How we cite our quotes: (Page)
Quote #1
... the orphans were used to welcome ferry-loads of Koreans who had been lured back from Japan with promises of Party jobs and apartments in Pyongyang. The orphans would wave welcome banners and sing Party songs so that the Japanese Koreans would descend the gangway, despite the horrible state of Chongjin and the crows that were waiting to transport them all to kwan li so labor camps. (9-10)
One sinister side of North Korea's foreign policy is revealed in this small memory from Jun Do's past. This memory speaks of a state unashamed to engage in revenge politics, rather than create a state that will allow its citizens to thrive. Jun Do's memory of these unfortunate dissidents is sparked by Officer So handing him a bag of brand-new, brand-name clothing to wear as they embark on their kidnapping jag—just the kind of clothes worn by the prosperous immigrants. Perhaps this should have been a warning sign for Jun Do.
Quote #2
Then Officer So said, "In my time, we had a whole division, a budget. I'm talking about a speedboat, a tranquilizing gun. We'd surveil, infiltrate, cherry-pick. We didn't pluck family types, and we never took children. I retired with a perfect record..." (12)
It's not unusual for the old guard to complain about how great things were back in the day, but the fact that Officer So is going on about the good old days when state kidnapping was properly funded should make you giggle just a bit. It's okay: Johnson inserts this kind of dark humor throughout the text. Note that Officer So laments the loss of a kidnapper's code of conduct. Apparently, even villains should have their limits.
Quote #3
The Second Mate answered the Captain, though he didn't unlock eyes with the sailor. "You can't go around the world doing whatever you want. There are rules and the rules have to be followed. You can't just up and steal people's hats." (61)
The Second Mate's reaction to the American sailors pilfering things from their boat reflects a standard complaint about the U.S.'s sense of entitlement, which comes from political and military power. For the Second Mate, it's all about the Captain's hat, which seems like a trivial thing. But for many, the U.S.'s seemingly unrestrained intervention around the globe is a much graver issue. Johnson calls special attention to this reputation by putting these highly charged words into the mouth of a North Korean sailor.