The move comes after South Korean tourist Park Wang-ja was shot by a North Korean soldier at the resort last month, prompting strong protests from Seoul.

Not like they can do anything. The North could launch 500,000 artillery shells at Seoul, which is brilliantly located within 100 miles of the 38th parallel, within 24 hours, turning into a cauterized wasteland.

North Korea's beautiful Diamond Mountain Resort. Come for the picturesque mountain scenery, stay for the funeral.

Of course North Korea has a tourist resort. It's like beautiful Mount Airy Lodge, except instead of giant champaign glass hot tubs, you relax in a giant head of Kim Il-sung.

NK says that the investigations by SK are a big insult, and lots of other verbiage, so it's a punishment from the NK. Okay, whatever...

The mountain is a famous spot, I guess it would be like if the US split into two hostile halves and people in the west wanted to go see the old capital of Washington, DC or something.

itazurakko: NK says that the investigations by SK are a big insult, and lots of other verbiage, so it's a punishment from the NK. Okay, whatever...

The mountain is a famous spot, I guess it would be like if the US split into two hostile halves and people in the west wanted to go see the old capital of Washington, DC or something.

Wouldn't that be Jesusland and the United States of Canada?

which is worse? north or south? yum?

wow

the democratic people's republic of korea had a website redesign (pops)

still looks like sh][t but where else outside of fox news can you find so much politicrazy?

It DOES! (new window)

Graceland II?

Nah-uh, cuz teh Fox news told me the whole country was a giant concentration camp.

I'm planning on going. It *has* to be better than visiting North Carolina.


I can handle a repressive authoritarian regime but no way can I handled hundreds of miles of urban sprawl, smog, fatties and chain restaurants.

horny chicks in gogo boots.

dprk war crimes museum....holy crap!


those wisdom teeth need to come out


shave and a haircut, 2 bits

Yes, Keumkang is a popular resort. It's quite beautiful, too.

Also, the tourist's name -- Park Wang-ja -- is actually kind of funny. (Wang-ja, the given name, means "Prince.")

clancifer: Wouldn't that be Jesusland and the United States of Canada?

Heh. Could be...

The resort in question:

if by resort you mean camps for political prisoners then yes...

/drtfa just speculating

I'm not condoning North Korea at all, but Anthony Bourdain went to one on No Reservations and it looked awesome.

Akbar the Trappiste Monk: The resort in question:

The accommodations were sparse, but the view was fantastic.

There's all sorts of pics and travelogues to NK on the internet NOT written by North Koreans, and they're pretty interesting.

It's certainly no paradise but the image of the country given in the US isn't quite factual, either. Believe it or not, there are people who leave (illegally) but then voluntarily return, for smuggling trade, etc.

If you're in the third of the population on the official shiat list, yeah, no question it sucks. But not everyone is on that list, which is probably a big reason why there isn't some big popular uprising. As it is, well, it's easy enough for other people to blame those in trouble for their own problems.

The weird but kinda interesting thing about pictures of Pyongyang (the "high list" areas), just like Cuba, is the utter lack of any commercial messages. It's looks really strange to people who have grown up with the idea that of course everything has a logo on it, billboards are for store names and ads, etc.

Where there would be ads in the US (or vast majority of countries all over the world) they have propaganda posters or just art, instead.

I recommend checking this out. A couple American filmmakers got a North Korean tourist visa and documented the whole thing. Very, very strange. It takes a few minutes to watch all the mini-episodes, but well worth it.

did anyone else read the headline as terrorist resort?

ok, damnit. im disappointed at the lack of interest in a dprk thread.

if this was an iran thread, you people would be all over it.

Every time I read translations of North Korean writing, it comes across as stilted, with the ideas following no real logical pattern. Sentences don't seem to follow on from each other - a central idea is expressed at the start, and then the text wanders all around the topic, mentions how evil America is, and restates the original premise without any support. I'm a Westerner, and obviously used to Western writing styles, so is this normal for Korean writing, is it a problem in translation, or has the North Korean education system deteriorated to the stage that they can't construct even a basic argument on paper?

