Scholastic Has Some Pro-North
Korean Propaganda For The Kids
Noble, I noticed a strange addition to the bookshelf
holding children’s guides to foreign countries.
The Scholastic Children’s Press has a series
called “A True Book,” and one stood out:
“A True Book About North Korea.” I immediately
reacted in horror: how could the children’s
book company delicately explain gulags, slave
labor, or a militaristic society which starves
its people while lavishing luxury goods on its ruler?
Of course, the book explained none of these things. It was as if Kim Jong-un himself had written
Of course, the book explained none of these things. It was as if Kim Jong-un himself had written
a children’s guide to his great kingdom. Scholastic has printed a brochure for North Korea filled with
outright lies, not to mention lies of omission. The back cover even exclaims, “ALL NEW
ALL TRUE!” for irony’s sake. Variations of this “TRUE” exclamation appear several times, even
in the index.
Parroting North Korean Propaganda
It was with horror that I read this description of the Hermit Kingdom on the book’s back cover:
Parroting North Korean Propaganda
It was with horror that I read this description of the Hermit Kingdom on the book’s back cover:
“The capital city has an excellent subway system. It is decorated with wall paintings and
chandeliers.” Before even opening the book it was clear it would be completely unfaithful to
what life is like in North Korea.
There are, in fact, just two subway stations that seem to meet this description. They are the
There are, in fact, just two subway stations that seem to meet this description. They are the
only two stations foreigners are ever brought to. North Korean officials claim the whole system
looks like this, but it’s impossible to know if any other stations even exist. One foreign visitor
was able to escape his minders and tried to make his way into a station never before visited
by an outsider. He found it closed. Some North Korea watchers believe parts of the system
exist, but none are in use, and that there is just a shuttle that runs between the two show
stations while visitors are present, with actors playing the part of busy commuters. The
elaborate game North Koreans play to
keep the illusion of a working system in place is straight out of ‘The Truman Show.’
Read More at Source: The Federalist
Read More at Source: The Federalist
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