A disturbing snapshot of oppressive N. Korea

March 18, 2003|By Allan Johnson, Tribune television reporter.

Judging from the illuminating new documentary "Welcome to North Korea" (6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Cinemax), it looks as if America has every right for concern about North Korea's testing of nuclear weapons. It is truly one unhinged country.

How else to describe a place where the visage of its dictator -- who is seen as a god -- is on locations everywhere, and his people idolize and fear him.

The documentary, shot by Dutch journalist Peter Tetteroo after six years of trying to gain access, is a disquieting snapshot of a country still ruled by its oppressor, Kim II Sung, despite the fact that Sung has been dead since 1994. Sung's son, Kim Jong II, is proudly upholding the family tradition of subjugating some 20 million people.

Vast hotels are practically dormant, the streets are almost deserted because of poverty and energy sanctions, and people are eating clay to live. It is against the law to look foreigners in the eye, "tourists" are led by a "selected one" who makes sure people don't go where they're not supposed to, and see and hear nothing but propaganda.

"How these people cope with their fate is anybody's guess," says narrator John Swieringa.

Shot like a depressing travelogue/home movie, but with the quiet power of a "60 Minutes," "Welcome to North Korea" is anything but.

- The prodigal daughter returns on Fox's two-hour edition of "American Idol" (7 p.m. Tuesday, WFLD-Ch. 32). Winner Kelly Clarkson performs and joins finalist Justin Guarini, who will present clips from their movie "From Justin to Kelly: The Rise of an American Idol."

For this, Fox pre-empted "24" for a second straight week?