Rock Center
NBC News Chief Foreign Correspondent Richard Engel journeys to North Korea in this latest episode of Hidden Planet. Engel witnesses a military parade, one of the state events that North Korea has come to be known for, but he also journeys through parts of the country rarely seen by American eyes. Engel goes shopping in a North Korean store, visits computer science students who have never heard of Facebook and takes a train ride through parts of the country that reveal barren fields.
Hidden Planet is an iPad and web exclusive series reported by Richard Engel for NBC's Rock Center with Brian Williams. Each month Engel provides a behind-the-scenes look at a different global destination, as experienced during his worldwide travels for NBC News.
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Thank you to Richard Engels - and the producers!
What a good idea for every month.
N-Korea was captivating. MADE WITH SUCH GOOD HUMOR.
My friend in Europe is following on your web.
And thank you Brian for so many quality programs on the web!
Even Engel's report was very naive with respect to life for the "average" North Korean. I would argue there is no such thing as an "average" North Korean citizen. The society, as I understand it, is formally divided by the state into up to 52 different levels, distinguished only by their perceived loyalty to the Great Leader. The point being, all those happy people playing in the park were either staged to be there, or are near the top of the social strata... hardly "average" citizens. With minders constantly present, I don't think it is possible for a journalist to get a true picture of life in North Korea. Just by controlling areas where they are allowed to travel, the government can control the image of the country that is portrayed. This was an interesting article, I'll agree, but hardly cutting-edge or hard-hitting as is much of Engel's work.
Great point and I agree with your comment except for the cutting-edge part. This report definitely showed the cutting-edge AND hard-hitting fact of TRUE Communism and ultimate fearful conditions these citizens of N. Korea live under.