Undercover in North Korea (Full Episode) | Then and Now with Lisa Ling | National Geographic

Key Concepts

• North Korea's Nuclear Program: The video details North Korea's development of nuclear weapons and Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs), culminating in a hydrogen bomb test in 2017.
• Kim Dynasty: The ruling family of North Korea, consisting of Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Il, and Kim Jong Un, who have maintained power through a dynastic communist system and a strong personality cult.
• Juche Ideology: A political philosophy emphasizing self-reliance and national independence, used by the Kim regime to justify its isolationist policies and defiance of foreign powers.
• Humanitarian Crisis and Malnutrition: The video highlights the severe poverty, lack of medical facilities, and widespread malnutrition in North Korea, particularly affecting children.
• Isolation and Control: North Korea's extreme isolation from the outside world, maintained through strict government control over information, communication, and movement.
• US-North Korea Relations: The long-standing antagonism between the United States and North Korea, characterized by threats, provocations, and diplomatic stalemates.
• Sister's Abduction: The personal experience of Lisa Ling, whose sister Laura was abducted and imprisoned in North Korea, leading to a high-profile diplomatic intervention.

North Korea's Nuclear Ambitions and International Response

On September 3, 2017, North Korea conducted a man-made earthquake, registering 6.3 on the Richter scale, which it claimed was a successful test of a hydrogen bomb. This underground explosion generated significant fear and anger internationally, prompting calls for action from the Security Council. Nikki Haley stated, "We have kicked the can down the road long enough, there is no more road left." David emphasized that North Korea's leadership likely concluded that "they have a much greater chance of survival by being a threatening power than being a cooperative one."

North Korea: A Secretive and Isolated Nation

North Korea is described as the most secretive and isolated nation in the world, with its actions vexing America for 70 years. Lisa Ling's undercover trip in 2006 revealed a society of absolute conformity, government minders, and unimaginable horrors that people risked their lives to escape. She described feeling "as isolated as I did as soon as I touched down in North Korea."

The Kim Dynasty and Leadership Transitions

Kim Jong Il ruled North Korea with absolute power until his death on December 17, 2011. His youngest son, Kim Jong Un, became the third Kim to rule this dynastic communist nation, assuming the title of Supreme Leader. While not yet 30 at the time of his ascension, Kim Jong Un was an unknown to the world and remains enigmatic and unpredictable. He is noted for systematically eliminating opposition with a brutality not seen from his father or grandfather, and for adopting the appearance of his grandfather, Kim Il Sung, the country's founder. It is estimated that Kim Jong Un has assassinated 140 senior leaders, including his uncle and likely his half-brother. His regime has tested over 80 rockets, successfully launching ICBMs capable of threatening its enemies.

The Case of Otto Warmbier

In 2016, American college student Otto Warmbier was arrested and sentenced to 15 years of hard labor while touring North Korea. He was freed after 17 months but had fallen into a coma and died shortly after his release.

US-North Korea Tensions and Unpredictability

President Obama reportedly told then-President-elect Trump that North Korea would be his most urgent international challenge. The pattern of North Korea testing new administrations was observed, with Kim Jong Un being considered more unpredictable than his father. President Trump's own unpredictable nature was also noted as a factor. President Trump issued a warning: "North Korea best not make any more threats to the United States. They will be met with fire and fury, like the world has never seen."

North Korea's Survival Strategy: Nuclear Weapons

David posits that the common theme across the three Kim dictators has been the development of missiles and nuclear weapons as their "ultimate survival strategy." Their number one concern is survival, and being a nuclear power changes how they are treated. The two successful ICBM launches in July 2017 demonstrated missiles capable of reaching the continental United States, placing the U.S. and North Korea on a collision course not seen since the Korean War and indicating their nuclear program was further along than previously thought.

Historical Roots of Antagonism

North Korea's antagonism toward foreign powers dates back over a century to Japan's colonization of Korea in 1910, which ended over 1,000 years of Korean sovereignty and was a major source of shame. After World War II, Korea was split between the American-backed South and the Soviet-backed communist North, led by Kim Il Sung. In 1950, Kim Il Sung invaded the South, leading to the Korean War, which resulted in millions of deaths and widespread destruction. The war ended in 1953 with Korea remaining divided at the 38th parallel, with no peace treaty, only a perpetual ceasefire. The Joint Security Area on the border remains a tense standoff between North Korean and American-South Korean forces.

The Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and Intelligence Black Hole

The DMZ, a two-and-a-half-mile-wide buffer zone, is heavily fortified with landmines, electric fences, and soldiers, making crossing it nearly impossible and suicidal. North Korea is considered an "intelligence black hole," with David arguing it has been the biggest intelligence failure for the United States since Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, acknowledging it as a very hard target.

