In our eyes, North Korea has always been a mysterious country. Except for the memory of the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea in the last century, our understanding of this country is almost blank.
We have always thought of North Korea as a closed and peaceful place, but in recent years, as North Korea has gradually opened its doors, we have been blessed with a glimpse of another side of the life of the North Korean people.
In fact, they live in modern society like us, but unlike us, the pace of life of North Koreans seems to have slowed down several times. When we see North Koreans on TV, their attire is not as fashionable and glamorous as we think, but rather conservative and dignified. Whether they do things or speak, they are all straightforward and emphasize the spirit of collectivism.
On the streets of Pyongyang, we can see some buses and cars, but there are not many of them. In addition to walking, some people ride bicycles. In general, their lifestyles are relatively monolithic, as if they were stuck in the way we were 40 years ago.
However, despite the slow pace of life of North Koreans, they are curious about the future and other countries. Because we share a border with North Korea and both countries share common memories of war, North Korea has always maintained friendly relations with us. However, looking closely, their attitude towards us is quite complicated.
The Korean people are full of contradictory feelings towards our neighbour. In their eyes, we are both friends and former enemies. The wounds of history and political divisions make their attitudes elusive. They are full of curiosity about our country's culture, economy and way of life, while also maintaining a certain degree of vigilance and vigilance.
Perhaps, in their hearts, we are a window to the outside world, but at the same time a high wall that is difficult to cross. Despite their desire to understand us, their inner contradictions and constraints allow this curiosity to be released only to a limited extent.
Exploring North Korea: Reverence and Curiosity in a Mysterious Country
In the past War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, we became comrades-in-arms with North Korea and faced US aggression together. This war has brought us and the Korean people closer together and have become sincere comrades-in-arms and partners with each other. In order to support the Korean People's Army, the mainland sent a large number of volunteers, who paid a huge price, even sacrificing their own lives.
This sacrifice and selfless dedication have deeply touched the Korean people, who have deep respect and gratitude for us. In their hearts, Chinese became a respectable comrade-in-arms and brother. Even now, when older generations of North Koreans bring up Chinese, their eyes are filled with reverence and they give us a thumbs up.
Long ago, the historical ties between China and North Korea can be traced back thousands of years. During the reign of King Jun, Miko fled the troubled times and came to the Korean Peninsula and became the founder of Joseon. Since then, ties between China and North Korea have been established, and China's suzerainty over North Korea has gradually formed.
For years, the inhabitants of the Korean peninsula have followed our example, imitating our culture and institutions. Their reverence for us stems from our brilliant culture and our intelligent national spirit. The North Korean people believe that we can create great things that they didn't expect, and they draw strength from history and use it as motivation to learn from us and forge ahead.
This respect comes not only from the sacrifices of war, but also from our historical ties with North Korea. The bond between us and the Korean people is unbreakable, connecting not only the years of the war, but also our common cultural heritage.
We are honored by the respect of the Korean people, which represents our friendship as comrades-in-arms and brothers. This respect inspires us to maintain friendly relations and further strengthen exchanges and cooperation between the two peoples.
Yearning: North Koreans' ardent yearning for the mainland
In contemporary society, North Korea has long been seen as a mysterious country, with very limited contact with the outside world and little coverage. This isolation has kept the North Korean people with a unique sense of distance, which seems alien to modern society.
However, there are also deliberate reasons why the North Koreans maintain this posture. After all, the Korean Peninsula, located at the crossroads of Asia, is a potential powder keg. In past history, this land has been the starting point of wars many times. Both Japan and Russia have invaded Korea over the past 120 years, and the Korean Peninsula is often used as a breakthrough point when they invade Manchuria.
In the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea 70 years ago, the United States also set its sights on this land and tried to open up communication lines in Asia through the Korean Peninsula to achieve their ulterior goals.
After years of war, North Korea today appears extremely cautious in its external relations. They dare not easily contact the outside world, for fear of falling into the vortex of war again, after all, no one wants to experience the pain of war again.
However, closing the door too close is not a long-term solution. Although this can avoid the use of war to a certain extent, it also brings significant disadvantages. Due to the lack of communication and exchange windows with the outside world, the living standards and economic development of the Korean people have progressed slowly.
Over time, North Korea has come to realize the need to connect with the world. They began to take small steps towards opening up, trying to create more connections with the outside world. This process is difficult and complex, requiring a balance of internal and external struggles and considerations.
Despite the limited perception of North Korea in modern society, the choices and efforts of the North Korean people are gradually changing their national image. They hope to achieve economic prosperity and the well-being of their people through moderate openness, while maintaining their independence and dignity.
North Korea's efforts to open up to the outside world and learn from China's experience are still piloting openings in some important cities, although limited by the national system. However, North Korea's opening up to the outside world is still relatively limited compared to China's fully open cities such as Shenzhen and Zhuhai.
Due to various reasons, the North Koreans remain cautious in opening up to the outside world and dare not easily carry out in-depth cooperation with other countries. However, the North Koreans cooperate more with China because they have been in contact with China for a long time. North Koreans seem to know more about China than other countries.
They know that after nearly four decades of economic catch-up, China has taken on a new look for its country and its people. For North Koreans, exchanges and development with China will bring great gains. In recent years, many upper-middle-class North Koreans have seized the opportunity to settle in China. They were amazed by China's economic boom.
In North Korea, people can only use cash for purchases, and we have become accustomed to cashless payments, such as Alipay. This cashless purchase makes North Koreans feel new and excited.
In short, in the eyes of North Koreans who have access to China, China is a futuristic country. Our speed of development seems unmatched by North Korea, which makes North Koreans come to China with great yearning. They see China as the embodiment of a miracle, showing endless possibilities.
China through the eyes of North Koreans: an observer with mixed emotions
Over the course of its long history, relations between China and North Korea have experienced a variety of mixed emotions. As early as the Tang Dynasty, China sent troops to attack the Korean Peninsula, and during the Yuan Dynasty, Yuan soldiers also set foot on that land.
These historical events have brought about some inevitable frictions and contradictions in the relations between China and the DPRK in addition to friendly exchanges. It is precisely because of these long histories that North Koreans' feelings towards the mainland are very mixed.
However, when entering the modern society, with the continuous advancement of relations between the two countries, our relations with the DPRK have always maintained friendly cooperation, so the attitude of modern Koreans towards the mainland is far more positive than negative.
In recent years, as the door between the two countries has been increasingly opened, more and more North Koreans have gone to the mainland to settle and work, and the new generation of North Koreans have gone out and continued to absorb advanced knowledge from the outside, and they have changed North Korea with their actions and ideas.
These North Koreans who have settled in China are not only from ordinary families, but also from the North Korean elite. With their own efforts and wisdom, they have found a broader space for development in China.
In their eyes, China is a country full of opportunities, with strong economic strength and innovation capabilities. They deeply admire China's advanced science and technology, development speed and people's wisdom. In China, they see a vibrant and hopeful society, which makes them feel extremely yearning.
At the same time, North Koreans are well aware of their country's limitations and challenges. Closed doors, economic hardship and the limitations of the political system made them aware of their own shortcomings. They are eager to learn from China's success and change North Korea's status quo and move their country toward a better future.
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