Ep 10. The Hermit Kingdom

The Vice season 1 episode 10 titled "The Hermit Kingdom" takes the viewers on a journey to North Korea, which is one of the most secretive and guarded countries in the world. The episode delves into understanding the political system, propaganda, lifestyle, and the citizens of this totalitarian and oppressive regime.

The show's host, Shane Smith, along with his crew, visits North Korea as tourists under the disguise of an educational trip. Starting with touring the capital city of Pyongyang, they visit the country's most significant attractions, including the Juche Tower, which is the symbol of North Korea's ideology of self-reliance. Shane explores the grand Arirang games, which is a massive propaganda display event performed to celebrate the country and its leader, Kim Jong-Un. This event is said to be the biggest show held anywhere in the world and showcases North Korea's military strength in a cinematic way.

In the episode, Shane meets a defector of North Korea, who discusses how dictatorial and harsh the country's political system is. The defector sheds light on the infamous concentration camps where the North Korean government punishes citizens for speaking out against the regime. They have no freedom of speech, and any act of protest is severely punished by the authorities. The defector shares his experiences of living in forced labor camps, where the prisoners are subjected to poor living conditions and are forced to engage in hard labor.

The episode also shows the lifestyle of average North Koreans, highlighting the influence of propaganda in shaping the citizens' everyday lives. The show visits a typical North Korean home, where the family displays their loyalty to the regime through portraits of their supreme leaders. Shane explores traditional markets in the city, which are run by the government. People here are only allowed to sell a limited range of items provided by the government. The show also visits a school where children are taught a selective curriculum that glorifies the state's ideology and ignores the atrocities committed by the regime.

The most intriguing part of the episode is when Shane gets to visit the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) which acts as a barrier between North and South Korea. The DMZ is the most heavily fortified border in the world, and both countries have soldiers guarding their respective sides. The tension between the two countries is evident here, and the episode shows how tense the situation is, and how a small mistake can lead to something catastrophic.

Overall, the episode is an eye-opener that shows how closed and guarded the North Korean regime is. The citizens of North Korea live in a world where they have little freedom and are systematically brainwashed by their government. Through the episode, Vice illuminates the harsh realities of the regime and how the need for control leads to human rights violations. It's an essential watch for anyone looking to understand the state of the world and the unique threat posed by North Korea.