Category Archive: China

Aug 31

Kim’s returns from China – Details come together

Categories:

China, Kim Jong-Il, Kim Jong-Un, North Korea, Succession

August 31, 2010

Kim Jong-Il returns from his sudden trip to China — a snub to former US President Jimmy Carter, who arrived in Pyongyang to secure the release of prisoner Aijalon Gomes at the same time Kim left North Korea. 11 high ranking officials travelled with Kim, including Jang Sung-thaek, the “shadow” 2nd in command, brother-in-law to Kim Jong-Il, and Kim Jong-Un’s appointed caretaker.

It was not officially announced that Kim Jong-Un was with the delegation, but speculators believe he was there to be introduced to the Chinese leadership. This would make sense as his caretaker was there, along with many other high level officials — the meeting could possibly have been to establish trust and elminate Chinese concern in the North Korea leadership succession. If this is the case, it seems likely that China approved of the transition.

Source: DailyNK / The Chosun Ilbo

Permanent link to this article: http://www.openingupnorthkorea.com/archives/335

Aug 27

Carter, Gomes depart from Pyongyang

Categories:

China, Kim Jong-Il, Kim Jong-Un, North Korea, Propaganda

August 27, 2010

Early friday morning, former US President Jimmy Carter got on a plane with a healthy and smiling Aijalon Gomes. Gomes was sentenced to 8 years in a labour camp and $700000 for illegally trespassing into North Korea from the Chinese border. Gomes appears to be in good health, however Robert Park, who was friends with Gomes, and trespassed into the North one month earlier, required psychiatric assistance after his release from the DPRK. It might be some time before we see any sort of interview from Gomes, but time will tell. Carter likely did not get an opportunity to meet leader Kim Jong-Il, who departed for China suddenly (possibly with heir apparent son, Kim Jong-Un) with speculations abound on his intentions.

Source: CNN

Permanent link to this article: http://www.openingupnorthkorea.com/archives/322

Aug 26

Carter to stay in Pyongyang an extra day – awaiting Kim?

Categories:

China, Kim Jong-Il, North Korea, Propaganda

August 26, 2010

Yonhap reports that former US president Jimmy Carter has decided to stay an extra day in Pyongyang, after travelling to the North Korea capital to secure the release of Aijalon Gomes. While nothing official states that Carter is waiting around for Kim Jong-Il to return from his sudden trip to China, it’s certainly the only logical reason he could have for sticking around. More head games from Kim?

Source: Yonhap News

Permanent link to this article: http://www.openingupnorthkorea.com/archives/320

Aug 26

Kim Jong-Il visiting China again – with Kim Jong-Un in tow?

Categories:

China, Kim Il-Sung, Kim Jong-Il, Kim Jong-Un, North Korea, Succession

August 26, 2010

Making his second trip to China since May, Kim Jong-Il has departed by train while former US president Jimmy Carter is in Pyongyang. Though details aren’t clear, Kim Sr. is already touring the middle school of his father Kim Il-Sung. South Korean media is reporting that heir apparent Kim Jong-Un is also travelling with Jong-Il, but this and the visit’s intentions are all entirely up for speculation. It is interesting to note that the Worker’s Party meeting, in which Kim Jr. is expected to be tapped for a high position in the party, is less than 2 weeks away. The elusive son is rarely presented in photographs (aside from pictures from his youth), so it will be interesting to see if any media images leak out as a result of this trip.

Jimmy Carter expected to meet Kim Jong-Il personally during his visit to free Aijalon Gomes, so it is also interesting that Kim’s rare trip out of the country coincides with this event.

Source: Yahoo! News via. AFP

Permanent link to this article: http://www.openingupnorthkorea.com/archives/316

Aug 23

Foreign Accounts – Westerners in the DPRK

Categories:

China, Military, North Korea, Russia, South Korea, Tourism, USA

August 23, 2010

These are folks who have travelled through North Korea whether as tourists, undercover journalists, or businessmen. Their tales give you a real feeling for what it must be like as an outsider inside the reclusive country. Reading these accounts is an easy way to get an idea of North Korea’s isolationist principles if you’re new to the subject. And I will update and bump this post as I come across more!

