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| Visit by Google Chairman May Benefit North Korea | Visit by Google Chairman May Benefit North Korea |
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| BEIJING — As a work of propaganda, the images that North Korea circulated this week showing Google’s executive chairman, Eric E. Schmidt, touring a high-tech incubation center are hard to beat. | BEIJING — As a work of propaganda, the images that North Korea circulated this week showing Google’s executive chairman, Eric E. Schmidt, touring a high-tech incubation center are hard to beat. |
| With former Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico at his side, Mr. Schmidt, who is fond of describing the Internet as the enemy of despots, toured what was presented as the hub of the computer industry in one of the world’s most pitiless police states. Both men gazed attentively as a select group of North Koreans showed their ability to surf the Web. | With former Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico at his side, Mr. Schmidt, who is fond of describing the Internet as the enemy of despots, toured what was presented as the hub of the computer industry in one of the world’s most pitiless police states. Both men gazed attentively as a select group of North Koreans showed their ability to surf the Web. |
| It is unclear what the famously hermetic North Koreans hoped to accomplish by allowing the visit. But the photos of the billionaire entrepreneur taking the time to visit the nation’s computer labs were bound to be useful to a new national leader whom analysts say needs to show his people that their impoverished nation is moving forward. | It is unclear what the famously hermetic North Koreans hoped to accomplish by allowing the visit. But the photos of the billionaire entrepreneur taking the time to visit the nation’s computer labs were bound to be useful to a new national leader whom analysts say needs to show his people that their impoverished nation is moving forward. |
| It will matter little, those experts say, that the visitors were bundled against the cold, indoors — a sign of the country’s extreme privation — or that the vast majority of North Koreans have no access to computers, much less the Web beyond their country’s tightly controlled borders. | It will matter little, those experts say, that the visitors were bundled against the cold, indoors — a sign of the country’s extreme privation — or that the vast majority of North Koreans have no access to computers, much less the Web beyond their country’s tightly controlled borders. |
| The men’s quixotic four-day trip ended Thursday much the way it began, with some analysts calling the visit hopelessly naïve and others describing it as valuable back-channel diplomacy at a time when Washington and Pyongyang are not on speaking terms (again). | The men’s quixotic four-day trip ended Thursday much the way it began, with some analysts calling the visit hopelessly naïve and others describing it as valuable back-channel diplomacy at a time when Washington and Pyongyang are not on speaking terms (again). |
| “I’m still spinning my wheels to figure out a plausible motivation for why they went,” said Daniel Pinkston, a North Korea specialist at the International Crisis Group. | “I’m still spinning my wheels to figure out a plausible motivation for why they went,” said Daniel Pinkston, a North Korea specialist at the International Crisis Group. |
| Mr. Schmidt and Mr. Richardson insist they accomplished some good — showing the world has not forgotten the plight of an American detained in the North, and at least trying to nudge the tightly sealed nation a bit closer to the fold of globally connected nations. | Mr. Schmidt and Mr. Richardson insist they accomplished some good — showing the world has not forgotten the plight of an American detained in the North, and at least trying to nudge the tightly sealed nation a bit closer to the fold of globally connected nations. |
| “As the world becomes increasingly connected, their decision to be virtually isolated is very much going to affect their physical world, their economic growth and so forth,” Mr. Schmidt told reporters after arriving at Beijing International Airport. “We made that alternative very, very clear.” | “As the world becomes increasingly connected, their decision to be virtually isolated is very much going to affect their physical world, their economic growth and so forth,” Mr. Schmidt told reporters after arriving at Beijing International Airport. “We made that alternative very, very clear.” |
| The unofficial visit, however, raised hackles in Washington, and provided rich fodder for commentators and comedians. Even before the Americans left Pyongyang, someone created an account on Tumblr, the popular social blogging site, called “Eric Schmidt looking at things,” that parodied sites (themselves parodies) featuring the country’s leaders earnestly inspecting livestock, soldiers or leather insoles. (Mr. Schmidt is shown looking intently at computer screens, “the back of a North Korean Student,” and Mr. Richardson.) | The unofficial visit, however, raised hackles in Washington, and provided rich fodder for commentators and comedians. Even before the Americans left Pyongyang, someone created an account on Tumblr, the popular social blogging site, called “Eric Schmidt looking at things,” that parodied sites (themselves parodies) featuring the country’s leaders earnestly inspecting livestock, soldiers or leather insoles. (Mr. Schmidt is shown looking intently at computer screens, “the back of a North Korean Student,” and Mr. Richardson.) |
