"One–eyed Person Passes the Test" by Do Myeong-hak   By Do Myeong-hak on Feb 17 2015 09:23:09 Vol.26 Winter 2014 One–eyed Person Passes the Test                                                                  by Do Myeong-hak   Though I’m one-eyed and unable to go to the army my lot is better. Classmates who used to mock me for being one-eyed are being tortured in the army. I do business, have love affairs, enjoy my life as it is.   Why has the party secretary called me suddenly? They say a one-eyed guy like me can go to the army. Hey, these are strange times. Though I have no left eye, I can shoot all right. If I had the right eye, I’d just pass the test!   The eyeball is like a bullet for a regular army. One must dedicate to Kim Jong-il even the one eye left. Now my lot is that of a dog without eyes.   adapted from North Korean Writers in Exile PEN Literature (2014 1st Issue p. 94)   * At the beginning of 2000, North Korea could not fulfill the needs of its armed forces so it lowered the standards for its recruits. Those with only a right eye passed the test because they could still shoot a gun.   Twitter Facebook Google Email .