All Things North Korea Thread

[China]

First hand new product North Korean remy human hair

If you look at the pictures at the link you start to wonder how many women were scalped to produce this hair.

Edited July 26, 2012 by China

[visionary]

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia-pacific/2012/07/2012728235918889905.html

Scores killed in North Korea floods

Flooding across North Korea this month has killed 88 people, left tens of thousands homeless and devastated

swathes of farmland, state media has said.

A week of floods "caused by typhoon and downpour ... claimed big human and material losses", Pyongyang's official news agency said on Saturday.

The new death toll was a dramatic increase from the figure of eight reported on Wednesday.

A total of 134 people were injured and almost 63,000 people were left homeless by the floods, which started on July 18, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported, with thousands of houses damaged or destroyed.

The biggest loss of human life was in two counties of South Pyongan province, which were hit by torrential rains on Monday and Tuesday, it said.

More than 30,000 hectares (74,000 acres) of land for growing crops was "washed away and buried" or "submerged", KCNA said, a blow for a state that is already beset by persistent severe food shortages.

[visionary]

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia-pacific/2012/07/2012729234548111653.html?utm_content=automate&utm_campaign=Trial6&utm_source=NewSocialFlow&utm_term=plustweets&utm_medium=MasterAccount

North Korea labels reform talks a 'daydream'

North Korea has denied reports from South Korea that major reforms are coming to Pyongyang, describing any potential policy changes in the communist state as a "foolish daydream".

Seoul commentators claimed the changes may have been implemented to set the stage for possible efforts by Swiss-educated Kim Jong-Un to open up the country to political or economic reforms.

A spokesman for the North's Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea, which is in charge of cross-border affairs, blasted such hopes as "ridiculous" and "ignorant" in an interview with state-run KCNA on Sunday.

"The puppet group [the South] ... tried to give [the] impression that the present leadership of the DPRK [North Korea] broke with the past. This is the height of ignorance," he said.

"To expect policy change and reform and opening from the DPRK is nothing but a foolish and silly dream, just like wanting the sun to rise in the west."

He also accused Seoul of trying to impose its capitalist system upon the North by "trumpeting reform and opening", adding, "there cannot be any slightest change in all policies" of the communist state.

[S.T.real,lights,out]

http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/08/17/13331864-women-allowed-on-bicycles-as-n-korea-turns-wheels-of-change?lite

Women allowed on bicycles as N. Korea turns wheels of change

In perhaps another sign that North Korean society is changing, Chinese media reported Friday that women are being allowed to ride bicycles for the first time for years.

Cycling for women was banned in 1996 because the activity wasn't regarded as sufficiently feminine by the male-dominated North Korean regime.

Yes!! They can finally ride bikes!!!

[Jumbo]

dead dead dead,

dead dead dead,

dead dead dead,

yup, still dead.

[Predicto]

http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/08/17/13331864-women-allowed-on-bicycles-as-n-korea-turns-wheels-of-change?lite

Women allowed on bicycles as N. Korea turns wheels of change

In perhaps another sign that North Korean society is changing, Chinese media reported Friday that women are being allowed to ride bicycles for the first time for years.

Cycling for women was banned in 1996 because the activity wasn't regarded as sufficiently feminine by the male-dominated North Korean regime.

Yes!! They can finally ride bikes!!!

[thebluefood]

Progress!

---------- Post added August-17th-2012 at 01:18 PM ----------

dead dead dead,

dead dead dead,

dead dead dead,

yup, still dead.

But dear leader lives on in all of our hearts, Jumbo.

[Dan T.]

I was going on this picture posted above, where his head appears to be fully double the size of anyone else in sight.

http://s3-ec.buzzfed.com/static/enhanced/web05/2012/7/25/10/enhanced-buzz-4261-1343225329-0.jpg

WTF, Kim can't get a better tailor? Or is he expecting to eventually grow into those big boy pants?

[visionary]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/20/kim-jong-un-family-photo_n_1812069.html?utm_hp_ref=tw

Kim Jong Un Family Photo: North Korean Leader Poses With Terrified-Looking Family

While much of North Korea remains shrouded in mystery, the country's young leader Kim Jong Un has tried to cast his country in a different light than under his notorious father Kim Jong Il.

Kim the junior recently made a public appearance with his wife, Ri Sol Ju, at an amusement park, where they saw dolphins and rode a few rides. The young leader appeared to be having the time of his life on one particular ride.

In an equally surprising turn, North Korean TV recently broadcast Disney characters, something atypical for the Western-averse, state-run media.

All signs point to Kim Jong Un trying to present a cuddlier, more family-friendly image to the world.

And that's why this photo is such an epic fail. Look for yourself:

[Bang]

Yikes. The woman with the kid in front looks like if the kid squirms anymore she's going to get sent to the gulag.

In other news, the earler claim has been proven. The Title of World's Largest Head is his unanimously.

~Bang

[Dan T.]

That photo is chilling. They are all silently screaming "Why us? Just hold it together another few seconds and this nightmare will be over." And who let the old military guy into the shot?

[Predicto]

Sadly, by highlighting the absurdity of the picture out to the entire world, the Huffington Post has probably just consigned these poor people to the gulag. The regime definitely will find "not being enthusiastic enough when near the Young Leader" to be a capitol offense.

[visionary]

Sadly, by highlighting the absurdity of the picture out to the entire world, the Huffington Post has probably just consigned these poor people to the gulag. The regime definitely will find "not being enthusiastic enough when near the Young Leader" to be a capitol offense.

Stuff (the picture) like that doesn't stay hidden on the internet for long.

Edited August 30, 2012 by visionary

[Dan T.]

