Welcome to Double Take. I'm Les Silers. Today we're going to air the first of a two-part series I hosted called The Freedom Show.

It first aired last fall on The World and Everything in it. People really seem to enjoy it, so we decided to bring it back for this first season of Double Take.

Before we get going, I'll just mention that we'd really appreciate it if you would take a few minutes to rate and review double-take on your podcast app.

It makes a huge difference in helping other people find our show.

And now, here's part one of the Freedom Show.

The new and deadly crackdown by Kim Jong-un.

Was executed in public, reportedly...

What if the Pyongyang is carrying out a purge.

...what says North Korea is still cheating sanctions and in...

...the most brutal, ruthless and dangerous dictatorship in the world...

...has a girl ban.

This is the Maranbaum band, about 20 members.

You'd expect North Korean music groups to be mainly military bands

performing odes to the Kim regime,

soundtracks for military parades and propaganda films.

These women do some of that,

but they also play electric guitars and synthesizers, along with violins and propaganda films. These women do some of that, but they also play

electric guitars and synthesizers along with violins and cellos. They have perky hairstyles,

sparkly dresses, and dance moves that are not too provocative. If a Baptist college put on a

cabaret, it would look a lot like this YouTube video. It's a tune called Let's Study.

The chorus goes, for those whose Korean is a little rusty, Let's Study.

Let's Study, Let's Study, Let's Study, for the benefit of our country.

...