Oh and as an aside, I get the "Korean Friendship Association" newsletter on my old HoTMaiL account. No idea why. I can't remember signing up to it, and since I only use that account when I don't want to give out my regular Gmail address, I've never bothered to subscribe. That newsletter is where a lot of the North Korean writing I mention above comes from.

or has the North Korean education system deteriorated to the stage that they can't construct even a basic argument on paper?

The only thing they were taught to write was the transcribed sound of Kim Jong Ill's awesomeness.

crackspider: Every time I read translations of North Korean writing, it comes across as stilted, with the ideas following no real logical pattern. Sentences don't seem to follow on from each other - a central idea is expressed at the start, and then the text wanders all around the topic, mentions how evil America is, and restates the original premise without any support. I'm a Westerner, and obviously used to Western writing styles, so is this normal for Korean writing, is it a problem in translation, or has the North Korean education system deteriorated to the stage that they can't construct even a basic argument on paper?

check out their website. the whole country has been so destroyed by decades of fear that it permiates everything.

Was it over subversive displays of nutrition?

I've been there. I was interrogated by North Korean military after taking pictures where I wasn't supposed to, including military guards and checkpoints. They took my camera from me and deleted all the pictures, although there were some they didn't get. I'll try to find a couple.

British: or has the North Korean education system deteriorated to the stage that they can't construct even a basic argument on paper?

The only thing they were taught to write was the transcribed sound of Kim Jong Ill's awesomeness.

Kim Il Sung is the hero....jong il is just following in the footsteps.

An air drop over N.K. would be awesome. Drop thousands of boxes labeled with the N.K. gov't. stamp so the locals will open them. Inside would be:

> cell phones
> iPods (with instructions)
> food and candy
> books about the rest of the world (with pics)
> instructions on how to properly conduct a large rebellion

Of course, this would require entering hostile air space, jeopardizing the welfare of it's citizens (they could be shot for having a cell phone), and throwing the whole world into a frenzy.... but think of the fun.

China's finally breaking loose a little. North Korea will have it's day soon. And we will take full advantage of the commercial opportunities.

tukatz: An air drop over N.K. would be awesome. Drop thousands of boxes labeled with the N.K. gov't. stamp so the locals will open them. Inside would be:

> cell phones
> iPods (with instructions)
> food and candy
> books about the rest of the world (with pics)
> instructions on how to properly conduct a large rebellion

Of course, this would require entering hostile air space, jeopardizing the welfare of it's citizens (they could be shot for having a cell phone), and throwing the whole world into a frenzy.... but think of the fun.

China's finally breaking loose a little. North Korea will have it's day soon. And we will take full advantage of the commercial opportunities.

military coup? maybe.

people's uprising against one of the world's largest standing army? no freakin way in hell.

remember: people join the military there to get fed so the ones not in the military most likely arent fed.

Trap-Door Spider: Suicidal Writer: The North could launch 500,000 artillery shells at Seoul, which is brilliantly located within 100 miles of the 38th parallel


Then North Korea would be brilliantly plastered by air and sea ordinance from the US and South Korea - and the rest of the lights would get turned out.

Don't be so sure of that. Now that North Korea has shown that they can build "weapons of mass destruction", as Bush likes to say, the US will not engage in military actions against them.

Really, there was little serious diplomacy between North Korea adn the US until they tested a nuclear weapon. Before then it was all very one sided.

Think about it, when was the last time the US went against a nuclear power? Afghanistan and Iraq didn't have them. Pakistan does, and it's why the US has been more diplomatic with them during the "war on terror".

Nuclear weapons have become a prerequisite for serious diplomatic relations with the US.

re-elect_jimmy_carter: dprk war crimes museum....holy crap!


those wisdom teeth need to come out


shave and a haircut, 2 bits

Those helmets are all wrong. The wear the new Kevlar ones at GITMO now.

bingo the psych-o: Really, there was little serious diplomacy between North Korea adn the US until they tested a nuclear weapon. Before then it was all very one sided.

