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There is a person who has received worldwide attention by delivering the daily life of North Korea through real-time SNS.
Colin Crooks, former British ambassador to North Korea.
In February, he was appointed to Seoul as an ambassador to Korea.
Let’s listen to the inside story of North Korea from Ambassador Crooks.
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A red brick house next to Deoksugung Palace that has remained unchanged for 130 years.
“Thank you for inviting me.” “Thank you for coming.”
British Ambassador Colin Crooks’ Korean was surprisingly fluent.
[콜린 크룩스/주한영국대사]
“I’m back in Korea following almost 25 years. I’m very happy to have the opportunity to come once more.”
For the Ambassador, Korea is special.
My first assignment as a diplomat was in Seoul, and I met my current wife at that time.
[콜린 크룩스/주한영국대사]
“I was going to leave Korea in 1998, but I didn’t want to leave because I liked Korea so much, so I asked the Ambassador to extend it for one year…”
Just before coming to South Korea, Ambassador Crooks was the ambassador to North Korea.
I withdrew from Pyongyang following a year and a half due to the corona lockdown policy, but I went to various places in North Korea whenever I had free time, posting photos and videos on social media.
[콜린 크룩스/주한영국대사]
“I went to almost all administrative districts in North Korea and went out to find out what the situation was in North Korea.
In such a situation, what was North Korea’s intention to insist on nuclear weapons?
[콜린 크룩스/주한영국대사]
“I think you think it’s security. But in reality, maintaining nuclear weapons is not the road to peace and prosperity, but I think the road to peace and prosperity is denuclearization.”
[콜린 크룩스/주한영국대사]
“I saw Kim Jong-un on stage only once. From a distance of 30 meters. I haven’t seen him other than that.”
Ambassador Crooks said he felt North Korea’s embarrassment, especially following the 2019 North Korea-US summit in Hanoi ended in catastrophe.
[콜린 크룩스/주한영국대사]
“Not only the North Korean people, but also the employees who work with our embassy were in great shock as their faces turned white. The North Korean regime seems to be shocked, including Kim Jong-un. I did not expect the breakdown of Hanoi (North Korea-US summit) completely. ”
What was the situation in North Korea, which locked its doors following Corona?
[콜린 크룩스/주한영국대사]
“That fact is believable. There was very little COVID-19.”
However, following the spread of Omicron, concerns are high.
[콜린 크룩스/주한영국대사]
“I’m worried regarding the humanitarian situation in North Korea. The mortality rate seems to be high because few people have been vaccinated and the facilities are poor.”
The Crooks ambassador did not miss out on cheering for Son Heung-min, who is active in England.
What would Korea be like for him to portray?
“I always want to go to every corner of Korea so that I can see a lot of this beautiful country as my second hometown.”
This is Lee Ji-sun from MBC News.
Video coverage: Lee Jong-hyuk, Jang Yeon-geun / Video editing: Jo Ki-beom
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