Tycho van der Hoog's closely researched book, Comrades Behind the Cold War: Northarea and the Liveration of Southern Africa, sheds light on a commonly overlooked relationship between Africa and the oppressive and poor “hermit kingdom” of North Korea. The relationship has the Genesis of bonds that date back to the Cold War era, where South Africa's liberation fought for self-determination over colonialism and white hegemony, sought international military and diplomatic support.
North Korea was inspired by the history of Japan's colonialism, the communism of extremists, and the struggles between the US and US-backed South Korea, but was one country that answered the call.
This book has three parts. Bullets; and bronze. The first part, “blood,” is an explanation of how and why the South African liberation movement is looking for both moral and material support during and after the struggle.
The ideology of North Korean nationalists is commonly named Juche, translated as “independence.” Juche calls for the development of a country of political and military independence and economic ingenuity. This is an ideology van der Hoog explains that it resonated with the African liberation movement.
Opinions are divided on whether Juche retains traces of Marxist ideological roots. Some argue that it has evolved into merely a propaganda tool in favour of the authoritarian rule of North Korea's Kim dynasty.
Nevertheless, the effects were felt in Africa. North Korea sponsored 30 Juche Learning Centres during the Cold War. Liberation activists traveled the continent to learn about this South Korean ideology and how it applies to their own country's struggles.
As Van Del Hoog points out, “Political independence and formal diplomatic relations with North Korea were the requirements for establishing and funding Juche's learning centres, until the end of the Cold War, where North Korea had no money to fund these operations.” When these countries were liberated in 1990 and 1994, it was in a way too late. ”
Aid to Africa
Yush's learning centre wasn't the only weapons of North Korean propaganda Arsenal. Pyongyang was also ready to expand its aid to friends in Africa after its liberation.
In Lesotho, North Korea built a national stadium, ran a vegetable farm, and experimented with corn production. In Seychelles, the country has donated cement for housing projects and tractors for agricultural development.
This aid often targeted countries that affected the continent's liberation movement.
Both the organisation of the Liberation Committee for African Unity and Tanzania, which hosted Ghana, home to Kwame Nkulma's African Issues Aid Bureau, received agricultural assistance. After its release, the previous “frontline states” of Angola, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Zambia all received support.
Still, North Korea's aid efforts have been far too often unsuccessful. Limited programs had little impact. In Ghana, despite the lofty hopes of Ghana and the North Korean government, “the actual outcome was disastrous,” says Vander Hoogue.
Gun barrel
Although aid played a role in solidifying relationships, what impacts were limited, the core of the relationship was military training and hardware. Military support was originally directed towards the liberation struggle against colonialism, but continued to support African allies after its liberation.
The second theme of the book, Bullets, watches the most embarrassing episode that occurred after Zimbabwe achieved independence.
At the time of its liberation, Zimbabwe was divided into two main combat forces: the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) and the Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU). Zanu, led by Robert Mugabe, was recruited primarily from the majority of Shona people, but Zap gained the largest support in Matabeleland, located in the country's southwest.
Mugabe, who took over as prime minister in 1980, signed an agreement with North Korean leader Kim Il in October that year to have a Zimbabwean military brigade on North Korean military trains.
The competition between Zanu and Zapu intensified after independence and exploded in January 1983. In 1983, violent crackdowns by the infamous North Korean-trained Fifth Brigade began purge Zapu's “opposition.”
In Matabeleland Ndebele, combat age men were considered potential “opposition” and were guilty of destructive activities. Most of the detained, who were not executed immediately, marched into reeducation camps.
The result was one of the bloodiest and most shameful episodes of North Korea's African involvement. The consensus of the International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS) is that over 20,000 people have been killed in what is known as the Gucula Handy – almost “cleansing rain” in Shona – exceeds the death toll in Matabeleland during the liberation struggle.
Self-glory
Detailing the violent depths of the relationship, Vander Hoogue turns North Korea's visual propaganda, particularly the way statues influenced African iconography. The Hermit Kingdom supported the design and influence of African statues, commemorations and buildings, lionizing heroic African leaders and their people in the style familiar to Pyongyang city.
Van Del Hoog commented: “In recent years, several impressive monuments have been constructed across the continent that advocates a confident vision of African identity.
The central focus of these projects is the North Korean studio, Mansudhae Overseas Project (MOP). North Korean statues appear in Maputo, Mozambique (Zamora Macher). Gaboron (the three dikgosi monuments) in Botswana; in Luanda, Angola (Agostinhonet).
The Spirits and Cemeteries for Fallen Liberation Heroes are also the focus of North Korea's design in Africa.
Exploitation and crime
Given that aggressive militarism and propaganda have always been holding hands in the Hermit Kingdom, it is a bit surprising that North Korea's influence in Africa is often overwhelmingly negative. Whenever a North Korean command economy fails were booked, the state has turned to illegal revenue generation such as counterfeiting, drug dealings, trade in African ivory, rhinohorns and other criminal enterprises.
These criminal enterprises, the atrocities of the Kim administration, and the country's quest for nuclear weapons, made North Korea a pariah. As a result, the era of liberation and its direct aftermath now appears to be a high-water mark of limited modern values and relations with Africa.
Comrades Beyond the Cold War: Liberation of North Korea and South Africa
Tycho van der Hoog
£25 hearst
ISBN: 978-1-80526-278-7