North Korean Society and Personality Cult

North Korea is roughly the size of Mississippi with 25 million people. While Pyongyang is a showcase capital, vast poverty exists elsewhere. All three Kim leaders have been absolute dictators, worshipped in an extreme personality cult. The population is said to have largely bought into the myth that the Kim family keeps them safe from Americans, with their authority derived from their descent from Kim Il Sung. Lisa describes experiencing "roboticism" and difficulty discerning genuine devotion from compelled behavior. Information is heavily controlled, with many citizens unaware of basic facts like a man walking on the moon. Elites may have internet access, but ordinary citizens are isolated, and even cell phone users can only communicate within borders. This isolation earns North Korea the moniker "The Hermit Kingdom."

Humanitarian Mission and Undercover Documentation

Lisa Ling's curiosity about North Korea led her to join a humanitarian mission led by cataract surgeon Dr. Sanduk Ruit from Nepal. To document the work and life inside North Korea, the team posed as part of Dr. Ruit's medical team, with Lisa unable to disclose her journalistic role. They were met by North Korean minders in Nepal who monitored their every step. The team had to conceal their cameras, burying them beneath medical equipment. A North Korean official checked their luggage, and two minders were already present. Dr. Ruit warned, "All of us will be watched very carefully." Lisa admits to being "a little naive," surprised that her affiliation with National Geographic wasn't discovered, and believing she would merely be expelled if exposed.

First Impressions of Pyongyang

Upon arrival, the team observed 12-lane highways with few cars and saw images of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il everywhere. Pyongyang is described as a city of the relatively privileged, with permits required for travel outside the capital. All technological devices were confiscated upon arrival, and eight government minders were assigned to the team, accompanying them everywhere, even staying in their guest houses. Lisa realized she was in Kim Jong Il's North Korea.

Medical Conditions and Humanitarian Nightmare

At the hospital, hundreds of blind people gathered for surgery. The hospital, though perhaps the fanciest in North Korea, relied on donated equipment, with few doctors trained to use it. The government allowed Dr. Ruit's mission as a way for Kim Jong Il to provide services to his people. The team had to bring most of their equipment and supplies, including a generator due to common blackouts. The government controlled their every move, presenting idealized versions of the country to foreigners. Cataracts, which rarely lead to blindness in developed countries, were prevalent in North Korea due to poor care and nutrition, affecting all ages. German physician Norbert Vollertsen documented horrific medical conditions, including bloody operating tables, beer bottles for IVs, and a lack of antibiotics or anesthesia. He stated that while the government claims everything is free, it's not available, with no medicine, running water, or even soap in hospitals.

Famine and Malnutrition

The lack of food and its effect on children made the most lasting impression. Dr. Vollertsen witnessed starving children dying, feeling helpless. In the mid-1990s, natural disasters and government mismanagement caused a famine that killed up to three million people, about 10% of the population. Surveys in the early 2000s showed nearly 40% of North Korean children were chronically malnourished, with average 7-year-old boys being significantly shorter and lighter than their South Korean counterparts. They were called "the stunted generation." Michael noted the damage to bones was permanent, attributing it to malnutrition.

The Juche Philosophy and National Identity

The Kims isolated the country, cutting off foreign aid and communications. Lisa's claim of being a medical student allowed them to keep their cameras, documenting everything. To gain a broader perspective, Lisa asked to visit a typical North Korean family, which, to her shock, was agreed to. They were led to the home of a blind patient, a privileged family living in a sixth-floor apartment in Pyongyang. The home lacked family pictures, instead displaying numerous images of Kim Jong Il and his father. When asked about their favorite picture, the response was "Of course, every picture, absolutely." They were warned to photograph the dear leader carefully. Under the watchful eye of the minders, conversations were limited. When asked about the difficulty of life for the blind mother, the son-in-law deflected by asking, "Why do you want to see this supreme leader so much, so bad?" Lisa questioned if the Great Leader could do anything wrong, but the minder seemed not to understand, possibly perceiving it as questioning authority. She also asked how the Great Leader defended the small country against big powers like America, wondering where North Korea's defiant mindset came from.

The Juche philosophy, created by Kim Il Sung, means "up yours" to the outside world, emphasizing self-sufficiency. Michael explains that while peculiar from an outsider's perspective, it resonates deeply in Korea due to its history of invasion and abuse. North Koreans have turned this history around to assert they will no longer tolerate such treatment, finding a "profound thrill" in someone having the "guts to stand up." Juche ideology continues to be used to maintain absolute power and the god-like status of Kim Il Sung.

Kim Jong Il's Rule and Transition to Kim Jong Un

Kim Jong Il, who took power in the world's first communist dynastic handover after his father's death in 1994, ruled by fear. His son, Kim Jong Un, continues to use Juche ideology to unify the nation and crush dissent.

