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Muggwoffin53 karma

Hi Greg, I have three questions:

1. Can you share with us any more lines from the original script, the one that hadn't been revised by someone with a better grasp of English than Tommy? Those were some of my favourite moments in your book.

2. What is the dynamic like between you and Tommy these days? I'm just curious whether or not the years of touring have made you sick of each other.

3. I met you just last week in Edinburgh, thanks for being such a stellar guy and talking with us for so long! What the hell was the flavour of the chocolate bar you were eating? It tasted bizarre.

Muggwoffin22 karma

In the context of the North Korean situation, I think that tourism is ultimately helpful: the state exists in an anomalous situation wherein state philosophy relies on a demonisation of westerners whilst western funds (some of which come through tourism) ultimately support the state.

Through visits to the country the local populace, as least those fortunate enough to live along the strictly delineated North Korean tourist trail, can observe westerners and this undermines much of the official propaganda: that the West loathes North Korea, that Westerners are impoverished etc.

It's widely believed that most financial and direct aid assistance gets funnelled back into the elite, but we continue to give this aid because at least some of it gets to the intended source. I believe the same rationale can be applied to North Korean tourism.

Muggwoffin14 karma

Firstly I would like to thank you for your work in bringing wider recognition to the human rights abuses of North Korea.

I would like to ask how you feel about Andrei Lankov's suggestion that the regime is frightened by prosecution and clings to power for that reason, specifically I would like to know how you feel about his suggestion that the best way to bring about a non-violent collapse of the regime is to offer amnesty to the North Korean elite?