Mick Hartley

With all the fuss over the Olympic torch, and its planned journey through Tibet, it’s worth noting that there’s at least one country en route where you can guarantee there won’t be any protests. Check the map and see if you can spot it. No, it’s not Taiwan – the Chinese made sure that was bypassed. Warm, though: it’s in that area of South Asia. Hint: the people there are inches shorter than their neighbours due to decades of malnutrition – a problem which doesn’t affect the party leaders. There’s serious evidence that political opponents of the regime are used as guinea pigs in chemical weapons tests. Not carrying around your portrait of the leader can result in imprisonment. Torture for prisoners is routine.

Yes, of course, it’s the prison camp of North Korea. The torch will pass through Pyongyang on April 28th.

Let’s hear Jacques Rogge, the IOC president:

The torch is the link between all athletes and citizens of this world… It has the force to unite humanity and to stand for harmony.

I doubt it’ll do much for the North Koreans.

[The Vice Guide to North Korea, a 14-part VBS TV production, can be seen here. I’ve only watched a few minutes, but there’s certainly some amazing footage in there.]