Can We Free North Korea Through Its People?

"Melanie Kirkpatrick's op-ed "To Disarm North Korea, Focus on Human Rights" (op-ed, March 6) boldly suggests that to achieve a strategic breakthrough with North Korea, we need to focus on the rights of its citizens, educating them about what life is like outside, rather than pursue endless, pointless disarmament negotiations with the leaders of the regime itself. This is certainly an interesting idea and a breath of fresh air.

But one has to wonder how such an idea could possibly work in North Korea when it so miserably failed in Cuba, which has had far more porous borders and access to information about the outside world.

Once upon a time, Radio y Television Marti was supposed to be the agent of truth that would liberate the minds of Cuba's citizens, foment internal rebellion and force regime change in Cuba. Well, more than 37 years have passed since this bold idea was put into effect -- in addition to countless visits to Cuba by a broad range of outsiders spreading information about the wider world, as well as access by Cubans to many other avenues of communication -- and the Castro regime still stands. The revolutionary ideals put in place in 1959 persist.

Meanwhile, North Korea has made a science out of stifling dissent by imprisoning, torturing and executing those who don't toe the party line and extol the enlightenment of Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un. It seems doubtful that information missives of the sort described by Ms. Kirkpatrick would have any real effect in changing the hearts and minds of the North Korean people.

George S. Springsteen

Washington" [1]

1.  Can We Free North Korea Through Its People?
Wall Street Journal, Eastern edition; New York, N.Y. [New York, N.Y]. 10 Mar 2023: A.14.