NKs test was a complete fizzle. Maybe they could still build something 'dirty', but NK 'a nuclear power'? Please....NK conceded to the unilateral demands and is dismantling their heavy water reactor in exchange for oil and grain. Who won?

Lt. Cheese Weasel: bingo the psych-o: Really, there was little serious diplomacy between North Korea adn the US until they tested a nuclear weapon. Before then it was all very one sided.

NKs test was a complete fizzle. Maybe they could still build something 'dirty', but NK 'a nuclear power'? Please....NK conceded to the unilateral demands and is dismantling their heavy water reactor in exchange for oil and grain. Who won?

Considering that North Korea is getting the oil and grain they wanted I would say North Korea did. It certainly wasn't happening for them before the test.

bingo the psych-o: Lt. Cheese Weasel: bingo the psych-o: Really, there was little serious diplomacy between North Korea adn the US until they tested a nuclear weapon. Before then it was all very one sided.

NKs test was a complete fizzle. Maybe they could still build something 'dirty', but NK 'a nuclear power'? Please....NK conceded to the unilateral demands and is dismantling their heavy water reactor in exchange for oil and grain. Who won?

Considering that North Korea is getting the oil and grain they wanted I would say North Korea did. It certainly wasn't happening for them before the test.

I'm guessing, for you, the glass is always half empty.

bingo the psych-o: Think about it, when was the last time the US went against a nuclear power? Afghanistan and Iraq didn't have them. Pakistan does, and it's why the US has been more diplomatic with them during the "war on terror".

Nuclear weapons have become a prerequisite for serious diplomatic relations with the US.

This is because the only type of diplomacy George Bush understands is the "big dick" style of diplomacy. Now that NK has nukes (or so we think), they can participate in our Dear Leader's dick-measuring contest.

oldweevil:

This is because the only type of diplomacy George Bush understands is the "big dick" style of diplomacy. Now that NK has nukes (or so we think), they can participate in our Dear Leader's dick-measuring contest.

Hence the Dong.

oldweevil: bingo the psych-o: Think about it, when was the last time the US went against a nuclear power? Afghanistan and Iraq didn't have them. Pakistan does, and it's why the US has been more diplomatic with them during the "war on terror".

Nuclear weapons have become a prerequisite for serious diplomatic relations with the US.

This is because the only type of diplomacy George Bush understands is the "big dick" style of diplomacy. Now that NK has nukes (or so we think), they can participate in our Dear Leader's dick-measuring contest.

This is moronic drivel. Bush has held to unilateral diplomacy for NK since day one. It was Clinton who tried bilateral Big Dick politics and failed. Read a book or seek help.

Room includes a free bath in the healing powers of Dear Leader's urine and all the grass you can eat.

I recommend checking this out. A couple American filmmakers got a North Korean tourist visa and documented the whole thing. Very, very strange. It takes a few minutes to watch all the mini-episodes, but well worth it.

I wholy recommend no one to watch it as it's just some self centric americans playing it off like the mass games are shown "just for them" because they have such HUGE dicks. Very ill infomed "docu" they didn't even know how to get into NK when a simple google search for "visit North Korea" gives all the answeres.

re-elect_jimmy_carter:
military coup? maybe.
people's uprising against one of the world's largest standing army? no freakin way in hell.
remember: people join the military there to get fed so the ones not in the military most likely arent fed.


Little tidbits of info about the rest of the world will slowly (in their case, very slowly) eat away at the idea that their ways are the only ways. There have already been many cases of cellphones and modern devices smuggled into the country. And the people that did escape successfully over the border tell of unrest among many of the people.

Only time will tell.... I hope the place does open up soon. I would love to hear about the reactions when N.K.ers see the modern conveniences and advances everyone else has made while they stayed in the 1950s.

