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2017-01-17 The American Known in North Korea, at the DMZ

 


I joined the Asia Leadership Trek on a visit to the DMZ (I think this was my fourth or fifth trip to the DMZ). A US soldier giving us a special tour of the DMZ recognized me. Haha! That's funny. Then another US military person recognized me. 

Haha! Go to the DMZ, get recognized. I bet that happens all of the time. 

Then one of the soldiers mentioned that the North Korean snipers on the other side of the DMZ use facial recognition, and that I might want to be careful. Some of us were laughing, but he said that I had become a public figure and that North Korea might want to take a shot at me. I was waiting for him to turn to the others and laugh, but he had a poker face.

The other members of the Asia Leadership Trek were in awe of me, but I also noticed they didn't want to stand between me and North Korea. They were probably also rethinking their decision to invite me to join the trip.

A few years ago, I was profiled in the Asia Catalyst as "The American Known in North Korea." (see page 32)

I haven't been back to the DMZ since then, and have turned down a few opportunities to go.

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The American Known in North Korea


Link to the Asia Catalyst article, "The American Known in North Korea."

"Have I been targeted by North Korea?" (The Korea Times, 2014-07-29)

"Dear Readers: I'm on North Korea's enemies list." (The Korea Times, 2014-02-24)


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