Aug 03

The People’s Rooney’s tears explained

Categories:

Athletics, North Korea, Propaganda

August 3, 2010

jongtaese_tearsMany were confused by DPRK football team’s powerhouse patriotic tears during the North’s national anthem at this year’s world cup. After all, this footballer is Japanese born and has never even been to the North, so what’s the story here? Reporter Mark Willacy has a fascinating piece about the Chongryon, or “General Association of Korean Residents in Japan”, which is a school/embassy type of organization for North Koreans (or of that descent) living in Japan. Before WWII, Japan had annexed the Korean peninsula and brought many Koreans to do slave labour in Japan. These Zainichi are the people and descendents of those displaced people. The article explains the “brain-washing” applied to these Koreans living in Japan, and that the tears of Jong Tae Se were genuine pride for his people and fatherland.

Source: ABC News (Australia)

Permanent link to this article: http://www.openingupnorthkorea.com/archives/188

Aug 02

NK studio produced Disney classics

Categories:

Economy, North Korea, Offbeat, Propaganda

August 2, 2010

While hardly news, I felt the need to share this fascinating tidbit. SEK Studio, a DPRK animation studio has had animation subcontract work on classics cartoon movies such as the Lion King and Pocahontas. The communist nation is also famous for airing US made cartoon “Tom & Jerry”, as they use Tom as an analogy for the brash USA while Jerry represents a clever underdog North Korea. 

Source: North Korean Economy Watch

Permanent link to this article: http://www.openingupnorthkorea.com/archives/184

Aug 02

‘Dear Leader’ not so dear…

Categories:

Economy, Kim Jong-Il, Kim Jong-Un, North Korea

August 2, 2010

kimjongilHwang Jang-yop, the highest ranking defector from North Korea, comments that most North Koreans are not as fond of Kim Jong-Il as western media might portray. He puts blame on South Koreans who support Kim Jong-Il. Hwang has previously lamented that 30% of South Korean youth do not blame NK for the sinking of the Cheonan last March. He also believes the succession of Kim Jong-Un to be primetime for a power struggle in the North, and markets may open up to the South leading to a smoother reunifications.

Source: Chosun Ilbo

Permanent link to this article: http://www.openingupnorthkorea.com/archives/179

Aug 02

US-SK work to strengthen sanctions

Categories:

Economy, Kim Jong-Il, North Korea, Nuclear, South Korea, USA

August 2, 2010

The US announced Monday that it intends to strengthen sanctions meant to stifle foreign funding for DPRK’s nuclear weapons program and the lavish lifestyles of its leader and top officials. Emphasis was placed on required cooperation from China, who is accused of “filling in” when sanctions are strengthened against the North. The sanctions, of course, are in place in the wake of conclusive investigation into the sinking of the Cheonan in March by a North Korean torpedo, killing 46 South soldiers.

Source: The Washington Post

Permanent link to this article: http://www.openingupnorthkorea.com/archives/167

Aug 01

North Korean mines kill South Korean, wounds another

Categories:

Military, North Korea, South Korea, War

August 1, 2010

Hard to tell what to make of this story: North Korean mines in boxes have washed ashore in South Korea, reportedly due to heavy rains. A fisherman grabbed one of the boxes which exploded, killing him and wounding another. 30 of these mines have come ashore since Saturday. Korean War relics, or a new type of warfare in the wake of the Cheonan incident?

Source: MSNBC

Permanent link to this article: http://www.openingupnorthkorea.com/archives/161

Jul 30

North unable to deploy nuclear arsenal

Categories:

Military, North Korea, Nuclear, War

July 30, 2010

A report titled “World Nuclear Stockpile Report” by a magazine called “Bulletin of Atomic Scientists” claims that despite two tests performed in 2006 and 2009, and enough plutonium to construct 8-12 more bombs, the DPRK is unable to weaponize their nuclear arsenal. US Intelligence agencies believe the state possesses no missiles capable of delivering the ordinance.

Source: The Chosun Ilbo

Permanent link to this article: http://www.openingupnorthkorea.com/archives/147

Jul 30

Flooding destroys many homes

Categories:

Economy, North Korea

July 30, 2010

Hundreds of homes and public buildings have been destroyed in the provinces of South Hamkyung Province, Gangwon Province, and Kaesong City throughout the month of July. Clean water supplies, bridges and communication lines have also been compromised, though no reports of food shortages have been made available.
Source: DailyNK

Permanent link to this article: http://www.openingupnorthkorea.com/archives/145

Jul 30

Burmese biography of Kim Jong-Il “recalled”

Categories:

Kim Jong-Il, North Korea, Propaganda

July 30, 2010

Hundreds of copies of a Burmese published biography of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il were seized after NK embassy officials complained of falsehoods and inaccuracies in the book. Tensions were high and diplomatic relations ended in the 80s when North Korean’s attempted to assassinate the South Korean president at a ceremony which killed Burmese officials and many others. In 2007, relations increased as the two nations bonded over oppressive action from the US. The confiscation is believed to be to ease tensions from rising once more between the allies.

Source: Yahoo! News

Permanent link to this article: http://www.openingupnorthkorea.com/archives/143

Jul 30

Kim Jong-Il gifts officials with luxury cars

Categories:

Economy, Kim Jong-Il, Kim Jong-Un, Military, North Korea

July 30, 2010

160 luxury Chinese-made Mercedes cars have been given out by the “Dear Leader” to high ranking officials. This is notable because UN Security Council Resolution 1718 prohibits exporting luxury vehicles to the DPRK, and the gifts also come in wake of the September meeting of top party officials, where party loyalty is most certainly to be tested over the inevitable succession of Kim Jong-Un.

Source: DailyNK

Permanent link to this article: http://www.openingupnorthkorea.com/archives/141

Jul 30

The continued plight of Aijalon Gomes

Categories:

North Korea, USA

July 30, 2010

Not news, per se, but One Free Korea has a nice article reminding us of the American who crossed over into the DPRK in January of this year, one month after Robert Park, who was released a few months ago. Gomes is still held in North Korea, charged with 8 years in a labour camp for illegal entry into the country and unspecified crimes against the state. Few American officials have done much to secure his release. A few weeks ago, the North reported Gomes tried to commit suicide but failed. Few can imagine the atrocities Gomes must be enduring in his imprisonment.

Source: One Free Korea

Permanent link to this article: http://www.openingupnorthkorea.com/archives/138

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