(I was being silly about the air drops btw. Not gonna happen, but it would be so much fun.)

Watch the video below if you'd like to see what happens on a North Korean vacation. It's actually really exciting.

Vice Guide to North Korea

I think this is the place where you first encounter the Flood.

bingo the psych-o: Lt. Cheese Weasel: bingo the psych-o: Really, there was little serious diplomacy between North Korea adn the US until they tested a nuclear weapon. Before then it was all very one sided.

NKs test was a complete fizzle. Maybe they could still build something 'dirty', but NK 'a nuclear power'? Please....NK conceded to the unilateral demands and is dismantling their heavy water reactor in exchange for oil and grain. Who won?

Considering that North Korea is getting the oil and grain they wanted I would say North Korea did. It certainly wasn't happening for them before the test.

but that fuel oil is of the worst grade that only works with old powerplants and basement furnaces.

their oil burning powerplants are so rundown that they need billions and billions in repair just to get up and running.

see night time satellite pic above.

Tomji:
I wholy recommend no one to watch it as it's just some self centric americans playing it off like the mass games are shown "just for them" because they have such HUGE dicks. Very ill infomed "docu" they didn't even know how to get into NK when a simple google search for "visit North Korea" gives all the answeres.

I think anything such as these videos is worth watching since we get so little info. about North Korea. They didn't get a huge amount of footage beyond what can already be found on the internet. However, it's their personal opinions about their trip. The better educated we are about their country, the more we can help them.... if that day ever comes. These are isolated people that really truly believe Americans are evil and want to kill all of them.

crackspider: Every time I read translations of North Korean writing, it comes across as stilted, with the ideas following no real logical pattern. Sentences don't seem to follow on from each other - a central idea is expressed at the start, and then the text wanders all around the topic, mentions how evil America is, and restates the original premise without any support. I'm a Westerner, and obviously used to Western writing styles, so is this normal for Korean writing, is it a problem in translation, or has the North Korean education system deteriorated to the stage that they can't construct even a basic argument on paper?

Oddly enough, if you try to discuss church or theological doctrine with South Korean Christians you get the same sort of argument (sometimes minus "evil US overtones" depending on the age of the writer). In both cases the ideology is based on the concept of "true faith" in what they believe is "absolute truth" so most arguments that have such matters as their central subject/premise are usually crafted to affirm beliefs with other believers rather than any kind of logical debate.

However, deviating from the pattern and actually questioning orthodox doctrine has much more severe consequences in NK vs. SK. Both then again, in both cases this ideology springs up from nationalistic urges that seem to be present in Koreans no matter where they happen to live. For example, try claiming that the Laincourt Rocks/Dokdo/Takeshima are legally Japanese possessions to ethnic Koreans in the US, France, or Russia and the majority of the time you'll encounter some pretty fierce derision at the thought.

/marvels at how KCNA news reporters have exactly the same speaking style of Korean pastors performing their sermons at congregation.
//ethnic Korean

tukatz: Tomji:
I wholy recommend no one to watch it as it's just some self centric americans playing it off like the mass games are shown "just for them" because they have such HUGE dicks. Very ill infomed "docu" they didn't even know how to get into NK when a simple google search for "visit North Korea" gives all the answeres.

I think anything such as these videos is worth watching since we get so little info. about North Korea. They didn't get a huge amount of footage beyond what can already be found on the internet. However, it's their personal opinions about their trip. The better educated we are about their country, the more we can help them.... if that day ever comes. These are isolated people that really truly believe Americans are evil and want to kill all of them.

Bt we do!! I WANT TO EAT THEIR BABIES!!!!

I just wanted those goddamned capitalist running-dog lackeys to get off my lawn.

Is that so much to ask? If you Americans had a bunch of Canadians on your lawn, or if you Brits had a bunch of French on your lawn, wouldn't you want them off PDQ?

Get your own house in order before you criticize mine.