Ex-Technical Director - Gareth Morgan

My comments on the 3 news article above are misplaced, don't really relate to the information presented.

Cheers.

My word...he might be our rich sugar-daddy, but he must be pretty thick I reckon...

http://worldbybike.com/2013/09/02/gareth-combats-global-media-frenzy/

On one hand, many people believe the worst outlandish atrocities stories from South Korean propaganda about the North without thinking about it; but on the other hand, when you go on a guided tour of the DPRK of course they're only going to show you the non-embarrassing bits.

for a guy with a supposedly critical mind, to take what he's shown at face value without asking any questions - wow, just wow...

the comments below the blog post say it all, utterly embarrassing

He probably just liked it because there were no cats. No food = no rodents = no cats.

Seriously though, this is retarded. Just because the West engages with some savage human rights abusing regimes (Saudi Arabia anyone?) doesn't mean that it should. To use an admittedly bad analogy, just because some people get away with murder doesn't mean we should stop trying to convict anyone for murder.

"Arbitrary arrest, detention, lack of due process, and torture and ill-treatment of detainees remain serious and pervasive problems. North Korea also practices collective punishment for various anti-state offenses, for which it enslaves hundreds of thousands of citizens in prison camps, including children. The government periodically publicly executes citizens for stealing state property, hoarding food, and other “anti-socialist” crimes, and maintains policies that have continually subjected North Koreans to food shortages and famine."

- Human Rights Watch

Sounds like great fun...

just wow

Dear oh Dear gareth.........

He makes some good points but is woefully naive if he thinks this sort of cosying up is going to benefit the average North Korean. 

I think I understand what he is up to I just think he's been a bit silly.

Does anyone actually take anything this guy says seriously? Lets be honest now. I read a headline that mentions his name, I just skim past it. Up there with John Minto as being a screwball.

"Most of them know nothing about being a human being anyway"

Well said. you deserve a DB.

Does anyone think that "The Killing Fields" have moved from Cambodia to North Korea? Just asking.

This is Gareth's comment:

My concern is the 25 million Koreans suffering because of this 68 year impasse. The relevant question is whether it is the only way or can we be smarter. I am not supporting the authoritarian regime of North Korea's or that in Russia (Pussy Riot) or that in China or for that matter, that in Singapore. What I'm saying is that the US as leader of liberal democracies has normal relations with totalitarian regimes when it suits them but push for "regime change" through crazy talk like the vacuous "Axis of Evil" accusation, and demonising the DPRK regime when they sniff the possibility of engineering a Saddam-like collapse. I think it's called double standards.

I do not see it as defensible to punish 25 million people for a totalitarian regime they are powerless to change. The only way to effect sustainable change is contact, demonstration and persuasion. Not isolation, escalation and humiliation. The DPRK's reinstigation of its nuclear programme is a direct result of provocation - it's terrified the US is going to invade it.You need to think more.

Without getting into any discussion about how North Korea is portrayed by Western media I find that Western media in general is extremely pig-ignorant of Asia at best and racist at worst.

I'm voting for John Minto for Mayor.

But more seriously, +1 on Junior's post above. The screaming and demonisation and swallowing of outlandish horror stories about North Korea won't change its corrupt and paranoid leadership or liberate its oppressed people. It just softens people up for war, when that's the last thing your average North Korean wants. And no it's not "The Killing Fields". Kim Jong-Un may have some wacky ideas on economic policy, but it doesn't involve driving the entire urban population out to the countryside, making them slave-labour in rice fields and deliberately killing 1/7 of the population.

The cambodians were also "re-educated" in rice fields - well except for academics, doctors and people of intillect - they were killed. I do Recommend the film, very good.

I sympathise with the "beat-up" part (not the "completely wrong" part).

Not sure if you or I can judge what North Korea has achieved economically since it is probably quite opaque (and I'm not an economist).

I struggle with us in NZ considering ourselves well informed of Asia btw.

It is great to finally get to hear what the average North Korean wants and doesn't want.  Thanks D.

People forget that until the 1970s, North Korea was richer than the South. It's true. At the 1966 World Cup, they were amazed at the Northern team's flashy boots. However, when the cheap oil from the USSR tried up, so did their economy, and the superannuated old generals who really run everything (Kim Jong-Un is more like a front-person than a real dictator) refuse to make any changes which would threaten their leadership. Plus, the leadership are massively nationalistic - they think "they might have enough to eat in the South, but they've also defiled themselves with US and Japanese culture - we are the only TRUE Koreans left, and that's worth starving for!"

Probably the guys that Gareth knocked around with were well-informed. Those who are politically reliable enough are allowed internet privileges.

That's really the point of all the criticism. Morgan saw what the Kim regime wanted him to see. He wasn't given unrestricted access. It doesn't then help when he calls people ignorant when replying with comments.

Actually the guy did come across as a bit of a try-hard.

that is just an ignorant thing to say

"The West knows nothing about North Korea. What should happen is this..." #ironyspoodge

Summed up nicely. Gareth knows a lot less than he thinks he does but feels cause he is rich, he is right.

I think RJ forgot about the despite from Gareth. If anything it shows his initial perceptions (in his opinion formed by the media) were not what he saw - though what he saw would not have been the whole truth.

there's a Vice doco where an American dude goes to NK and they put on a spectacular show in a stadium just for him (and his camera). Would've cost a packet. Government is even more shit than most. 

Just re-read his first post.  Not ignorant but definitely a try-hard.

One thing for sure: Our Gaz is most certainly not a communicator!  Like his cats missive, people seem to jump on the minutiae, but mostly miss or ignore the main message (which in both cases are actually very noble aims).

Helps to pass the off-season I guess.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUe4__7u_-U

Think this is a bit of an interesting talk from a professor of Korean history- read his general history book too, but shamefully mostly skipped the chapters about the North post-war

Er......football forum?

Where?

is that a prediction?

I think it was a question rather than a prediction (the question mark is a dead give away).

Whilst I have a healthy and abiding interest in global geopolitics, I find myself slightly bemused that the goings-on in a distant Oriental dictatorship appear relevant to the musings on this football forum.

Oh wait.....tenuous Gareth Morgan link.

He's a cock.

Can we get back to football now?

Also, fun fact: the South Korean military's football team's mascot is also a phoenix.

Mediawatch covers Gareth's view and the contrasting vitriol from twunts like Whale Oil (Hey Japan - come over to NZ and harvest this chump for experimental purposes).

http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player/2569340

So many angles to work with on this one.

A nice bouquet for Gaz instead of his recent efforts that have drawn brickbats: http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/blogs/blog-on-the-tracks/9466575/Thank-You-Gareth-Morgan