1. You can’t turn off the government radio installed in your home, only reduce the volume.
2. Idolatry in North Korea is such that it is second-nature for ordinary citizens to “rescue” portraits of Kim Il Sung before all else in the case of a house fire (there are even special bunkers for statues in case of war)
3. Many people don’t even know that man has walked on the moon.
4. There is no Internet, cell-phones have been banned.
5. A main cause for all problems are Americans. Mothers teach their children to sing songs about bad Americans, there are many postage stamps showing the death of “U.S imperialists”
6. A six-day work week, and another day of enforced “volunteer” work, ensures that the average citizen has virtually no free time.
7. The very first thing you do when you visit North Korea’s capital Pyongyang is visit and give a flower to a big statue of “Dear Leader”.
8. About 0.85% of the population are held in prison or detention camps.
9. Most traffic control is performed by female traffic directors (reportedly handpicked by Kim Jong-Il for their beauty), as the lights are switched off to save electricity.
10. Dogs are banned in Pyongyang to keep it clean.
11. Avarage wage in 2005 was 6$ a month.
12. Visitors of North Korea are given special guides and can’t go anywhere without them.
13. North Koreans are used to often disappearing electricity and have many candles prepared.
14. North Korea has the fourth-largest military in the world, at an estimated 1.21 million armed personnel
More on the most isolated country in the world
The Vice Guide to North Korea is worth a watch too:
http://www.vbs.tv/watch/the-vice-guide-to-travel/vice-guide-to-north-korea-1-of-3
But be careful, Kim Jong Il is a very busy man.
#10 Are they banned or consumed?
if dust gets on dear leaders pic in a persons house its off to the labor/prison camp
I’d say consumed, Gary.
http://www.pixlmonster.com/hanguk/kimjong/
This Kim is crazy. And those poor people have no option but to be brainwashed slaves.
Take a look at the link, there’s a photo with two little kids saluting. One of the kids is holding a packet of M&M’s in his hand. Hmmmm 😛
The article made me wonder about something though. If Dear Leader was suddenly overthrown, would North Koreans actually be able to look after themselves after so many years of brainwashing and being told what to do? Would they be like an animal raised in captivity released into the wild? Just imagine the chaos.
#8, that’s actually lower than the US
Ana, sounds like Iraq.
Very true Ana.
Long time reader and fan… Here’s a video clip showing no. 9 in action: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGbQ7QRndcA&
this guys actually have nuclear bombs, go for them pussies
I have been there twice and will be going again. I have had good access and been to closed towns. This list is an old one.
1. The speaker is only in cities and larger towns. There are public ones in small villages. They play music and are on a few hours per day. This is the same as Imperial Japan in the 1930s.
2. Same as saving the portrait of the emperor in Japan. This is not unique to the DPRK.
3. Many actually do know as focus on space and satellite technology is of recent interest. The moon landings are not taught as a part of the curriculum and general news of the outside is not great. Peasants in many parts of the world don’t know either. How many people in India have not heard of the United States?
4. I have seen cell phones as Orascom of Egypt has the contract. Locals tell me party members are getting them first and the rest cannot afford it.
5. Generally this is true but people tell me that they know economic problems are deeper and blame production failures as well. The songs are sung as seen on documentaries but as in most propaganda much of it is ignored.
6. There is not much free time. They have a 48 hour week but there is idle time. As in many socialist countries of the past there is loafing and that I have seen on construction sites.
7. The Great Leader’s statue Kim Il-sung is what this refers to, not KJI. I have done this on day one and day two so it is not the first thing. The group gives flowers and it is a way of showing respect to the country and leadership – seen as one.
8. In a nation where one in four Black males is under court supervision and 1 in 32 is either in prison or out on parole I wonder what this means. This figure is as close to anything we have.
9. The traffic girls are in Pyongyang. Males do the traffic control in the other towns I have been in and at some intersections in Pyongyang. There are traffic lights but they are not on. In a society where everything is attributed to the leadership do you really think KJI really approves each one?
10. I did see some kids with a dog near the Taedong River in the city but you do not see many dogs in Pyongyang.
11. The average wage in converted currency is worth about $5 but on the local economy it buys more – however most all income goes to food and money is scarce. I do not see many lining up a kiosks for food.
12. This is true – except when we wander and nights can be fun. I ask permission but I know my limits. We can wander more than you would think.
13. They don’t have many candles or flashlights. I have seen department stores with candles lit in the evening but candles are in short supply. There is more electricity today than there was in 2008 – but not even close to our standards.
14. Yes but they lack ammunition and recruits have used shoes and no socks. Do not overestimate their capability.
Most of the documentaries paint a really bleak portrait of the DPRK and there is truth to many of the allegations. Understand the origin of this culture and why they are doing what they are doing. It does not make it right but do not condemn a nation that you have not seen. Learn.