Category Archive: South Korea

Sep 04

While you were away…

Categories:

China, Kim Jong-Il, North Korea, Propaganda, South Korea, War

September 4, 2010

I’ve been busy with vacations and work lately, unfortunately not able to update as much as I’d like. Things should be normal now. Here’s what was missed:

Permanent link to this article: http://www.openingupnorthkorea.com/archives/340

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 19

South Korea pushes back psychological warfare… again

Categories:

Propaganda, South Korea

August 19, 2010

Our friends at the DailyNK report that the South has once again pushed back its plans to deploy loudspeakers along the DMZ. This measure was announced in response to the sinking of the Cheonan in March, and was supposed to resume in May. The date was pushed back to mid June, in hopes that the UN would rally against the North after the final report on the Cheonan was made available. Interest seemed to fade in July, and now it seems the loudspeakers will only begin broadcasting if the North creates more provocations. And even this will probably not resume until after the G20 summit in Seoul this November.

Source: DailyNK

Permanent link to this article: http://www.openingupnorthkorea.com/archives/270

Aug 18

Are South Koreans in danger of punishment for following NK on Twitter?

Categories:

North Korea, Offbeat, Propaganda, South Korea

August 18, 2010

South Korea’s National Security Law technically forbids corresponding or communicating with citizens from the North without prior consent from the Unification Ministry. Therefore, are hundreds of South Koreans in violation of law for following the newly created @uriminzok state-run Twitter account from the North? Technically, fines of up to $2500 USD can be assigned for violations, but it is doubtful anyone is in any danger of being fined. The Twitter account has exploded in popularity, reaching over 7500 followers from around the world in just a few days.

Source: The Korean Times

Permanent link to this article: http://www.openingupnorthkorea.com/archives/260

Aug 16

“Unification Tax” in the works

Categories:

Economy, North Korea, South Korea

August 16, 2010

South Korea’s Unification Ministry has been tasked with studying the feasibility of a “Unification Tax”. President Lee Myung-bak announced the possibility of the tax to help fund the potential massive bill that would be associated with the North government collapsing and the South responsible for cleanup.

Source: The Chosun Ilbo

Permanent link to this article: http://www.openingupnorthkorea.com/archives/244

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

Aug 08

Breaking: SK fishing boat seized by North

Categories:

Military, North Korea, South Korea, War

August 8, 2010

I have no details other than this, Associated Press has a tiny blurb about it and noone else seems to be carrying the story on this sleepy Sunday morning. Will post more when I see more. Full text: “Seoul says North Korea has seized South Korean fishing boat in waters off the eastern coast”.

This comes in the wake of a huge cabinet reshuffle in South Korea by president Lee Myung-Bak, and in the middle of South Korean naval exercises designed to intimidate and deter an ever-threatening North.

Source: @BreakingNews / Yonhap News (2)

Permanent link to this article: http://www.openingupnorthkorea.com/archives/214

Aug 06

South Korea’s second day of naval exercises

Categories:

North Korea, South Korea, War

August 6, 2010

4500 troops, an amphibious landing ship, a destroyer and dozens of fighter jets are performing drills in a simulated battle to prepare against a maritime invasion from the North. This is the 2nd day of the 5 day exercise.

Source: Yonhap News

Permanent link to this article: http://www.openingupnorthkorea.com/archives/208

Aug 04

North positions anti-aircraft missiles in response to South drills

Categories:

Military, North Korea, South Korea, War

August 4, 2010

SA-5As the South begins Thursday a 5 day naval exercise in the Yellow Sea, North Korea has responded by moving its SA-5 anti-air missiles towards the action. The North has previously threatened “strong physical retaliation” as a response to the drills, and the South has challenged back that any provocation will result in an immediate counter-attack. Is Korean War 2 about to break out on the peninsula?

Source: Chosun Ilbo / Google News

Permanent link to this article: http://www.openingupnorthkorea.com/archives/197

Aug 03

Sea of fire, nuclear destruction, retaliatory sacred war, etc, etc…

Categories:

Military, North Korea, Nuclear, Propaganda, South Korea, War

August 3, 2010

I don’t know if it’s even worth posting these, as the North threatens “all out war” on a seemingly daily basis since being directly accused for the sinking of the Cheonan this past March. The latest threats are in response to South Korean anti-submarine drills near the maritime border between the warring nations.

Source: Yonhap News

Permanent link to this article: http://www.openingupnorthkorea.com/archives/189

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