The Glorious Blog of the Democratic People's Republic of North Korea

[DU Ute]

If they defect, their family is either killed or sent to a gulag.

That makes sense, too.

[Jeff Lebowski]

I think I mentioned this earlier in the thread, but I highly recommend this documentary:

http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Cr...?trkid=2361637

It is about a few US soldiers that defected across the DMZ into North Korea and what happened to them since. An idea (defection) so completely stupid that it takes your breath away. They were given wives that were kidnapped from other countries.

This one is equally chilling. It shows how NK is basically run as a type of religious cult.

http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Na...?trkid=2361637

Both stream on Netflix.

[Paperback Writer]

I think I mentioned this earlier in the thread, but I highly recommend this documentary:

http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Cr...?trkid=2361637

It is about a few US soldiers that defected across the DMZ into North Korea and what happened to them since. An idea (defection) so completely stupid that it takes your breath away. They were given wives that were kidnapped from other countries.

This one is equally chilling. It shows how NK is basically run as a type of religious cult.

http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Na...?trkid=2361637

Both stream on Netflix.

While I agree about the stupidity of defecting to North Korea - the one case I've read about (haven't seen the films) was because the soldier was in fear of his unit being deployed to a combat assignment in Vietnam during the height of that war. So I think this midigates the stupidity somewhat. Also, the defectors could not have known how crazy and depraved North Korea would become. During the Great Depression era in America, there were cases of Americans immigrating to the Soviet Union.

[Jeff Lebowski]

While I agree about the stupidity of defecting to North Korea - the one case I've read about (haven't seen the films) was because the soldier was in fear of his unit being deployed to a combat assignment in Vietnam during the height of that war. So I think this midigates the stupidity somewhat. Also, the defectors could not have known how crazy and depraved North Korea would become. During the Great Depression era in America, there were cases of Americans immigrating to the Soviet Union.

I don't recall that. I do recall one of them (the main one featured in the doc) being in some kind of trouble and facing a court martial. All of them seemed like dim bulbs before the defection.

[kimchicoug]

I think I mentioned this earlier in the thread, but I highly recommend this documentary:

http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Cr...?trkid=2361637

It is about a few US soldiers that defected across the DMZ into North Korea and what happened to them since. An idea (defection) so completely stupid that it takes your breath away. They were given wives that were kidnapped from other countries.

This one is equally chilling. It shows how NK is basically run as a type of religious cult.

http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Na...?trkid=2361637

Both stream on Netflix.

I second these documentaries. Very interesting. However avoid The Juche Idea unless you like avant garde mocumentaries.

[frank ryan]

It's kind of scary how an American can end up in North Korea. That was until it was learned that Japanese were abducted in Japan by North Korea. So it was much easier to abduct an American student traveling alone in remote SW China. I think the theory is that David was detained by local authorities because he was suspected to be part of the Christian Chinese underground railroad. Especially since his traveling companion requested a visa to North Korea. Once the North Koreans interrogated David and found out he could speak Korean, Mandarian Chinese, and English he had value to them. The central government has been very helpful in many ways but this abduction occurred far away from central government in Bejing. What the Chinese haven't done is to actually use the political capital to get David's release. But that is a delicate diplomatic issue - admitting that a visiting American can get detained by local authorities and turned over to North Korea.

Thanks for everyone's support. I know it means a great deal to the Sneddon family. For those interested, here's a few links

webpage: http://www.helpfinddavid.com/

Radio interview podcast:
part 1: http://www.klin.com/topic/play_windo...udioId=5953313
part 2: http://www.klin.com/topic/play_windo...udioId=5954566

That makes more sense that some corrupt regional officials and police could have sold him off . That is awful. I know the central government is super concerned about their image. When bad baby formula killed hundreds of Chinese babies, nothing was done. But when the same ingredients killed Panamanian dogs they had their version an fda head killed.

[Jeff Lebowski]

An update on the missing Sneddon man:

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=21575951

Seems like rather thin evidence, but I can't blame them for clinging to hope.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

Sorry Italy, NYC, Chicago and Little Caesars, North Korea just took over the pizza game. They have the perfect pizza.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...ian-pizza.html

[TripletDaddy]

Sorry Italy, NYC, Chicago and Little Caesars, North Korea just took over the pizza game. They have the perfect pizza.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...ian-pizza.html

North Korea has opened its first pizzeria after a decade of clandestine international research.

[DU Ute]

Pyongyang Style -

[YOUTUBE]uYBCgV6a5kE[/YOUTUBE]

[Omaha 680]

[il Padrino Ute]

If that's how it really is, N. Korea doesn't look as bad as I've heard.

[wuapinmon]

Not sure if this fits here, but what the hell!

http://www.buzzfeed.com/zekejmiller/...ng-un-on-being

[YOhio]

Not sure if this fits here, but what the hell!

http://www.buzzfeed.com/zekejmiller/...ng-un-on-being

That fits here.

[Coach McGuirk]

http://www.ksl.com/?sid=23224563&nid...&s_cid=queue-2

North Korean archaeologists claim they have "reconfirmed" the lair of a unicorn once ridden by King Tongmyong.

But, grain of salt here people,

The news agency does not have a reputation for factual accuracy, as Time points out. Before former dictator Kim Jong Il died, he was said to have invented the hamburger, written 1,500 books over the course of three years while in college and shot 11 holes-in-one his first time golfing. The reports are often used as a way to lend legitimacy to the dictatorial regime.