BBC Journalist Detained In North Korea Because Regime Claimed He Wrote North Koreans Bark Like Dogs
The details about why a BBC reporter, Rupert Winfield-Hayes was detained in North Korea have now been revealed. It seems pretty clear that he was made an example of to warn other international media figures from reporting negatively about the country:
A group of officials in dark Mao suits walked in and sat opposite. The older one spoke first.
“Mr Rupert,” he said, “this meeting can be over quickly and simply, it will depend on your attitude.”
I was told that my reporting had insulted the Korean people, and that I needed to admit my mistakes. They produced copies of three articles that had been published on the BBC website, as I reported on the visit of the Nobel laureates. (……….)
“Do you think Korean people are ugly?” the older man asked.
“No,” I answered.
“Do you think Korean people have voices like dogs?”
“No,” I answered again.
“Then why do you write these things?!” he shouted.
I was confused. What could they mean? One of the articles was presented to me, the offending passage circled in black marker pen:
“The grim-faced customs officer is wearing one of those slightly ridiculous oversized military caps that they were so fond of in the Soviet Union. It makes the slightly built North Korean in his baggy uniform comically top heavy. “Open,” he grunts, pointing at my mobile phone. I dutifully punch in the passcode. He grabs it back and goes immediately to photos. He scrolls through pictures of my children skiing, Japanese cherry blossom, the Hong Kong skyline. Apparently satisfied he turns to my suitcase. “Books?” he barks. No, no books. “Movies?” No, no movies. I am sent off to another desk where a much less gruff lady is already looking through my laptop.”
“Are they serious?” I thought. They had taken “grim-faced” to mean “ugly”, and the use of the word “barks” as an indication that I thought they sounded like dogs.
“It doesn’t mean what you think it means.” I protested.
The older man squinted.
“I have studied English literature,” he said. “Do you think I do not understand what these expressions mean?
For two hours they demanded I confess my mistakes. Finally the older man got up to leave.
“It is clear that your attitude is going to make this difficult,” he said. “We have no choice but to carry out a full investigation.” [BBC]
You can read the rest at the link, but it makes you wonder why journalists even bother going to North Korea when it is pretty clear that what they publish has to be self censored to avoid detainment and future access to North Korea.
