Inside North Korea

[@chekubechukwuma4307]

Every day I wake up from my comfy bed, go to school, come back to my warm home and stuff my face with food. Every day I forget that truly terrible things exsist

[@beatriceloproto]

That is a beautiful comment you made right there :) I was just thinking about it. Learning things like this makes you really realize how lucky yet ungrateful we are on a daily basis.

[@LiquorWithJazz]

I forgot about this video until I started reading the book tonight. This is a hard, HARD read for me right now. I wanted to read it because I'm going to the DMZ next month; I wanted to know what is happening on the other side of the line. "'High school students in America debate why President Franklin D. Roosevelt didn’t bomb the rail lines to Hitler’s camps,' the editorial concluded. 'Their children may ask, a generation from now, why the West stared at far clearer satellite images of Kim Jong Il’s camps, and did nothing.'"

[@devonwilton1063]

After seeing this video, i read the book, and later suggested to my english teacher that we read it as a class study, and now we are. Thanks John :) you taught ~30 teenagers and one english teacher about the horrors of north korea.

[@TinyCanadian]

I read it as well, and it's terrible to realize how little people know and seem to care about north korea. It really isn't a funny matter, it's a human rights disaster.

[@Vicky-hc4su]

Theboywholivedlives I agree, I always wonder about this problem. People do so little about this problem, it's as if the rest of the world shoves it under the carpet. It's an entire country in pain. The things that are happening there are just horrifying. There is some truly scary footage from the country where you can see how the people actually live there. Well.. not really live.

[@CinnamonToast]

The reason people don't do much about it is because we're all afraid if we upset the NK government they'll start attacking with their nuclear weapons

[@pawz3016]

+

[@jacoblatham7584]

"EEEEEEEEHhh, I'm ready for death." -John Green 2013

[@jab3522]

69 LIEKS

[@death2link]

96 LIEKS

[@blablab97]

"6 Year old girl beaten to death for stealing 5 kernels of corn." I cried at that moment.

[@Bozewani]

SO SICK North Korea is run by a dictator who only cares about power if North Koreans had the Internet they would overthrow Kim Jung UN hashtag Kim Jung Un must fall

[@blablab97]

Would it ? After all I see people like kim jong un,well at least in west. Maybe they would help his dictatorial military to keep on killing north koreans. I hope that sitation will get better.

[@crack_regiment3444]

I have no idea who the hell you've been talking to, kim jong un is perhaps the most hated leader in the world, quite close to peoples opinions on Adolf Hitler.

[@blablab97]

Oh dear,are you from USA ?

[@KurtisC93]

The scariest part? The guards who killed her likely thought that they were doing the right thing.

[@daniellecrowley6223]

I had to read this book for summer reading my junior year of high school, and I was shocked at its contents. I read this book directly after reading George Orwell's 1984 (also for summer reading), and the similarities were terrifying. I think many of us assume that these dystopian books that are such a craze are mainly just futuristic with small ties to reality, but Escape showed me that those worlds are present today, and it's scary how close to our worst nightmare they are.

[@joesatmoes]

I went into this book with books like Night in mind, where it would be emotionally stressful and made me cry. But other than the cruel ways the guards tortured Shin and killed his mother and brother, I felt nothing. And I think that's even more powerful- it shows, at least to me, that children born into a North Korean camp, particularly Camp 14, are brought up in a way that makes it hard to emotionally connect with them as human being. Even with Night, Eli Wiessel at least had some semblance of a somewhat life before the Holocaust, and the Nazis killed off all the younger children. Here they make them live and suffer in fear and make them something too inhumane. Or maybe I'm just an emotionless piece of crap

[@brandonthesteele]

I'm supposed to pick a book from a list and write a report on it for my Human Geography class - Escape From Camp 14 happens to be on that list. It goes without saying that this is the book I'm choosing based on John's compelling commentary.

[@brandonthesteele]

Aaaaand I read it. It was short but exhausting.

[@gandalfthegrey2171]

Brandon Shaffer I read it before seeing this and was also surprised at how he told about his mother... it's better when you read things without being influenced too much by others and what they think of it; it allows you to make your own meaning from it. Then hearing other's allows you to make it more complete. Pretty crazy stuff...

