The Korea Times close
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Entertainment
& Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
Sports
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
Video
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
North Korea
Thu, May 26, 2022 | 08:21
North Korean citizens not buying rhetoric against Moon
Posted : 2019-10-11 22:17
Updated : 2019-10-13 17:44
Print Preview
Font Size Up
Font Size Down
President Moon Jae-in is still being lauded in Pyongyang for his humble gestures shown during his visit last year, and Pyongyang citizens are not buying North Korea's rhetoric against him, according to sources familiar with the matter. / Yonhap
President Moon Jae-in is still being lauded in Pyongyang for his humble gestures shown during his visit last year, and Pyongyang citizens are not buying North Korea's rhetoric against him, according to sources familiar with the matter. / Yonhap

By Yi Whan-woo

Despite an inter-Korean summit in Pyongyang last year, North Korea has continued to ratchet up harsh rhetoric against the South Korean leader.

Many Pyongyang citizens, however, are not buying the propaganda coming from state-controlled outlets.

According to sources familiar with the matter, this is because the citizens witnessed Moon's humble and friendly gestures on site when they were mobilized to greet him during an inter-Korean summit in September.

Back then, Moon appeared to have sparked comments in North Korea by giving a full 90-degree bow to those who greeted him at the airport. It was believed to have had a deep impact on citizens, especially those who witnessed it in person.

"A number of people were impressed by such a humble gesture from a head of state. Their impression remains unchanged, and people, although they do it secretly, have been talking about it," a source said.

An Chan-il, a defector-turned-researcher, voiced a similar view, pointing out North Korean leader Kim Jong-un also gave a 90-degree bow before the people days after the summit.

"This shows Kim sensed how captivated citizens are by a humble leader and that he must learn it to remain as the country's ruler," An said.

The citizens, according to the sources, were further impressed by Moon's speech directly addressed to an audience of 150,000 people, when he joined a mass games event at a packed Rungrado 1st of May Stadium in Pyongyang.

Repeatedly addressing the crowd as "citizens of Pyongyang, fellow Koreans," Moon proposed to move forward toward "the big picture of peace in which the past 70 years of hostility can be eradicated."

Speaking out about their leader in public can be punished as treason in the North, but some North Koreans have reportedly commented about Kim in comparison to Moon.

A man in his 40s was taken to a political prison camp for calling Moon "too opposite from our Supreme Leader," the sources said.

The source said the North Korean authorities have been concerned about Moon's exposure to the public. After Kim's second summit with U.S. President Donald Trump collapsed in February, the North Korean media has gone back to lambasting him.

For instance, it said Moon is "needlessly kibitzing" Pyongyang-Washington relations, dismissed Moon's pledge to take the driver's seat on the Korean Peninsula as "sophistry" and snubbed his comment on reunifying the Korean Peninsula as so preposterous it would "make the boiled head of a cow laugh."


Emailyistory@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
  • Gunman kills 18 children at Texas elementary school
  • Over 76% of Koreans support legalizing euthanasia
  • N. Korea fires 3 ballistic missiles, including 1 suspected ICBM: JCS
  • Will government establish new immigration agency?
  • Korea to allow visa waiver at Yangyang airport for int'l travelers from 4 countries
  • North Korea launches missiles to test Seoul-Washington deterrence
  • [INTERVIEW] Defender of inter-country adoptees' rights
  • Auditing firms compete to secure rookie accountants
  • Police forward Terraform Labs CEO home trespassing case to prosecution
  • Japan's unwelcome move
  • 'The Witch: Part 2' director still has more story to tell 'The Witch: Part 2' director still has more story to tell
  • Park Chan-wook returns to Cannes with romance 'Decision to Leave' Park Chan-wook returns to Cannes with romance 'Decision to Leave'
  • Former GFriend member Yuju sings on track for drama 'Kiss Sixth Sense' Former GFriend member Yuju sings on track for drama 'Kiss Sixth Sense'
  • Tim Burton's iconic world of misunderstood misfits returns to Korea Tim Burton's iconic world of misunderstood misfits returns to Korea
  • BLACKPINK on cover of Rolling Stone BLACKPINK on cover of Rolling Stone
DARKROOM
  • 75th Cannes Film Festival

    75th Cannes Film Festival

  • People in North Korea trapped in famine and pandemic

    People in North Korea trapped in famine and pandemic

  • 2022 Pulitzer Prize: Bearing witness to history

    2022 Pulitzer Prize: Bearing witness to history

  • Worsening drought puts millions at risk

    Worsening drought puts millions at risk

  • Our children deserve the best

    Our children deserve the best

The Korea Times
CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Location
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Service
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • Mobile Service
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Policy
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • 고충처리인
  • Youth Protection Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group