South Korea on the Brink of War?

As I mark my one-year anniversary in Gwangju, I must admit I have never felt more concerned about my own safety in Korea until now. For the past year, I have enjoyed a relatively carefree existence, living without thought to terrorist threats, violent crime and the thought of war. Then, Thursday night, after tossing and turning over  international media reports that there could be an “all-out” war, I felt on edge all day as I visualized my escape from Korea based on this blog link a friend posted on Facebook. One false move and it could be over, I thought.  Then again, having been here for 12 months, I know the climate here is far from ripe for war.  Furthermore, seeing the smiling faces of some of my students and chatting with fellow foreigners have since allayed my fears.

While I have regained my sleep since then, I have decided to curtail my plans to travel around the region and return to the States earlier than expected. This has less to do with the threat of war than it does about saving money for grad school in the fall, but still. The threat for me seems palpable, and reminds me of my recent trip to the DMZ.

Now, what I find interesting is most Korean I talk to are so blasé about this talk of war and seem to  be taking it in stride. “Don’t Worry, Be Happy!” is essentially what they keep saying to me.  They are used to these types of threats and even think the current administration’s rhetoric could just be a political ploy to help President Lee Myung-Bak’s party win in regional elections next Wednesday.  Even this NY Times piece alludes to this sentiment.

So by arming myself with information, I find it encouraging seeing international diplomacy at work. While the threat is still there, it is clear restraint has been the name of the game on the South Korean side. The international community has rallied in support of the ROK and more importantly China (through state-run media) has even criticized the North in this recent article.

Visit anytime! North Korea lifts restrictions on U.S. tourists

It looks as if Pyongyang may be on my list of travel destinations for this year! Travel restrictions for Americans have been lifted, so they may  now visit North Korea anytime of the year on guided tours (of course!)

Read on:

Visit anytime! North Korea lifts restrictions on U.S. tourists | CNNGo.com.

N. Korea Sells Its Own Line of Designer Jeans

Check out an installment of the online documentary on Noko Jeans, the first foray into Western fashion that is “Made in North Korea”. The jeans are currently on sale in Swedish stores at a hefty $215, and will be available online at www.nokojeans.com shortly to the rest of the world.

more about “N. Korea Sells Its Own Line of Design…“, posted with vodpod

View the whole series on Vimeo and Read more from Reuters, here.

North Korean TV Commercials

As you know, I have been trying to read and view media from North Korea to satisfy my own curiosity and came across these three commercials and commentary on the adverts.  While they  probably won’t win any Cannes Lions, as they all seem to share the same unbearable Korean polka music and low-fi graphics, they are kitschy enough for a good laugh.

Beer Commercial

Ginseng Commercial

Quail Restaurant in Pyongyang

Commentary from The AP

However, recent reports from South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency suggest these may be the first and last we’ll ever see of such ads:

SEOUL, Nov. 8 (Yonhap) –North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has sacked his television point man in anger over commercials that made a splash earlier this year by promoting the communist state’s beer and other local products, sources here said Sunday.

“Recently, Kim saw the commercials while watching TV. He was enraged, asking where the commercials came from and describing them as the prototype of China’s early reforms,” one source said.

Starting July 2, North Korea’s television played commercials that showed young women in traditional clothes serving frothy mugs of Taedonggang beer billed as “Pride of Pyongyang.”

Other products, including ginseng and quail, soon followed in television advertisements, which had rarely been seen in the country, generating outside speculation that North Korea may be starting to embrace the capitalist mode of life.

But according to Yonhap News Agency’s own analysis, the commercials disappeared as of the end of August. The sources said Cha Sung-su, the North’s top broadcaster, has also been discharged.

One source said Cha may have been unduly victimized in the case because the commercials were a product of Kim’s earlier instruction to create “more interesting and diverse” television programs.

 

Korean Central News Agency (DPRK)’s website in English

So a friend on Facebook just happened to mention he now reads the DPRK (North Korea)’s official news agency website for casual enjoyment via the following link:

http://www.kcna.co.jp/index-e.htm

I tried the same thing from my computer in Gwangju, South Korea and instead of the dramatic propaganda I was expecting I was directed to the following page:

http://www.warning.or.kr/

AAARgh! Apparently it is surprisingly simple to access this from the US and other parts of the world, but not in the South. I am so frustrated and curious to see what the heck it says. My friend says it is so worth it and even sent over an excerpt from a  recent post:

“The army and people of the DPRK defending the destiny of the country and the nation and socialism and opening a great heyday of prosperity unprecedented in the history spanning 5,000 years demonstrated the dignity of the nation and the strong national power.”

Anyone out there able to access this site? Would love to hear what you find. Please feel free to post them in comments to this post.

K-Pop Primer : Summer 2009

Laura and Euna Pardoned! Thanks Bill!

American journalists Euna Lee and Laura Ling were finally pardoned yesterday by DPRK’s Kim Jong-il thanks to the efforts of former US President Bill Clinton. Hoping this leads to more efforts to bring DPRK back to multi-party denuclearization talks soon. Read more…

Pillow Wig by JooYoun Paek

Love the concept of the “pillow wig” by Korean artist JooYoun Paek.

My strange fascination with North Korea, part 1

So a typical evening at home ends with me on the internet watching online videos about North Korea. I am strangely fascinated by everything from the propaganda videos to legitimate documentaries about to South Korea’s reclusive, and *unapologetically* nuclear neighbor to the north. Over the next few weeks, I will be posting some of real gems of these videos that keep me up late at night.

Now mind you before I came to ROK, I was seriously considering a visit there. While it is not easy, it is possible and there are tours that can be arranged by going through China. Now, however, with all the recent tension between Washington DC and Pyongyang, I fear even as a tourist, my fate would go the way of the recently sentenced American journalists, Lisa Ling and Euna Lee (see previous posts) for any accidental stepping out of line. Needless to say, I am now mildly petrified of even considering a trip there, hence my online obsession that I am now sharing with you.

The following video, apparently details a recent crackdown on men whose hairstyles are not in accordance with a socialist lifestyle. Photos, names and locations are named to shame the men and tips are given to show the acceptable hairstyles that should be worn. It’s kind of hilarious until you realize DPRK seriously thinks long hair shows a serious lapse in behavior judgement??

Buy North Korean Propaganda Online

I bet you’ve always wanted a mousepad or trucker hat to show off your appreciation for all things North Korean. Right?  Well thanks to the Korean Friendship Association you can buy anything from buttons, ringer tees and tote bags sporting your favorite North Korean propaganda images through Cafepress.com. Now mind you I am not sure who the target audience is but this article poses some pretty good questions about the legality of Cafepress.com’s facilitating the sale of products from North Korea. Check out the article and let me know what you think.