Tag Archives: DPRK

The “Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum” of Pyongyang

Editor’s note: this was part of Day Five in North Korea.

Property of Gregory A Nasif

On Wednesday, May 6th, 2016, I visited the Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum, or Victorious War Museum for short, in Pyongyang, North Korea. This site is nothing more or less than the anchor of the reclusive nation’s false understanding and deliberate misrepresentation of the Korean War.

Property of Gregory A Nasif

Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum, Pyongyang.

It was a bizarre and troubling experience.

Here, at last, would be the final, full-throated, heavy dose of propaganda for which we had all done our best to prepare.  There was no precedent for the experience, not even the earlier tours to the North Korean side of the demilitarized zone or the resting halls of the two deceased leaders.  The military museum would outdo all of that.   We were given enough false information for a Quentin Tarantino alternate-history flick, told by people who genuinely believed it (with a similar adoration of violence).

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North Korea in Photos: On-The-Spot Guidance

Property of Gregory A Nasif

Day Four

At nearly every single visit for our last two days in North Korea, various tour guides attempted to impress upon us the extent of leaders Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il’s “on-the-spot guidance” in moving North Korea forward.

The first journey of day four would be by subway.

Property of Gregory A Nasif

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North Korea in Photos: The DMZ

The Korean Demilitarized Zone was the focus of day three in North Korea, May 2nd, 2016.

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Roughly straddling the 38th parallel, the Korean DMZ is the final result of the Korean War, one of the deadliest conflicts in human history.  The heavily-armed and high-tension borderline between the two Korean nations is open to tours in both Korean nations.  It was a three-hour drive from Pyongyang.

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Keeping up with the Kims

Editor’s note: continued from Day One in North Korea.

Part of Day Two in North Korea.

Property of Gregory A Nasif

“No mercy for the enemies! That’s why our NATIONAL ANIMAL is the tiger!” exclaimed Mr. Hang, our tour guide, staring me in the face. His tone switched instantaneously as he smiled at the group at large and calmly asked, “can you understand?”

“Yes!” we affirmed.

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It was early on Sunday, May 1st, May Day, and our tour bus was barreling through Pyongyang, North Korea. On passing the Pyongyang Zoo, the tour group oo’ed and ah’ed at the massive tiger head surrounding the door.  A tourmate had asked “Why is it so big?” and that’s how Mr. Hang responded – to me.

Thirty minutes later, in shirts and ties, we were dropped in a group of what must have been almost every foreigner in the country, and caught our first glimpse of today’s destination.

Formerly the home palace of Kim Il-sung, it is now he and his son’s final resting place, the host of authoritarian communism’s favorite pastime: deifying bad people by lying them in state.

Property of Gregory A Nasif

The only major lesson to take from this experience was to truly internalize the depth of love many North Koreans have for their leadership, and to acknowledge the challenge this portends for democratic nations, either before or after the potential collapse of the North Korean government.

Here is my story of visiting this most unusual place.

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