Title. In essence, I think it is backwards and chauvinistic to not support the DPRK as an actually existing socialist nation. I do not think you need to defend every action they take; some of their propagandist measures are extreme. However, to deny the immense strides they have made after a recent genocide and extensive sanctions is obtuse. They have managed to majorly industrialize to the extent that Pyongyang is now being referred to as "Pyonghattan" and have seen trememndous growth in some of the outerlying regions.
Despite this, you will see uneducated liberals and supposed "leftists" such as anarchists blatantly repeat CIA talking points such as having to "push trains". Further, their "war-mongering" in light of Iran has been proven to be what it always was; a desperate attempt against a superpower to ensure their economic and political independence and freedom.
The reality is that Juche Marxism has garnered levels of infrastructural, scientific, educational and public health achievements that would be unthinkable for a capitalist nation under the same economic restrictions and history. Its model of state-led industrialization, combined with social welfare, demonstrates that socialism is not a utopian dream, it is an experiment in collective advancement.
Marxism demands that we approach life through the lens of dialectical materialism; to deny North Korea its status as a developing socialist nation is to be reactionary.
I do not know how we undo the decades of anti-DPRK propaganda en-masse that is often times downright silly and absurd (ie. "North Koreans do not think that any nation exists outside of their borders" which is obviously untrue), but in order to shift the Overton window of normalizing relations with the DPRK, we would be best suited to start in our own backyard, socialist discourse.
this post was submitted on 12 Mar 2026
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stupidpol
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Claims of “major” achievements under sanctions ignore the reality of widespread poverty, food insecurity, and the regime’s reliance on informal markets and smuggling networks to keep the economy functioning. Outside of Pyongyang, malnutrition remains common and living standards are extremely low.
The regime’s priorities also reveal its real character. Enormous resources are diverted away from the public to maintain a nuclear arsenal and military apparatus. While this may be framed as protecting sovereignty, doing so at the expense of the population’s well-being and development is hardly something to celebrate.
I oppose war, though I recognize that even holding that position can be a privilege afforded by relative stability. The international system often resembles a jungle where power determines survival. But that reality does not justify authoritarian rule or the suppression of basic freedoms.
At the same time, modern democracies are not immune to serious vulnerabilities. Media manipulation, propaganda, and information warfare can distort public opinion and undermine democratic institutions. That is a real challenge for the future of democratic societies. However, those weaknesses should be addressed by strengthening democratic systems, not by abandoning them in favor of authoritarian rule.
And regardless of ideology, North Korea’s political structure bears little resemblance to socialist principles such as worker control or democratic ownership. Power is concentrated in a hereditary ruling family and a tightly controlled party elite.
Welcome to lemmy btw. We dont do stupid western propaganda here, sorry about the acidity. Have a nice day
Gee I wonder why lmao. It's not like there was a pedophile in charge in the US
Whatever reasons it has, it's important to realise what you are defending. Or what is left to defend.
Not the people. Those are tools for the supreme ruler.
I think the current discourse is very much propaganda driven by bots from all these "poor, sovereign, heroic underdog states" as the tone seems to suggest whenever I see these posts
yea we all know the real victims are white americans.
We got a little jeffreyislander over here lmao
Fkn peed'
Your assumptions are incorrect. Not American, in fact very much happy not to be in any way involved with the whole shit show. The news makes my skin crawl and my knowledge of the goings on on the early internet and darkweb makes me think we don't even get the accusations right; these people were making snuff films performing cannibalism you name it, I'm sure.
Not protecting whites either though I'm of the same complexion. I don't defend a lot of people anymore just what I believe in.
I do have some extreme emotions that lead me to think extreme things sometimes such as wipe the failed experiment Israel off the map and I hope the fanatics on both sides get it over with and completely cripple each other's existence
But then I realise what the fuck I want to smoke weed and play videogames, dance in the sun high as fuck and work a good job and maybe find a partner, not gloat over deaths of thousands.
Too much internet is fucked. It's why im here now. And seeing people defend totalitarian rulers under the delusion they are marxist, I do reply. Because its fucking dumb to say "see, they aren't crazy for wanting nukes" and then take a reasonable point like that and run with it all the way down into Hades with it