Communist Nation

A big thank you to Walter for the E-mail containing some really neat pictures and DPRK footage. There are so many pictures and goodies, I do not know where to begin to comment on some of them. After this posting, they will be added to the “North Korea in Pictures” section. Again, I appreciate the resources. Enjoy!

Oh, and I cannot post the pictures until I get permission. Once I get the permission, I will post some of my favorites. From the E-Mail:

I returned September 25 from the DPRK. I was part of a group of seven Americans taken into the countryside as a pilot by the DPRK to see if they will be taking groups in the future – Haeju, Sariwon, Sinchon, Nampo. We got to see many small villages as you can see. The Kyenam Stock farm was also great. It was run by the local militia.

Emphasis mine. I had no idea they were expanding the trips away from the showcase cities, and having people look at the countryside. From the numbers, it seems small, but I have no idea how often they will do this. Perhaps Walter can shed light on this if he knows.

And yes, it is not too often one gets to the see the countryside. On the other hand, things might change. Why, I have no idea, but I will guess it may be for hard currency. Again, Walter may or may not know the reason.

Photo sets from this trip (2009):

http://www.flickr.com/photos/zaruka/collections/72157622365836747/

Set from 2008:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/zaruka/collections/72157608626515722/

of interest this year:

Rural agriculture and the 2009 harvest – http://www.flickr.com/photos/zaruka/sets/72157622313414387/

150 Day Labor Battle
http://www.flickr.com/photos/zaruka/sets/72157622395904315/

Murals and Propaganda
http://www.flickr.com/photos/zaruka/sets/72157622382860423/

Sinchon Museum of American War Atrocities
http://www.flickr.com/photos/zaruka/sets/72157622514076596/

Anti-American Propaganda book (I have a student translating)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/zaruka/sets/72157622335257009/

For fun: Pyongyang’s Italian Restaurant – I even photographed the kitchen
http://www.flickr.com/photos/zaruka/sets/72157622321475051/

Of interest – China 60th Anniversary Exhibition (for Chinese citizens)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/zaruka/sets/72157622326715475/

I took 3360 photos. I have 1200 from last year.

Oh something good – How about a Worker’s Party of Korea member explaining the Nuclear and Missile issue? Here is a link to the lecture recorded in the Museum of the Revolution adjacent to the exhibit on DPRK missile technology.

There is another video on Youtube from the bottling plant tour also.

The video:

Popularity: 73% [?]

Tags: North Korea, Pictures, Video