Great translation on Korea Beat of a story published in the Dong-A Ilbo, written by columnist Ju Seong-ha, about the verandas of Pyongyang apartments. Not riveted? Check your pulse, this seemingly odd focus is a great insight into a culture most know nothing about.
This is a typical apartment veranda of the type that can be [...]

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The title is a bit of a misnomer. Yes, North Korea placed a three year ban “succession talk,” but the meat of this story in the Telegraph is the curious role women are playing in the North Korean government. One of these days someone will write a Hamletesque novel about these people.
Despite his recent stroke [...]

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Hat tip to Marmot’s Hole on this. Amazing photo series  by Eric Lafforgue for the Boston Globe’s Boston.com. A number of these are from the recent Mass Games that took place in mid September, and still others are not. You’ll note this post is in the Ladies of North Korea section and indeed there is [...]

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Kim Jong-il actually contacted me to head north and work as a trainer for this, but I was already a couple weeks into doing East Windup Chronicle and had to decline (ã…‹ã…‹ã…‹).
From Lovely North Korean agents undergo special sex training (Tokyo Reporter):
“After Kim Jong Il assumed power he began a program of ’sex training’ for [...]

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About a week ago I’d mentioned the Vice Guide to North Korea, dropping daily on VBS.TV in 14 increments, each lasting three or four minutes.
After a shaky (though, later important) beginning with Episode 1 at the South Korean DMZ  the series is taking off and is as good as I’d hoped. Don’t mistake, this isn’t [...]

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Well, if this isn’t a must watch program I don’t know what is. VBS.TV, a free Internet network started by Vice Magazine co-founder Shane Smith, will present The Vice Guide to North Korea on March 3.
As someone who’s been fascinated by North Korea for some time I’ve grown tired of the whole “Hey, look I’m [...]

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Good fun here from the Asia Times — a review of a North Korean karaoke bar in Beijing, written by a South Korean. Check out how the writer absolutely falls for the ladies.
The room looks like a typical karaoke room. There are comfy cushions with a table in the center. On the one side [...]

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This is from an ongoing series on Gadling.com about a writer’s trip to North Korea for the mass games. For the most part the series  reads pretty  similarly to ever other account I’ve read on the subject, and has the,  frankly, dumb title of  Infiltrating North Korea. (For a much better and even-handed treatment on [...]

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Twenty-two  North Korean women in bathing suits looking at battleships out on the sea. According to the site, the women are also in the military.

For somewhat  of a more accurate view of what the DPRK is like check out this  fascinating photo essay done by ghosttreemedia.
[Cap tip to Marmot's Hole]

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