Is North Korea Trying To De-Isolate? A Trip for the New York Philharmonic

Kim Jong-Il=Big Brother. This means that he controls the way that people under his rule act, think, do anything. He keeps his country on the brink of starvation and technologically behind the rest of the world. But, could this all be changing? Recently, Kim Jong-Il has opened the borders of North Korea to citizens of his worst enemy, the United States. He allowed the New York Philharmonic to come and perform in Pyang-Yong (sp?) and come with journalists and camera crews from the states. Could this be a stepping-stone towards a future with a North Korea-United States diplomatic alliance?

Some say maybe, some say no. But the Philharmonic was very well received. The usually completely dim world of North Korea was filled with lights upon their arrival. Kim Jong-Il threw a banquet for the performers that journalists say consisted of more food than most North Koreans will see in their entire lives. The show started with the North Korean national anthem, which is a conventional beginning. But then the conductor chose a sketchy choice, the Star Spangled Banner. Before arriving at North Korea, the conductor said that the Philharmonic would come only under specific conditions: they get a good acoustically sound hall, good quarters and complete control over what they play. This includes the national anthem of the United States, a country that North Korea is technically still at war with.

After the anthem, the Philharmonic went through a series of opera songs and other pieces of classical music. Then he played “An American in Paris,” and made a comment that maybe someone will write the song “Americans in Pyang-Yong,” hinting at a possible future where North Koreans and Americans will live together in harmony. The comment was well received with applause (but some could argue that they were just being polite, or caught up in the moment). After the performance, the Philharmonic received a standing ovation. Members recalled that they could feel the return of what they put into the music directed towards them from the crowd, a very pleasing experience for any musician, let alone one who is playing in one of the least emotional nations in the world.

CNN journalist Amanbour reported on the events and interviewed many in attendance and those who watched across North Korea on their home televisions. Many enjoyed the concert and saw it as a possible connection between the countries. “Music speaks what words cannot.” However, there were many, many skeptics that the performance and its reception was just a façade put forth by the North Korean government and people. These skeptics included those from the Western World as well as those within Korea (who obviously remained anonymous, but who could blame them). The skeptics say that the North Korean government did this to show the Western world how civilized they are, as well as show the North Koreans how much of a good government they are by allowing something like this.

I almost have to side with the skeptics on this one, because not more than a week after the Philharmonic left, the new South Korean leader was elected based on a premise of how much South Koreans hate North Koreans. One of Kim Jong-Il’s staff members spoke out about how they will turn South Korea into ash because of this political move. It’s pretty hard to believe that they have actually changed, but there is always hope. Since this performance was a success, maybe there will be many more to come, hopefully leading the people of North Korea out of darkness and leading the rest of the world away from fear.

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