[@brandonthesteele]

Yeah it's a bit like seeing the movie before the book - however, I think John's commentary was fair and the thing about the mother wasn't a huge spoiler - it's the very first thing you read in a book.

[@gandalfthegrey2171]

Less about spoilers and more about ways of thinking.

[@MPMcDonald]

I bought this book in September immediately after watching this video. I hadn't known much at all about North Korea, other than the vague knowledge that they had 'work camps'. What an eye opener! I haven't been able to get it out of my mind ever since, and if Dennis Rodman knows how to read, he should read this book and see the kind of atrocities that his "best friend" is responsible for.

[@twichyshrimp6322]

I feel so guilty when i look back and see myself laughing at movies like team america. Now that i've read up on the crisis and have heard Shin Dong-hyuk's story i realise the crisis in North Korea isnt funny. The inhumanity and horrors that happen in that country is no laughing matter. It's impossible to imagine the horrors that take place in those camps.

[@KurtisC93]

Don't feel ashamed of having derived comedic value from something like North Korea. People make jokes about Hitler all the time; he isn't what John Green would describe as "funny", either.

[@13linkinparkluver13]

"DO IT TO JULIA, NOT ME!!!"

[@slimyweasles4973]

Yes, I found it! Right where it's supposed to be: under the German editions of "Let it Snow." LOL! :)

[@Diannime]

Immediately went to the library and requested this book. I just finished reading it and I thank you for recommending it! Best book I have read so far this year.

[@scoldingMime]

Your silver-tongued analysis of these acclaimed books is quite something to listen to. This makes me want to read the book now...

[@michaelphillips7817]

I remember watching this 5 years ago (when I was 14) and buying the book. This read made me realise how lucky I was to be born in England and that the people I thought were awful (like teachers and bullies) were nothing compared to the authoritarians in North Korea.

[@JonathanJardine]

John, I have to tell you. What you express here got to me. I watched this for the first time about a month ago. I have thought about it passively until tonight. I had to come watch it again. Now I will say that looks like an amazing book and I have to read it now. My personal believe is that morality is innate to every person. The problem here is not that he doesn't have it, but that he was thought as a child to go against it. The way you put it he sounded like he would much rather live a moral life. Which suggests that what is innate to him, is not what he was thought as a child but the morality he learned as an adult. Anyway. I really enjoy your thoughts. Keep up the good work.

[@Theyellowsmile]

Yeah you´re stupid right?

[@JonathanJardine]

After reading some of your comments ***** I have decided that you put a lot of people down. It's just mean. You really don't give any points it's just that's dumb, your voice is annoying, that sucks. I haven't seen an intelligent post from you yet. My point is that people are drawn to what is innate to them. I don't see anything stupid about that. I do see something stupid with thinking that the world is out to entertain you, and whenever you see something you don't like instead of putting together a thoughtful post you just say the first stupid thing that comes to your head. Usually an insult. It's terribly immature and annoying. It would be far more productive for you to actually add to the conversation, instead of just putting people down, so childish.

[@JonathanJardine]

Please continue proving my point.

[@Theyellowsmile]

Jonathan Jardine Sorry but can we take this tomorrow I'm kinda drunk and it's late so if you can just write something now so we can take it up tomorrow that would be lovley. Cya ^^

[@Theyellowsmile]

Jonathan Jardine Okey I'm here now. First, the faggot thing was my friend. Second, how could you have read my comments? If you've done that you can clrealy see that you are stupid as I said. It was a question cause I don't belive that soemone is born with a full moral view of the world. I belive moral is something someone is thought. the different between us is that you are just using fancier words than me but we both are insultting each other, hipocrit.

[@justhayley34]

I read this book earlier this year. There was a couple times I had to put the book down because it seemed so horrible. Something needs to be done about the severe human rights issues in North Korea.

[@ntdulak]

I'm done! Officially watched every single vlogbrothers video!! Now onto crash course..

[@Lynnarra12]

I just recently discovered your vlog and I am so glad I did. Its nice to know that there are still intellegent, well read people in the world.

