By Kim Young-jin
Footage of North Koreans weeping over the death of the late Kim Jong-il received heavy viewing on the Internet this week as the country observed the official mourning period for the longtime despot.
The North announced on Dec. 19 that Kim had died of a heart attack, and has since elevated his son to carry on the family regime.
On Wednesday came the most dramatic show of grief as thousands lined the streets of Pyongyang, stamping their feet and wailing as Kim’s funeral procession rolled by. Some Internet users described the affair as “theater” and an example of “brainwashing.”
One clip of North Koreans “weeping hysterically” posted on YouTube garnered over seven million hits in about a week.
Analysts said the complex emotional cocktail was likely comprised of grieving and apprehension for the future in a country that builds up its leaders to God-like status. One prominent North Korean defector said the world should view the footage with a grain of salt, saying the spectacle was driven by fear and did not necessarily reflect the sentiment of the entire populace.
“Many civilians are indifferent about the matter,” Lee Ae-ran, a professor at Kyungin Women's College said. “People around the world should understand that some of these people are afraid of what would happen if they refuse to put on a show.”
Lee, who was presented the International Women of Courage award by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton last year, added that Pyongyang, highly concentrated with the North’s elite, does not necessarily represent the rest of the populace.
“There is a huge mass of civilians below the surface. There is a chance for a better life for them now. A cautious approach is needed in light of this rare chance,” she said.
The U.N. recently said up to 6 million North Koreans were in dire need of food aid.