dress codes imposed by a patriarchal society (so essentially all of them) are somehow “unbelievable”?
Like, this isn’t even accusing them of the serious crimes they commit, why are you people so quick to defend an oppressive state? (E: especially considering the flag in your profile which should mean you think all states are oppressive, which makes the whole thing even more bizarre)
You shouldn’t! Here is a link to a podcast about Korea, I highly recommend listening to it although I warn you the content is pretty heavy.
Furthermore, the DPRK is democratic (whereas the ROK was not for the first 37 years of its 70 year existence - and now it's "democratic" the way the US claims to be)
So the CIA interviewed a single anonymous person who probably doesn’t even exist. Cool journalism!