[@emilymatsaka6002]

I've read it, and i was so shocked on the conditions, how Shin was treated, was forced to have no emotions, etc. I think it was horrible how they treat the prisoners like animals. North Korea is screwed. How do the leaders sleep at night? P.S. I am only 13 years old, and i have read this! All people should read the book to get a better understanding of the world. Anyone agree?

[@reneekern7893]

THANK YOU!!! SIX PRISON CAMPS WITH AT LEAST 120,000 PEOPLE. GOD HELP THEM.

[@freischutz898]

+Renee Roll Sorrythey dont have oil

[@zeromailss]

+Anne Cruz exactly

[@freischutz898]

Yukino Takada 雪乃 鷹だ yeah they need something we want then we can talk

[@zeromailss]

Tho even if they have we could hardly do something,NK backing is quite complicated,if we r not careful we could trigger WW3,ive watch few vid about NK including why we did nothing to them Its freakin complicated,dang politic

[@nox4298]

With no credible evidence to prove that.

[@bradstull9654]

Why do they say I'll see you on friday?

[@baazarafa]

+brad stull I think the videos come out every friday.

[@bradstull9654]

This was when I first started watching their videos. I feel stupid for not just assuming that haha

[@enfjftw]

Hey john. It's 3:11 AM where I am; I just read The Fault in Our Stars for just about a whole day. It is perfection. Thank you so much for writing it. The infinity of your awesomeness as an author is bigger than any other infinity I know.

[@emmamus1c]

Seriously, thank you for this John. After watching this this morning I immediately went and downloaded the book onto my Kindle and I've just finished it. I had no idea this book existed, and whilst I knew North Korea had camps, and that they were bad, I had no idea how truly horrifying they were. Thank you for broadening my world knowledge/view and for allowing me to spread the word about this book/the realities of North Korea to those around me.

[@mudhen24]

Is that Woody Guthrie in the background pic?

[@laurennicole04]

Yes

[@mycommentpwnz]

I have a great, although rudimentary, idea. Someone needs to start an organization which brings people (or perhaps more importantly consumers) together. If enough of us band together, and boycott certain irresponsible corporations, making well informed decisions about where to spend our money, countless positive impacts could be made. People spend SO Much time considering what separates them: abortion, politics, race, religion, opinions, etc. We forget about everything that could bind us together and make this world better. For FUCKS sake it's the DIGITAL AGE and we can COMMUNICATE with each other INSTANTLY. Bah, If I had the money of a Bill Gates or someone I'd fix this shithole world in 2 years flat.

[@shaunieboy147]

Impossible to achieve and even if this group was formed you couldn't rely on them all having perfectly aligned views on each issue. I get some issues are more simple than others but corporate stuff in particular is very political.

[@redstoneking1535]

I think it's better if each of us makes individual decisions. We have individual ideas, so it feels kind of natural that we buy different stuff. But most of the time we are not very informed about the things we buy. We don't really know where the money is going. Maybe we should start a group that cooperates to gather information. If we knew more about the different products that we can buy, we would make more accurate decisions. Different people would still make different decisions but people would start making decisions that actually helps them shaping the world like they want it.

[@erikm6689]

Redstone King This would be a great idea, compiling the information on products and their association to the conglomerates and multinational companies that own the subsidiaries ect. And their association and funding of Groups, associations, other activities. Mostly of the controversial kind. So that we may know what our dollar is paying to support. Although I can see it being closed down within a month by one government or another that is heavily influenced by Multinationals that may be hurt by this.

[@celiseg]

Thank you so much for making this video, and taking its topic seriously. I think I'm going to go to the library tomorrow to see if they have this book.

[@SophieHatterLeFay]

I think part of what makes John Green such a good writer is that he sets out with a message in mind, a small, insignificant part of our lives that we take for granted. But John would take it, write a story about it, and move us all to tears. I think too many authors set out to tell a story without a message, and it become empty, the characters don't get the development they need because there's no room for them to grow. Thank you John, for reminding me why reading is important

[@TheSlightlylost]

I started watching these videos a long time ago and have only recently had the lack of energy to do anything but watch them. I just wanted to say that this is the reason I love these videos. Because I love this. Ok, I'll stop infesting your mind now.