Five Days in Pyongyang – An American businessman is on a White House assembled business delegation to Pyongyang. Interesting for his insights and observations.

Don Parrish, a man who has been everywhere, gives his account of the typical “Arirang” tour through Pyongyang. Chock full of good information for newcomers on the subject. Great photos too.

The Forbidden Railway: Vienna – Pyongyang – As the title suggests, this unique trip involved taking a series of trains from Vienna, through Russia, straight into North Korea. Typically, such methods of travel for Westerners is forbidden, but this brave/crazy guy slipped under the radar and managed to spend 36 hours in the isolated state.

DPRK Travel – 2004 If you’ve watched the “Friends With Kim” documentary from the Documentaries section of this site, this is the photo blog from one of the featured tourists.

DPRK Travel – 2005 The first year NK opened up to American tourism for the Arirang Mass Games. Our friend from the North Korean Economy Watch returns to the DPRK after just one year.

Permanent link to this article: http://www.openingupnorthkorea.com/archives/646

Aug 23

Severe flooding continues along China/NK border

Categories:

China, North Korea

August 23, 2010

The displacement count of people evacuated due to flooding has reached over 250000 people in China. In Sinuiju City in bordering North Korea, it has been reported that over 5000 people have been evacuated due to severe flooding that has no end in sight.

Source: Yahoo! News

Permanent link to this article: http://www.openingupnorthkorea.com/archives/298

Aug 18

North Korean MiG crashes in China

Categories:

China, Defection, North Korea, War

August 18, 2010

A North Korean MiG fighter jet crashed in China on Tuesday, roughly 150km north of the border. Though many details remain unclear, speculation is that the pilot was attempting to defect to Russia, was way off course, and ran out of fuel. The pilot died immediately. China is currently in communications with the DPRK about the incident. We are also unsure of whether the plane was a MiG 15, a Russian military relic used primarily for training, or the more combat-ready MiG 21 (though introduced in 1959 and retired by the Russians in ’90).

Permanent link to this article: http://www.openingupnorthkorea.com/archives/262

Aug 09

More details on seized fishing vessel

Categories:

China, Military, North Korea, South Korea, War

August 9, 2010

A number of media outlets reported this weekend on the seizure of a North Korean fishing vessel. The North has been completely mum on the issue; appeals from Seoul for the safe return of the vessel and her crew have gone unanswered. The ship, the “Daeseung”, was crewed by 4 South Koreans and 3 Chinese civilians, so it will be interesting to see China’s reaction to this movie. The ship was believed to be in disputed waters, and the last communication with the boat was made at 4:45PM (Korea time), just a few hours after responding affirmatively to a SK Fisheries department asking “Are you now being towed by a North Korean patrol ship?”.

Source: DailyNK

Permanent link to this article: http://www.openingupnorthkorea.com/archives/221

Jul 29

Shanghai to Pyongyang twice weekly via Air Koryo

Categories:

China, Economy, North Korea, Tourism

July 29, 2010

Air Koryo has announced a new bi-weekly flight from Shanghai to Pyongyang. Perhaps nother route to promote tourism for the upcoming Arirang concerts in August?

Source: North Korean Economy Watch

Permanent link to this article: http://www.openingupnorthkorea.com/archives/114

Jul 29

NK-China sign economic co-operation accord

Categories:

China, Economy, North Korea

July 29, 2010

China has signed an agreement with North Korea to boost economic aid to the impoverished country, in exchange for a return to six party talks. This lends further evidence to the argument that if you want to injure Pyongyang, you need to start with China.

Source: Yahoo! News

Permanent link to this article: http://www.openingupnorthkorea.com/archives/112

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