According to the BBC, Kim Jung-Il has pardoned the two American journalists. They will reportedly fly back to the USA with Bill Clinton. Read more from the Associated Press.
Clinton’s Trip Successful? Kim Jung-Il Pardons Detainees
Posted by mstrum
on August 4, 2009
No comments
Former President Clinton in North Korea
Posted by mstrum
on August 4, 2009
No comments
Source: CNN
It’ll be interesting to see what happens here. The last visit was with another former president, Carter, with Kim Il-Sung which ended successfully (on the surface).
North Korea on the Brink of Collapse?
Posted by mstrum
on August 3, 2009
2 comments
Source: Chosun
As you can see in some of the pictures from the recent North Korean propaganda series, North Korea has been waging a war against laziness and disloyalty in their 150 day campaign which started sometime early this year. It apparently hasn’t been working out too great. I won’t regurgitate the article, you can read that for yourself here. I really wonder what will happen once Kim Jung-Il dies …
Children’s propaganda poster in action
Posted by mstrum
on August 3, 2009
3 comments
While watching a documentary titled “Inside Undercover in North Korea” by National Geographic, I saw a poster which I recognized. Here’s the original poster taken from the page on North Korean propaganda targeting kids:
Playing war by strangling the American pigs is exciting
미국놈 때려 잡는 군사놀이 신나요
Now, here’s a screen capture from the documentary:
This seems like a pretty disturbing way to indoctrinate the North Korean kids to hate the “American pigs”. Can you imagine a poster like this in the school you grew up in replacing the USA guy with some other country which was designated as an enemy? Throughout history countries have demonized their enemies, but it just seems so different targeting kids with that message. Anyways, I just thought I’d post it because it was relevant to the North Korean propaganda series I’ve been doing and thought you might find it interesting to see one of the posters literally in action.
North Korean Propaganda Series: Other 4
Posted by mstrum
on August 1, 2009
3 comments
This is a continuation of the North Korean propaganda series. Click here for the table of contents.
Let’s frugally manage through our hands in our factory and our hometowns!
내 고향. 내 공장을 내 손으로 알뜰하게 꾸려 나가자!
Let’s thoroughly achieve the war duties that are presented in this year’s joint editorial!
올해공동사설에서 제시된전투적과업을 철저히 관철하자!
We’ll develop and move forward
혁명은 총대로 개척되고
through our guns and win the revolution!
총대로전진하며 승리한다!
The “150 day battle” is a campaign to promote the party which started on April 20, 2009
Top Flag: Revolutionary spirit push
혁명적대고조
Small Flags: Metal, Electricity, Coal, Railroad, Farming
금속 전력 석탄 철도 농업
Bottom: Let’s do the 150 day battle!
모두다 150일전투 에로!
Side Banner: Let’s all do the 150 day battle! (모두다 150일 전투에로!)
Side of Van: Broadcast Propaganda (방송선전)
Front Banner: The desperate efforts of revival are the only way to live!
사력갱생만이 살길이다
Guard the revolution’s leaders with a do-or-die spirit
혁명의 수뇌부결사옹위
Next we’ll be looking at more various posters.