[@masanfa94]

That's been one of my favourite books for a while now. Glad you brought it up so others will know about it and read it!

[@stranglefish]

john, i just really wanted to thank you. i just finished the fault in our stars earlier today. i didnt cry while reading, then i went to talk to the friend who lent it to me, i started like sobbing. i wanted to thank you for being a wonderful author. i laughed , i cried, i flipped out, this book was perfect:)

[@ilycrystalir]

That book sounds like a really good read. It's going on my bucket list (: Thanks, John, for your fantastic videos as always!

[@pourtaghi]

What an insightful and very thoughtfully-delivered video. Great stuff.

[@32ndlibertine]

This is my favourite KZbin channel!

[@LeviJohansen]

Must read that book. It's now next on my list!

[@filmnonstopasia]

superb commentary, haven't read the book but i will

[@ecureuil85]

Fantastic video - fascinating and thought provoking. Off to order the book now.

[@davidabeats]

evolving, daaaaaag, good stuff bro, amazing vid!

[@adspeed7292005]

Wow, that's a really interesting take on Shin's story. Very thought-provoking insights, especially the idea of developing our humanity, which so many of us take for granted as innate, as you say.

[@BohemianShepherdesss]

Amazing video! I am so touched by your words, especially: "not the strength of the human spirit, but the fragility of it." Thanks John Green :)

[@mrburns1436]

I am constantly reminded how much I love you guys. You're helping people think. Just like Mr. Nye.

[@rachelsoulek5256]

I am so glad I watched this! In one of my classes this past semester, one of the themes we talked about was whether or not we, as humans, are born with an innate sense of "right" or "wrong" or whether it is taught to us. I will definitely have to read this book.

[@Sasbanonker]

After seeing this video I went to my school library (Where my librarian is a huge fan of John Green), and checked out Escape from Camp 14. It was one of the most inspirational, mind-opening books I've ever read. Thank you, John.

[@FalconLoader]

Well said. I just stumbled on your videos... Glad I did.

[@Heidi1Korea]

I've read the book and I'm friends with his gf in the book. I live in South Korea and am meeting North Koreans here and tutoring them in English. I loved the book. When you meet someone like Shin in person it's really hard to ask about their past because it causes so much pain. Many NK defectors struggle everyday with memories. Read the Book and gain a better understanding! Thanks John for talking about this topic. Most Americans just don't care.

[@gemmeg1928]

John I just finished The Fault in Our Stars! Which I just bought a week ago and if you knew me you would know that it takes me almost half a year to read a full book. It was so amazing I just could not put it down. Sad as hell in the end but great. Anyways I'm probably going to go buy your other book tomorrow. Thanks so much and keep up the writing!! Ill be looking out :)

[@randallpcrittenden]

John/Hank, I have a suggestion. If you release a video that talks about (for some reason) touchy subjects, please, please turn of comments. I know that you guys love us nerdfighters, but there are so many people in these comments that, I don't think, have touched a book in their lives that it's actually making me wish for a nuclear war. Also, to clarify, the "(for some reason)" was about the subjects being touchy, not you guys talking about them.

[@DPlover1]

Because of your recommendation, I read escape from camp 14 and it has probably now become one of my favorite books! thank you!

[@danielbennett2891]

I just want to say thank you for recommending such a great book. Thank you

[@SweetestSerendipity2]

Beautifully put. Thank you.

[@hidingzeus4306]

Excellent video. I can see myself coming back and revisiting this.

[@SwimmingEqualsLiving]

I started reading this book, I'm fourteen chapters in, and while reading this I'm saying "wow, what a crazy story" but then I tell myself "this isn't a story, this is someone's life"

[@pigsandbutterflies]

I just bought this book for my dad's birthday last week, I knew nothing about this book, only that my dad wanted to read it. After hearing what the salesman and now you have to say about this book, I think I'll have to borrow it from my dad to read it myself.

[@Lozzie_14]

A. I've got your box set of books on pre-order coming to me in November. B. I've got Esther's story to order and now this one. C. This was a story that makes me realise how lucky I am to know (ish) what is right and wrong and to have food, water and a family who I appreciate, not just that gave birth to me or share the same genes

[@Shinyshoesz]

That was a beautiful description of the beauty of fragility - how the human spirit can both evolve and devolve, and further, why ideas we take for granted matter so much. Thanks as always John.

