When the world learned of North Korean dictator Kim Jong il's death last week, mourning was not what most people in the United States or around the world were doing. In fact, behind closed doors there may have even been celebrations of his death. Former Presidential candidate and Senator John McCain recently said, "The world is a better place now that Kim Jong-il is no longer in it. I can only express satisfaction that the 'Dear Leader' is joining the likes of Gaddafi, bin Laden, Hitler and Stalin in a warm corner of hell."
The mode appears very different in North Korea or at least the people know what is in their best interest. In a nation where an estimated 200,000 North Koreans are held under brutal conditions in remote forced labor camps called kwan-li-so, the people have been conditioned to fear their leadership. You would be hard pressed to find someone in North Korea that has not witnessed dissidents imprisoned or killed for their lack of restraint. The fear of Kim Jong il and his family is so great that even after his death there is no chance of the people appearing relieved.
Korean people are typically very reserved with their emotion and the expression of emotion publicly is not seen as a positive characteristic. But when your life depends on you demonstrating loyalty to the "Supreme Leader" it becomes necessary for the people to behave as you will see in the video below. Additionally, Korea has a history of using professional mourners, because of their emotional reservations.
It would be a stretch to say all of those mourning in North Korea are hired professionals or mourning to demonstrate allegiance to the state. However, when the people are so oppressed that the freedom to express anything other then the government's messages would lead to death, then you really can't trust any message being sent, by the people or the government.
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