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| China-Japan-Koreas | ||
| North Korea shuts down universities for 10 months | ||
| 2011-07-02 | ||
In addition, Kim Jong-il will turn 70 in February and the "Dear Leader" hopes to be able to transfer his power and an economically stronger nation to his son and heir-apparent, Kim Jong-Un. Reports in South Korea indicated that the government in Pyongyang on Monday ordered all universities to cancel classes until April of next year. The only exemptions are for students who will be graduating in the next few months and foreign students. The reports suggested that the students will be put to work on construction projects in major cities while there are also indications that repair work may be needed in agricultural regions that were affected by a major typhoon recently. Analysts in Japan claim there may be other reasons behind the decision to disperse the students across the country. "One reason is that there is a possibility of demonstrations at university campuses," said Toshimitsu Shigemura, a professor at Tokyo's Waseda University and author of a number of books on the North Korean leadership. "The leadership has seen the 'Jasmine Revolution' in Africa and it is very frightened that the same thing could happen in North Korea," he said. "They fear it could start in the universities."
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| Posted by:Steve White |
| #2 This is the end, Beautiful friend This is the end, My only friend, the end Of our elaborate plans, the end Of everything that stands, the end No safety or surprise, the end I'll never look into your eyes...again Can you picture what will be, So limitless and free Desperately in need...of some...stranger's hand In a...desperate land |
| Posted by: Pollyandrew 2011-07-02 20:02 |
| #1 How many bodies are we talking about here? Could they muster enough "students" to free up the troops they usually have playing part-time farmer during the planting or harvest seasons, or on manuring detachment? That might be excessively paranoid. Most likely, this is just them throwing every warm body at getting seed in the ground, fertilized, and then harvested. Although you don't generally need those warm bodies in the months in between, unless they're planning on having furloughed college students out weeding seven days a week and chasing bugs, because they can't afford pesticides. They'd be more likely to stomp the seedlings in the process, knowing college kids. |
| Posted by: Mitch H. 2011-07-02 10:36 |