[@DudsCampos]

That's a pretty awesome video. I NEED to read the book now. (Oh, John, why do you make all your book recommendations sound so interesting?? I really haven 't got as much time as I'd like to to read all those!)

[@FashionistaOnline]

I remember last year in AP human geography watching a documentary (called Inside North Kore, actually) with Shin interviewed in it, and it was so fascinating. His story always reminds me of Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory. It's very fascinating.

[@hopawaylittlebunny]

Nerdfighters, READ THIS BOOK! It is fantastic. I'm only in 9th grade and I'm not a big nonfiction reader, but this book held my attention the whole way through. It is a truly eye-opening and informative read.

[@goodcar96]

I had the honor of meeting him last year at a KCC meeting at Washington D.C. His speech was truly inspiring and very saddening. Everyone should read this book.

[@jayehwhyy]

Oh and I've now completed Escape from Camp 14 since you posted this video!

[@WittTiger09]

I did it. I finally did it. After being a Nerdfighter for about 8 months and watching videos at random, I finally decided to sit down and watch all the Vlogbrothers videos. It took 2 months and I am slightly tired but I did it. DFTBA

[@xboazx]

It’s not everyday that you watch a video that makes you reconsider what it means to be human, but today was one of those days. Thank you, John Green.

[@otmrs]

The concept of Vlogbrothers is that they communicate with one another in videos that are not to go over four minutes each. This has led them to become very fast talkers in order to put as much into each four minute video as possible.

[@Lordwakawaka]

I picked up the book today, ill read it soon. Thanks for making me pick it up.

[@weirdogonzalez]

Thanks for the awesome suggestion. It was a really good book, got to know a lot about his sufferings, not only on the inside, but also on the outside.

[@drewg.4779]

I recently introduced my friend to nerdfighteria, and I'm a new nerdfighter too and I just read The Fault In Our Stars. She wrote on the last page, an empty, useless space, a beautiful quote " A completely useless change in a completely wonderful, life changeling book. I started wondering is she had scarred the book by writing in it, or improved it in only the way a reader can, not the writer.

[@zanzibarland1]

Most powerful vlogbros. for a long time. (not that they aren't often, but this one was particularly awesome [yes it's over used, get over it]/ relevant)

[@rhettd4585]

That book was amazing. I don't usually read this kind of book, but a friend suggested it, and I do not regret it.

[@redsparrowtree]

It is not too frequently that a 3 minute video, let alone a single sentence, can make your mind totally explode (figuratively speaking). Thank you, John, for pushing me to expand my mind and investigate my beliefs.

[@ceciliam23]

Human will is fragile,and we learn to become people. That gave me goosebumps. A viral illness took me out for 10 years, 8 of those I was largely bed ridden. Spent the majority of my 20s sleeping. People try to chalk my eventual recovery up to my "indomitable will" which I resist. It had more to do with access to a good MD, and luck. Suffering shrunk my world down to my most basic needs. It made me realize that human frailty is bigger than any of us. Hero stories downplay that reality.

[@SoulSpectar]

John, there's also Kimjongilia, a documentary on North Korea escapees (Dong-yuk is included). It's done with an artistic touch, but the stories some of the people tell are terrifying to the point of wanting- but unable to- turn off the movie. It's available on Netflix, to anyone who is interested.

[@kathleensmiles123]

Could you guys do a video about Steubenville and the Retaeh Parsons tragedy? I really admire how well and understandably you discuss important issues and I think you could help some people gain a better understanding of the case.

[@Rashik30]

I've followed Shin since the news of him escaping came about. He is a brilliant man who really cares for others. I've had the pleasure of meeting him face to face when he was doing a tour, giving speeches about North Korea.

[@matthewanstead798]

Read the book, thank you for the suggestion! I will donate it to my library and try to spread the word. Seems like there is a depressing lack of solutions though.

[@ReeonZOID]

I might have immediatly ordered this book. I probably did. I also ordered a few other books. You keep the economy going, Mr. Green!

[@EyeLean5280]

One of your best, John. Thank you.

