How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Panel)
Quote #1
The [Scientific and Educational Film] studio might have been intended to educate the masses, but these days it’s used to attract foreign currency, most of it French. (1.42)
For a country built on some twisted Communist-Juchist ideals, North Korea has an awfully strong attraction to capitalist money.
Quote #2
“Since we’ve run out of cash they’re wrapping up production in Pyongyang.” (1.73)
Richard’s studio seems to be exploiting the relatively cheap cost of labor in North Korea in order to get their work done. Whoa, hold up. Does this sound like a good idea to you? Does this mean that when we watch cartoons, we’re supporting cheap North Korean labor? Is this how the rest of the world enables North Korea? Does this mean that cheap labor is more important to the rest of the world than the human rights of North Koreans? Oh, dear.
Quote #3
[The Yangakkdo is] a massive 50-storey [sic] tower with a revolving restaurant, built in the 1980s by a French firm. That explains the French designer toilets. (2.2-2.3)
We’re not sure if this is an example of North Korea flaunting wealth or France flaunting wealth. If it’s France, this is the equivalent of waving a hundred dollar bill around in the middle of the Mohave Desert. Honestly, we’re not impressed. We could afford to build a hotel in North Korea.