Sadly, by highlighting the absurdity of the picture out to the entire world, the Huffington Post has probably just consigned these poor people to the gulag. The regime definitely will find "not being enthusiastic enough when near the Young Leader" to be a capitol offense.

Which, to contemplate in the 21st century, is a goddamned shame.

In other news, the earler claim has been proven. The Title of World's Largest Head is his unanimously.

~Bang

Which makes for an extra large target.

[The 12th Commandment]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/in-authoritarian-north-korea-hints-of-reform/2012/09/03/bb5d95ce-f275-11e1-adc6-87dfa8eff430_story.html?hpid=z1

The changes, which allow farmers to keep more of their crops and sell surpluses in the private market, are in the experimental stage and are easily reversible, analysts caution. But even skeptical North Korea watchers say that Kim’s emerging policies and style — and his frank acknowledgment of the country’s economic problems — hint at an economic opening similar to China’s in the late 1970s.

- more at link

See my earlier comments. Hope it keeps up.

Edited September 4, 2012 by KAOSkins

[HogNose]

Over/Under on how long the chef lasts after returning? :doh:

Kim Jong Il's sushi chef returns after fleeing for life

(CNN) -- Not many people get a personal invitation to visit North Korea's new leader Kim Jong Un.

Kenji Fujimoto was the personal sushi chef of Kim's father, the late Kim Jong Il, before fleeing to his native Japan in 2001, fearing his life was in danger.

More than a decade later, he returned to North Korea and described a warm reunion with the young Kim. "I jumped up to hug him, shouting 'Comrade General' and instantly burst into tears ... He hugged me back, the first hug in 11 years. I said, 'Fujimoto the betrayer is back now,' and I apologized for all I did and all I disclosed about him. He said, 'OK, don't worry anymore.'"

continued at link

http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/19/world/asia/north-korea-chef/index.html?hpt=hp_c2

Edited September 19, 2012 by HogNose

[visionary]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/23/us-korea-north-agriculture-idUSBRE88M0EC20120923

Exclusive: North Korea plans agriculture reforms - source

North Korea plans to allow farmers to keep more of their produce in an attempt to boost agricultural output, a source with close ties to Pyongyang and Beijing said, in a move that could boost supplies, help cap rising food prices and ease malnutrition.

The move to liberalize agriculture under new leader Kim Jong-un, who took office in December 2011 after the death of his father, would reverse a crackdown on private production that started in 2005. It comes amid talk that the youngest Kim to rule the impoverished North is considering reforms to boost the economy.

"Peasants will have incentive to grow more food. They can keep and sell in the market about 30-50 percent of their harvest depending on the region," said the source.

At present, most farm output is sold to the government at a state auction price that has diverged from the market rate.

[Hubbs]

I believe the Soviet Union enacted the exact same reform in its final years....

[FanboyOf91]

I believe the Soviet Union enacted the exact same reform in its final years....

yeah, but I doubt the NK government (military, really) is going to collapse anytime soon. Who would replace them?

Edited September 24, 2012 by FanboyOf91

[Hubbs]

yeah, but I doubt the NK government (military, really) is going to collapse anytime soon. Who would replace them?

My guess is that when the NK collapse finally comes, nobody will see it coming. It'll probably take the form of an attempted coup that, "successful" or not, effectively splits the military into factions that prevent each other from gaining complete control. Everything will fall apart quickly from there. (Yes, I know that plenty of people have been making that prediction for years. I'm not claiming to be original here. I just agree with the line of reasoning that leads to that expectation.)

[The 12th Commandment]

Sometimes people really do get the right leader at the right time. A good "king" can do wonders for a country it's just not a system that works in the long term. I get the feeling that Dear Son is that leader. He's doing everything right, at least from my limited perception, to gently turn things around and effect change, while keeping control. Think about the difficulty in doing that and the slow, well thought out planning and scheming that would have to done in order to be successful at it.

Never hurts to be an optimist when you can.

[visionary]

https://twitter.com/AP

BREAKING: South Korean official: North Korean soldier defects to South Korea across heavily armed border

1:41 AM

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_KOREAS_DEFECTOR?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

NKorean soldier defects to SKorea across border

An official says a North Korean soldier has killed two of his officers and defected to South Korea across their heavily armed border.

A South Korean Defense Ministry official says the defection took place around noon Saturday across the western section of the Demilitarized Zone.

Edited October 6, 2012 by visionary

[visionary]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/09/us-korea-north-idUSBRE89802X20121009

Isolated North Korea says its rockets can hit U.S. mainland

Isolated North Korea has rockets that can hit the U.S. mainland, it said on Tuesday, two days after South Korea struck a deal with the United States to extend the range of its ballistic missiles.

North and South Korea have been technically at war since their 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce, not a peace treaty, and regional powers have for years been trying to rein in the North's nuclear weapons program.

North Korea is believed to be developing a long-range missile with a range of 6,700 km (4,160) miles) or more aimed at hitting the United States, but two recent rocket tests both failed.

Its neighbors fear the North is using rocket launches to perfect technology to build a missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead to the United States.

North Korea's National Defence Commission said in a statement that the North was prepared to counter any U.S. military threats, its KCNA news agency said.

"We do not hide (the fact) that the revolutionary armed forces ... including the strategic rocket forces are keeping within the scope of strike not only the bases of the puppet forces and the U.S. imperialist aggression forces' bases in the inviolable land of Korea, but also Japan, Guam and the U.S. mainland," KCNA said.

[AsburySkinsFan]

Their missles couldn't hit the Pacific ocean if they aimed for it.

[DeaconBlue]

Their missles couldn't hit the Pacific ocean if they aimed for it.

Maybe they won't "aim" at us? ; )