[Letters] Seeing the North as it is

Thank you for your courageous and insightful essay “Seeing evil where it exists” on May 26. I recently spent a year in South Korea, and I hated to leave. The Korean people are friendly and sincere, the cities are safe and clean, Hangul is a linguistic marvel, and the food is delicious. Also, the freedom of religion you enjoy is a priceless blessing.

In the United States we have a tradition of cowardly, self-proclaimed intellectuals rushing to the defense of mass-murdering tyrants. I can understand your sorrow and frustration as you witness this shameful spectacle in your country, albeit on a smaller scale.

The regime in the North is, of course, the evil flower of a seed planted by Joseph Stalin. People all over the world are hoping it can be uprooted without the tragedy of another Korean war.

Gregg Sharp,

United States