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Topic Review (Newest First) |
Feb 28th, 2012 07:28 AM | ||
Zhukov | That story may not look like much, but I would bet moneys that along with the 'supermarket concept' China is trying to bring in a consumer mentality to DPRK in preparation for when the planned economy is finally replaced by a capitalist one | |
Feb 28th, 2012 02:57 AM | ||
Evil Robot II |
I love the way google news attaches pictures to stories. Hes holding a rifle for some reason |
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Feb 23rd, 2012 12:49 AM | ||
Zhukov | That's amazing. I actually like that because they look like they are enjoying themselves. | |
Feb 22nd, 2012 01:01 AM | ||
Evil Robot II |
Morten Traavik gave these kids at the Pyongyang music school an "ah-ha" cd and they learned to play this in 3 days. I must say I dont think they understood the words to the song, they must have thought the lyrics were "kiiiim joooong iiiiil kim jong il, deeeeear leeeeadeeeer, kim jong il" The ship behind them is the DPRK MV Censor Ship |
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Feb 20th, 2012 09:57 PM | ||
Zhukov | Kim Jong Il was a movie fan, so I'm not surprised that he forced his son to name his firstborn after a Star Wars character. | |
Feb 20th, 2012 04:58 PM | ||
kahljorn | star wars is intergalactical | |
Feb 20th, 2012 10:42 AM | ||
Zhukov |
Just more interesting tidbits in the North Korean circus; Kim Jong Il's grandson is called Kim Han-Sol. HAN SOL. Apparently he's gotten in a bit of trouble for having a facebook. http://www.northkoreatech.org/2011/1...net-footprint/ |
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Jan 26th, 2012 06:15 PM | ||
Tadao | no | |
Jan 25th, 2012 08:02 PM | ||
Wiffles | could it be that those prisoners are just actors so he can get kudos? | |
Jan 24th, 2012 02:44 PM | ||
Tadao | I take it you've never worked computer tech support. | |
Jan 24th, 2012 01:39 PM | ||
Dimnos | By introducing porn to the populace? | |
Jan 24th, 2012 08:42 AM | ||
Zhukov | ||
Jan 23rd, 2012 11:38 AM | ||
Tadao | The UN gave donated them to him in order to try and slow down their nuclear development. | |
Jan 23rd, 2012 10:14 AM | ||
Dimnos | That guy looks like the asian counterpart of my father in law, especially with the sun glasses. | |
Jan 23rd, 2012 07:45 AM | ||
kahljorn |
why is he touching it is he acomputer whisperer or maybe just a molester |
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Jan 22nd, 2012 09:29 PM | ||
WhiteRat |
Glad to see that Dell is the preferred computer of Dear Leader |
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Jan 19th, 2012 12:42 PM | ||
Tadao | I'm sure that the released prisoners are alive and well. | |
Jan 18th, 2012 08:07 AM | ||
Kitsa | I thought they executed prisoners at such a fast clip and that the "total control" prisons were so expansive, overcrowding wasn't too big a problem there. | |
Jan 16th, 2012 09:20 PM | ||
Dimnos | I didnt read anything past Zs 3rd post and I have to I agree. If it were about them not wanting to pay for prisoners, he would have just put them to work in a mine until they just dropped dead. Then, and I'm just guessing at this part, used their bodies to feed other prisoners. | |
Jan 15th, 2012 06:10 PM | ||
kahljorn |
there's been more than one Kim in power? how do they let themselves be ruled by asian penguins |
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Jan 15th, 2012 12:37 PM | ||
Tadao | A real man would have just killed the prisoners. | |
Jan 13th, 2012 09:59 PM | ||
Zhukov |
I can almost guarantee that Kim Jong Un and the rest of the DPRK leadership do not think that it is 'worth a try' to get political brownie points by releasing some prisoners. This is not a new occurrence in the upper echelons; this sort of thing is routine, and it's sole function is to keep up the facade of a benevolent leader, from Kim to Kim to Kim. It has not swayed any voter opinions, it has not caused world leaders to rethink their negative positions. Quote:
The army (guards) are paid in rice, as are the rest of the lucky working population. The rest, who are not working (the majority/prisoners), get nothing, literally. This might not seem bad since you can say "oh, the government doesn't give me any food either", but when you consider that the entire country is on rations, and it's 'officially' illegal to buy and sell your own food, then it gets a bit difficult. It's only recently that a blind eye was turned form growing your own vegetables. It was not a cost cutting exercise; the resources saved would be less than what it cost to send out the report of them doing it. It was propaganda. |
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Jan 13th, 2012 09:09 PM | ||
kahljorn | but since its a socialist country, the guards don't get paid and neither does anybody else so it really doesnt matter | |
Jan 13th, 2012 04:40 PM | ||
Pentegarn |
Just because he doesn't need them doesn't mean he isn't trying to get them or that he thinks it is worth a try to get them. He loses nothing for making a public stink about his 'benevolent release of prisoners' so why not do so and see if you can con a few mugs? Let's say for a moment that we can take everything they are reporting as true and let's further say they would in theory report if prisoners were not getting fed anything and died in droves of starvation (we already know the leadership in North Korea either does or doesn't care what anyone really thinks). If in this exercise no droves of dead North Korean prisoners were ever reported we have to assume they are being taken care of even if it is the most minimum way possible. In this case there will be a cost of some kind. Even 'nothing' costs something, in this case 'nothing' causes guards to have to be paid, food to be bought and provisions for the facilities. They may be the cheapest available but it would cut some costs. Not a lot but some. Maybe this stink isn't for the rest of the world though maybe it is for others who are pressuring him to cut costs somewhere and this is a token gesture on his part. Not that it matters anyway the prisoners are ironically likely no better off as free men in that country I wager. |
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Jan 12th, 2012 09:25 PM | ||
Zhukov |
He doesn't need political brownie points. Nobody outside DPRK believes it was for benevolent reasons, nobody inside is officially allowed to think he is anything but benevolent 100% of the time anyway. If it even goes ahead, which is doubtful (a news report is enough to make the event happen in DPRK anyway), then it's just one in a long line of staged occurrences to make it seem like he is a great leader to the people who might actually think he is one already. It's keeping up appearances to an expectant population, just like the two Kims before him had to constantly do. Interesting to see what he does next? Visit a 'factory', or a 'farm', or congratulate some soldiers for being vigilant. PS: Prison life is actually rather cheap in North Korea. Considering the government is expected to feed the population, and most people get nothing, what do you think prisoners get? |
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