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Comment by danielna | Hacker News Reader

I don't know if I'm more surprised by his English fluency, earrings or open-mindedness. To be honest I'm kind of worried for his safety after giving an interview like this... given what he's saying and his general demeanor, something makes me doubt it was vetted through "official" North Korean sources.

And in response to "propaganda comments" on the article, as a Korean American I know that the strongest sentiment in Korea is still towards unification. I've never understood that (and still don't, to some degree) but watching this video gives me a glimpse of that. When I hear this kid speak, I see me. It leaves me unexpectedly hopeful for the future.

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His safety is not at risk.

Kim Jong-nam is the father of Kim Han Sol and he's long been a critic of North Korean regime. He still lives with massive state handout safe and sound.

> Following a much-publicized botched attempt to secretly enter Japan using a fake passport and visit Disneyland in May 2001, he was thought to have fallen out of favor with his father.[0]

I'm surprised Kim Jong-nam's been left alone.

0: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kim_Jong-nam

Could it be that some of the propaganda we hear about North Korea is propaganda!?

Consider that at the time he was the heir apparent. I doubt anyone would've dared touch him at that time.

Ordinary North Koreans wouldn't hear about this unless the North Korean government allows it to be published, so as long as he doesn't go around doing stuff that cause direct domestic problems for the regime, the only reason they'd have for going after him or his son at this point would be a personal vendetta.

If they were to go back and start walking around Pyongyang criticizing the regime to ordinary people or otherwise engaging stirring up domestic trouble, sure.

The key is that he looks and sounds like an American asian kid, which affects what you think he must have been saying. This talk about unification and peace is nothing remotely controversial. Both Israel and Iran, for example, espouse an interest in peace on one hand, but they edge toward war and have generals saying idiotic belligerent things on the other hand.

I doubt North Korea would show this domestically, but that doesn't mean they would find it unacceptable for export to other countries if it increases sympathy and brings on another round of aid. They have been alternating between provocations and pity for decades now...

He explicitly stated that his Grandfather was a dictator which is blasphemous in N. Korean society...I would definitely be worried for his safety...

No. He stated that his uncle, the current leader, was a dictator.

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