Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 06SEOUL877, NORTH KOREA: THE MUSICAL

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #06SEOUL877.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
06SEOUL877 2006-03-17 09:20 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Seoul
VZCZCXYZ0002
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHUL #0877/01 0760920
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 170920Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY SEOUL
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6676
INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0290
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 7180
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 0378
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/COMUSKOREA J5 SEOUL KOR
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC//OSD/ISA/EAP//
UNCLAS SEOUL 000877 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PREF PGOV KS KN
SUBJECT: NORTH KOREA:  THE MUSICAL 
 
SUMMARY 
------- 
1.  (SBU) "Yoduk Story," a musical which premiered in Seoul 
on March 14, is like "Les Miserables" with all blue notes and 
a leitmotif of North Korean patriotic anthems.  In this 
production, the beatings, rapes, summary executions, and 
other crimes that have been reported from one of the DPRK's 
most notorious labor camps, Yoduk No. 15, take center stage. 
While this musical humanizes the prisoners, the government is 
portrayed as evil incarnate.  This performance may be a shock 
to a South Korean audience that has become accustomed in 
recent years to dramatic portrayals of North Koreans as 
harmless, though sometimes misguided, relatives.  The 
director of "Yoduk Story" is a North Korean defector who 
pledged a kidney to loan sharks in order to fund this 
production.  END SUMMARY. 
 
LIFE AND DEATH IN A NORTH KOREAN GULAG 
-------------------------------------- 
 
2.  (U) The protagonist is Kang Ryun-wha, a North Korean 
dancer who was falsely accused of spying and sent to Yoduk. 
She falls into a prison community of others with similarly 
grim backgrounds:  a woman who failed to save a portrait of 
Kim Jong-il from her burning house; a South Korean fisherman 
who mistakenly crossed the East Sea border; a Japanese woman 
kidnapped at age fifteen; and a singer who escaped the DPRK 
but returned after falling into loneliness and despair in 
Seoul. 
 
3.  (U) Kang becomes pregnant after being raped by the deputy 
warden.  She hides her pregnancy and escapes from a fellow 
prisoner who tries to kill her:  "Don't you know none of us 
will be allowed to eat for a month if you have a baby," the 
crazed assailant yells.  Ultimately, she gives birth, but she 
and the baby are discovered by the warden.  The warden, upon 
finding that the deputy is the father, gives his subordinate 
the choice of facing immediate execution or killing Kang and 
the baby in front of the other prisoners. 
 
4.  (U) The story is interspersed with scenes of terrific 
violence and cruelty.  Guards encourage a young boy to admit 
to stealing a potato only to cut off his arm in front of the 
other inmates.  Prisoners are ordered to run for freedom only 
to be shot in the back.  Other prisoners are murdered at the 
mere whim of the guards.  Suicide is a recurrent theme.  As 
prisoners and guards alike succumb to the madness, religion 
emerges as a possible salvation.  "Please, God, don't just go 
to South Korea," the prisoners cry. 
 
5.  (U) Director Chung Seong-san gives voice to these dark 
themes through a brooding score that swells with melancholy. 
The only upbeat piece is a rock-and-roll number that plays in 
a Seoul club scene.  Its point, however, is not to lift the 
mood, but rather to contrast the frivolity of the South 
compared to the suffering in the North.  Aside from the Seoul 
nightclub, the set alternates between a field surrounded by a 
razor wire fence and the cement-walled warden's office, 
furnished with torture equipment and an inspirational message 
from the Dear Leader.  Gallows strung from a wooden cross 
loom in the background throughout. 
 
6.  (U) The performance on March 14 captivated the 
nearly-full theater for the entire three-hour performance. 
At curtain call, many in the audience were crying.  Rep. Park 
Jin (GNP), who attended the premiere, told poloff that the 
show was "epochal" because it was the first performance in 
the ROK to show the true nature of the DPRK regime.  Local 
media reviews were generally positive, although some 
reviewers confessed that it was difficult to digest the grave 
contents through a musical format.  Several conservative 
dailies used their reviews as a platform to criticize the ROK 
government for remaining silent on North Korean human rights 
issues. 
 
THE MAKING OF YODUK 
------------------- 
 
7.  (U) Director Chung was a filmmaker in North Korea prior 
to fleeing to the ROK in 1995.  In 2002, he learned that his 
father had been publicly stoned to death in a North Korean 
concentration camp, an event that inspired him to create the 
musical.  In media interviews, Chung said that he wrote 
"Yoduk Story" based on his experiences in the North and 
interviews with other escapees.  The producer of the show 
claimed that ROK government officials demanded that the story 
be changed to avoid dwelling too heavily on the negative 
aspects of the camp. 
 
8.  (U) Political complications also allegedly led one 
theater abruptly to cancel the show, and a key financial 
backer to withdraw support.  In addition to seeking corporate 
backing, Chung collect donations from private citizens and 
conservative groups in the ROK and abroad.  Still short on 
funds, he pledged his left kidney as collateral for a USD 
20,000 loan. 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
9.  (SBU) This musical cuts sharply against the grain of 
popular culture.  Nearly every South Korean hit film in the 
past decade has revolved around the North-South divide, and 
in many, North Koreans are represented as sympathetic, 
misunderstood fellow victims in a tragically divided land. 
For example, last year's "Welcome to Dongmakgol" went so far 
as to show South and North Korean soldiers launching a joint 
military operation against U.S. forces in the Korean War. 
"Yoduk Story" strikes a different note altogether.  It 
presents for the first time an unvarnished dramatic portrayal 
of life in the DPRK as reported by those who have escaped. 
We hope that this musical succeeds in raising awareness and 
prompting further discussion on North Korean human rights. 
Artists should not need to sell their organs to get this 
story out. 
VERSHBOW