| Others were less kind. Senator John McCain, Republican of Arizona, took to Twitter to call the self-appointed delegation “useful idiots,” and John R. Bolton, a former United Nations ambassador, said the delegation was unwittingly feeding the North Korean propaganda mill as it sought to burnish the credentials of Kim Jung-un, the nation’s leader, who is in his 20s. | Others were less kind. Senator John McCain, Republican of Arizona, took to Twitter to call the self-appointed delegation “useful idiots,” and John R. Bolton, a former United Nations ambassador, said the delegation was unwittingly feeding the North Korean propaganda mill as it sought to burnish the credentials of Kim Jung-un, the nation’s leader, who is in his 20s. |
| “Pyongyang uses gullible Americans for its own purposes,” Mr. Bolton wrote in The New York Daily News. | “Pyongyang uses gullible Americans for its own purposes,” Mr. Bolton wrote in The New York Daily News. |
| The State Department said it did not think the timing of the visit was “particularly helpful,” given efforts by the United States to rally international support for tougher sanctions following North Korea’s recent launching of a rocket that intelligence experts say could help in the development of missiles that could one day reach the United States. | |
| As if on cue, the North Korean news media hailed the visit by “the Google team” — which included Jared Cohen, who leads Google’s think tank — highlighting their visit to the mausoleum where Mr. Kim’s grandfather and father lie in state. There, Mr. Richardson and Mr. Schmidt “expressed admiration and paid respect to Comrade Kim Il-sung and Comrade Kim Jong-il,” the North’s main party newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, said. | As if on cue, the North Korean news media hailed the visit by “the Google team” — which included Jared Cohen, who leads Google’s think tank — highlighting their visit to the mausoleum where Mr. Kim’s grandfather and father lie in state. There, Mr. Richardson and Mr. Schmidt “expressed admiration and paid respect to Comrade Kim Il-sung and Comrade Kim Jong-il,” the North’s main party newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, said. |
| Although Mr. Richardson did not address the criticism during his brief remarks to reporters on Thursday in Beijing, he said he believed his visit was helpful in reducing tensions on the Korean Peninsula. | Although Mr. Richardson did not address the criticism during his brief remarks to reporters on Thursday in Beijing, he said he believed his visit was helpful in reducing tensions on the Korean Peninsula. |
| The delegation did not meet with the detained American, Kenneth Bae, a tour operator from Washington who has been accused of “hostile acts,” but Mr. Richardson said he received assurances that Mr. Bae was being treated well and that judicial proceedings would begin soon. | The delegation did not meet with the detained American, Kenneth Bae, a tour operator from Washington who has been accused of “hostile acts,” but Mr. Richardson said he received assurances that Mr. Bae was being treated well and that judicial proceedings would begin soon. |
| A number of North Korean analysts said that Mr. Richardson — who has made several visits to Pyongyang — should be commended for his efforts on behalf of Mr. Bae. “It sends an important message that people outside his family care about his fate,” said John Feffer, at the Institute for Policy Studies in Washington. | A number of North Korean analysts said that Mr. Richardson — who has made several visits to Pyongyang — should be commended for his efforts on behalf of Mr. Bae. “It sends an important message that people outside his family care about his fate,” said John Feffer, at the Institute for Policy Studies in Washington. |
| Mr. Richardson said that he was invited by North Koreans whom he had met before, and that he extended an invitation to Mr. Schmidt. | Mr. Richardson said that he was invited by North Koreans whom he had met before, and that he extended an invitation to Mr. Schmidt. |
| Known for his independent streak, Mr. Schmidt appears to have drawn the lion’s share of criticism for a trip that some have described as an act of vanity, or worse, hubris. | Known for his independent streak, Mr. Schmidt appears to have drawn the lion’s share of criticism for a trip that some have described as an act of vanity, or worse, hubris. |
| It is not the first time his personal ventures have distracted from company business. Privately, some Google executives say his activities, both political and personal, have at times become public relations headaches. An avid fund-raiser for President Obama, Mr. Schmidt was seen at election parties at a time when Google was embroiled in an antitrust investigation by the federal government. | |
