North Korea: Children of the Secret State

"North Korea: Children of the Secret State" is an intimate and heart-wrenching documentary directed by Carla Garapedian. The project, masterfully narrated by Joe Layburn, was first shown to viewers in 2000 and opens a window into the veiled world of North Korea, allowing us to gaze upon its difficult and sometimes horrific realities. The primary focus of this gripping documentary centers around the harsh life conditions of North Korea’s children, teenagers, and others in the country's lower class struggling for survival.

"North Korea: Children of the Secret State" was a result of Layburn's courageous journalistic work, pushing beneath the surface of North Korea's carefully constructed facade to the grim realities of everyday life. With the aid of undercover footages, interviews, and poignant narratives from defectors who managed to escape the oppressive regime, the documentary unveils the truth behind one of the world's most secretive states.

The film opens with the stark fact that a quarter-million North Koreans have fled their homeland in the past decade, most during the four-year-long famine in the late 1990s. Layburn and his team explore what drove so many to abandon what is often hailed as a 'worker’s paradise,' weaving together testimonies from North Korean defectors who confirm the cruel irony of this title. The fleeing refugees' narratives provide a chilling backdrop to the grim reality and dystopian landscapes captured by hidden cameras, giving an unparalleled cost to the 'paradise.'

The documentary, however, narrows its lens to focus on the country's most vulnerable population: its children. Often orphaned due to famine or other dire circumstances, these young individuals are exposed to innumerable horrors, from starvation to forced labor, facing a daily battle to survive in an elitist and oppressive society. Moreover, the film emphasizes the government’s denial of the humanitarian crisis affecting its citizens, particularly the children, illuminating a dichotomy between the regime's narrative and the stark day-to-day reality.

"North Korea: Children of the Secret State" also clandestinely tracks the rise of illegal markets within North Korea, called 'Jangmadangs.' These networks spawn from the urgent need for survival as the government's stringent restrictions and failures led to a lack of resources. A survival strategy for many, including children, involves participating in these underground black markets, where they trade in foreign goods, despite the inherent risk of severe punishment if caught.

Layburn's narration guides viewers through the country’s unsettling shadows towards a narrative of resilience and the human spirit's indefatigable will to survive. He encapsulates the indefinable heroism of the children who, despite everything, find ways to endure their inhumane living conditions.

The documentary is ultimately a profound commentary on survival amidst inhumane conditions. It sheds light on the stark reality of North Korea's situation, which remains largely unexposed due to the perverse image propagated by its dictatorial regime. The camera serves as a mirror to reflect a world minimally shown and perhaps purposefully ignored by the global community, particularly highlighting the plight of the children forced to grow up too soon.

"North Korea: Children of the Secret State" is not just a film – it's an exposé of an international crisis and a reflection on the human spirit's resilience. Its disturbing yet poignant portrayal of the North Korea beyond the mainstream media's reach places it among documentaries that are difficult to watch yet necessary to be seen. The distinctive blend of undercover footage, compelling storytelling, and Layburn's empathetic narration combine to offer viewers a glimpse into a world, to ignore which would be a disservice to humanity.

In conclusion, "North Korea: Children of the Secret State" is a stirring and poignant documentary that dives deep into the stark existential realities within the borders of one of the world's most secretive states, giving a voice to North Korea’s silenced voices, especially the resilient children. It will leave you thinking, grappling with shock and empathy, long after it has ended. Behind the elaborate scheme of North Korea's implacable regime, the real human cost is laid bare in this unforgettable documentary.