Propaganda
While visiting relatives in Seoul in April, I was approached by a man and woman who claimed to be North Korean defectors. They handed me a DVD they had recently acquired and asked me to translate it. They also asked me to put the finished movie on the internet so it could be seen by audiences all over the world. I believed what I was told and made a deal to protect her (and my) identity.
Despite my misgivings about what I saw when I got home, I started translating and posting the film on You Tube because of its excellent content. I now publicly express my belief that this film was never intended for a domestic North Korean audience. Instead, I believe these self-proclaimed “defectors” are targeting me specifically because of my reputation as a translator and interpreter.
Plus, I now believe these guys work for North Korea. Despite this belief, the fact that I continued to translate and distribute this film does not make me complicit in their ideological spread. I chose to continue releasing this film because, whoever made it, I believe people should see it for the questions it raises, and I stand by my right to release it so people can freely share and discuss it with each other.