| For Mr. Kim, who did not meet the delegation, the trip appeared to have no downsides. | |
| In the year since Mr. Kim became supreme leader, North Korea has been trying to build his image as a youthful, people-friendly modernist who understands the benefits of technology better than his late father. Analysts say the Google visit, coupled with the successful rocket launch, provide his image makers plenty of raw material. “Kim Jong-un wants to show to the outside world that he is not as isolated and reclusive as is often believed,” said Kim Yong-hyun, a North Korea specialist at Dongguk University in Seoul. | In the year since Mr. Kim became supreme leader, North Korea has been trying to build his image as a youthful, people-friendly modernist who understands the benefits of technology better than his late father. Analysts say the Google visit, coupled with the successful rocket launch, provide his image makers plenty of raw material. “Kim Jong-un wants to show to the outside world that he is not as isolated and reclusive as is often believed,” said Kim Yong-hyun, a North Korea specialist at Dongguk University in Seoul. |
| Mr. Kim spent some of his teenage years at a Swiss boarding school, where he was exposed to Western culture and technology. At home, he has emphasized science and technology to help build “a strong and prosperous nation.” He wants to computerize the country’s antiquated factories, many of which have been idled by a lack of fuel and raw materials. He has even stressed following “global trends” by reaching out to other countries and using the Internet to acquire technological know-how from overseas. Last November, he recommended horseback riding to offset the occupational hazards of working with computers. | Mr. Kim spent some of his teenage years at a Swiss boarding school, where he was exposed to Western culture and technology. At home, he has emphasized science and technology to help build “a strong and prosperous nation.” He wants to computerize the country’s antiquated factories, many of which have been idled by a lack of fuel and raw materials. He has even stressed following “global trends” by reaching out to other countries and using the Internet to acquire technological know-how from overseas. Last November, he recommended horseback riding to offset the occupational hazards of working with computers. |
| Despite such talk, the government remains openly hostile toward the Internet; the country is a reliable member of the annual “Enemies of the Internet” report issued each year by Reporters Without Borders. And under Mr. Kim, North Korea has intensified a crackdown on other forms of outside information, including the DVDs and thumb drives smuggled from China that often carry banned South Korean soap operas. | Despite such talk, the government remains openly hostile toward the Internet; the country is a reliable member of the annual “Enemies of the Internet” report issued each year by Reporters Without Borders. And under Mr. Kim, North Korea has intensified a crackdown on other forms of outside information, including the DVDs and thumb drives smuggled from China that often carry banned South Korean soap operas. |
| Given the government’s obsession with keeping out any information that could undermine its grip on power or the Kim family’s personality cult, analysts say North Korea is unlikely to embrace Mr. Schmidt’s global connectivity dream any time soon. | Given the government’s obsession with keeping out any information that could undermine its grip on power or the Kim family’s personality cult, analysts say North Korea is unlikely to embrace Mr. Schmidt’s global connectivity dream any time soon. |
| “When Kim Jong-un talks about using the Internet, he means a one-way traffic of information: getting information North Korea needs,” said Kim Kwang-in, head of the North Korea Strategy Center, a research institute in Seoul. “It does not mean North Korea will open itself up to the Internet. It is not ready to — and cannot — adopt such reforms yet.” | “When Kim Jong-un talks about using the Internet, he means a one-way traffic of information: getting information North Korea needs,” said Kim Kwang-in, head of the North Korea Strategy Center, a research institute in Seoul. “It does not mean North Korea will open itself up to the Internet. It is not ready to — and cannot — adopt such reforms yet.” |
Choe Sang-Hun contributed reporting from Seoul, South Korea, Claire Cain Miller from San Francisco, and Edward Wong from Beijing. | Choe Sang-Hun contributed reporting from Seoul, South Korea, Claire Cain Miller from San Francisco, and Edward Wong from Beijing. |
| This article has been revised to reflect the following correction: | |
| Correction: January 11, 2013 | |
An earlier version of this article paraphrased incorrectly State Department comments about the visit to North Korea by Mr. Schmidt and Mr. Richardson. The Department said it did not think the timing of the visit was “particularly helpful.” It did not call the visit “not particularly helpful.” |