[@ThisUpsidedownCity]

People should read 'nothing to envy', it's a really interesting book about people who defected from North Korea and it really gives you a perspective on life

[@marissab4114]

You should be proud! My grandfather was in the Korean war and he said during that time Seoul and Busan were just dirt roads. Now they're very large cities, I mean that's INCREDIBLE. That's something you guys should be proud of, even if your brothers and sisters up north don't see it that way.

[@Artbug]

Wow... very powerful video. Thanks for sharing!

[@HazelGiz]

When John talks this fast I'm glad I'm a native English speaker. Also I don't like to dismiss things as "depressing" but I don't think I'd like to read that book. I think it is important to talk about problems in the world, sometimes I'd just rather not dwell on them.

[@lettersfromlaura]

Having just read Night by Elie Wiesel this really hit home. Thank you John for seeing exactly what I do.

[@dftbaLauren]

I'll make sure to check out your video once it's uploaded and give you some advice after watching it :) DFTBA!

[@aVeganFeminist]

Wow. Shin saying he is "evolving into a human being" is a really shocking and powerful quote. Sounds like an intense and interesting book.

[@johnbollenbacher6715]

Nice blog, John.

[@CedroneTravels]

Incredible book

[@jlange07]

While definitely not a funny video, this is perhaps a top 10 vlogbrother video for me. I continue to watch vlogbrother videos to learn; I can laugh at many things on the internet, but I can't learn on just any random youtube video.

[@doctorwho3600]

2)The idea that in prison camps your children and grandchildren stay in their with you, a)North Korea has stated that it's prisons separate gender just like all others b)The sheer excess cost of maintaining that many prisoners, food and all would be so excessive that no government, crazy or otherwise would ever do it.

[@iLuvSmartCars]

It is such a good book, but it is not for the faint hearted. It's really hard to read because the author (and Shin) don't hold back on the details. I appreciate that a lot, and I totally recommend it. Just beware that it isn't a fluffy story by any means.

[@thescowlingschnauzer]

Hearing that Shin escaped came 14 just to find food reminds me of a Cracked article I read earlier today that said "There's no shortage of statistics showing that many suicides are less the result of a profound philosophical problem and more a temporary fart of the soul that would have passed if they'd just given it a night or two to air out." It seems that the further we get up Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs the more we underestimate the lower levels.

[@joedoody377]

I add yet another book to my "To read list" as a result of watching a Vlogbrothers video. Thank you

[@1Hannahzx]

Reading this book because of you John!

[@msweetmusic1]

Thanks for the thoughtful comment!

[@What-The-Shell]

Hank is his brother. The channel is called vlogbrothers because they vlog back and forth to each other. So he actually is talking to Hank, and us. And we are nerdfighteria! Welcome to the group ;)

[@jessmaywin987]

this book is so eye opening, but there is another equally as interesting book called Nothing to Envy, which documents the lives of normal North Korean people through the accounts of several defectors... simply amazing and really thought provoking

[@annaleecardinal2801]

There's a difference between living in a jail cell with no food and living in a jail cell with no food where people kick you in the face every day. John's not saying because conditions are worse in Camp 14 that they're somehow less for everyone else.

[@spencergeller2236]

On an unrelated topic, John, your books are everywhere in Barnes and Nobles. Everywhere except where I looked for 35 minutes.

[@OliviaMairin]

This is the best video I have ever seen on youtube...

[@crestfalen88]

I think the question of whether 신동혁's wholly human simple mindedness while he was in North Korea (and then his transformation) makes him the hero he is is an interesting one. Although I agree with you that the fragility of our will is perhaps a more interesting and important topic than its strength, I think a question needs to be raised here, whether the fragility of the human mind and condition is entirely separate from the "indomitable will" idea. Great video, and well thought. :D

[@TheDaydreamer793]

BOOK RECOMMENDATION for John and anyone else who enjoyed the idea of that book. I am currently doing a collective study with other kids in my high school of the book Never Fall Down by Patty McCormick. To book is based on the life of a man named Arn who was a child during the Cambodian civil war. It is written from the first person perspective and a pretty quick read. I have had the opportunity to talk with both the writer and the protagonist, and the entire experience has been amazing.