Humanitarian Engagement and the Power of Sight

On their final evening, Dr. Ruit completed his goal of operating on 1,000 patients. He believes in humanitarian engagement, stating, "The North Korean people have two eyes, like you and me, they have a mouth, and they have teeth, you know. And it's for the world in general to understand that in North Korea we have a lot of people who need our love." At the hospital, patients awaited bandage removal, uncertain if they would regain sight. Lisa found the room theatrical, expecting overt gratitude, but observed something different. Dr. Ruit reported over 1,000 surgeries with good results and no infections.

The Moment of Truth and Lingering Doubts

A 23-year-old woman, blind for years, was the first to have her bandages removed. She could then touch Dr. Ruit's nose and identify her father, eliciting applause. The grandmother they had visited at home was also able to see again, having waited years to see the dear leader. Lisa found the experience "surreal," unable to determine if the reactions were genuine or compelled by fear of consequences. After leaving North Korea, Lisa breathed a "huge sigh of relief," never expecting further dealings with the country.

Laura Ling's Abduction and Imprisonment

The family faced a crisis when Lisa's sister, Laura, was abducted and imprisoned in North Korea. In March 2009, Laura was working on a documentary about North Korean defectors near the Tumen River, which separates China and North Korea. While filming on the frozen river, she and her colleague, Euna Lee, were spotted by North Korean soldiers, chased into China, and violently dragged back across the river into North Korea. Laura's husband informed Lisa of the abduction, causing her heart to sink. Laura described being bruised and bloodied, trying to keep her wits about her, and being "so scared." They were transferred to Pyongyang and separated, leading to formal interrogations for hours daily. Laura struggled to convince them she was not a spy, especially given her employer, Current TV, was co-founded by former Vice President Al Gore, which made them suspicious of government ties. An interrogator presented a file about Lisa, accusing both sisters of trying to bring down the North Korean government. Laura and Euna became the first Americans tried in North Korea's highest court, receiving a sentence of 12 years of hard labor. Lisa was terrified at the thought of her sister being sent to one of the "henious and insidious" prisons described by a defector.

Diplomatic Intervention and Bill Clinton's Mission

Laura's interrogator offered to let her talk to her sister, believing Lisa could convey what they wanted. The consensus from the State Department and Vice President Gore was to keep the matter quiet to avoid antagonizing North Korea. Laura, however, insisted they needed to change that approach. It became clear that North Korean authorities wanted former President Bill Clinton to visit as an envoy. Lisa asked Laura if President Clinton would come to rescue them, but Laura remained silent, realizing the request was tricky, especially with Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State. Lisa then launched a media campaign of deference and public apologies to the North Korean government, emphasizing the importance of saving face and begging for mercy on humanitarian grounds. Laura received Lisa's strategic letters, which always expressed deference and apologies, knowing they were read by authorities. After Vice President Gore secured President Clinton's agreement, the mission happened quickly. Images of President Clinton landing in North Korea and being greeted by a jubilant Kim Jong Il emerged. Laura and Euna heard a North Korean newscaster announce Clinton's visit and the "warm meeting" between him and Kim Jong Il, leading Laura to believe, "We're going home." After 140 days, Laura Ling and Euna Lee were freed. Kim Jong Il told Clinton that he remembered Clinton being the first leader to call with condolences after his father's death in 1994, even before his own allies, and had wanted to meet him ever since. This gesture, years prior, may have been responsible for their freedom, demonstrating mutual civility that allowed diplomacy to work.

Kim Jong Un's Strategic Brilliance and US-North Korea Rhetoric

A decade later, Kim Jong Un enjoys the devotion and power of his predecessors and seems eager to be on the world stage. He is described as playing a "brilliantly weak hand," a "brilliant strategist," a "brutal player," and "savvy at understanding how small technological edges in nuclear and in cyber enable him to have the power to reach out at the United States and other enemies." North Korea technically remains at war with the United States, and this tension is seen as necessary to prevent its own population from questioning the regime about poverty and devastation, providing an external enemy to deflect blame. While North Korea desires respect as a significant power, they do not believe integration with the West will achieve this. The possibility of North Korea launching a nuclear weapon at the U.S. is deemed unlikely, as it would lead to the regime's destruction within 45 minutes. However, using the threat of holding American cities hostage to achieve other goals is considered within their capability. According to the Korean Central News Agency, Kim Jong Un claims North Korea is nearing its goal of military equilibrium with America. President Trump reiterated the U.S. has "great strength and patience but if it is forced to defend itself or its allies we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea." As rhetoric escalates, the international community continues to impose harsher sanctions, which appear ineffective in stopping Kim's goal of becoming a threatening nuclear power.