WorldFocus recently produced a series of videos from a five-day trip as fully legal US tourists to North Korea.
This video gives a glimpse into the daily life of North Korea.
Read more at GlobalFocus
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Forced accordian practice.
I've been there! Nothing is more cruel!
(or unusual) Who knew they polkaed?
Mmmmmm
Mmmmmm
Mmmmmm
This article was approved by the Obama Administration.
Wow!! I'm so envious--great piece. While they obviously had a largely scripted tour, to have had even a small glimpse into this culture must have been incredibly interesting. I've been to South Korea--seeing the North would be amazing.
Myron Floren and Lawrence Welk would be so proud...
How does one go about getting a pass as a "fully legal US tourist" to North Korea.
I ask as a videographer who is interested.
This is ridiculous. It is well known that the Pyongyang Metro is largely shut down, and only runs between two stations as part of propaganda for Western tourists. Furthermore, those "real North Korean people" the narrator was so happy to meet were almost certainly actors trained by the government to put on their best faces for tourists. Just look at the "real people" at the picnic. Most of them look well-fed, even though Korea has been suffering from famines since the 1990s and most North Koreans are on a low-calorie diet. In fact, the diet of North Koreans is so poor that the average Northerner stands several inches shorter than their Southern counterpart.
There are much better documentaries regarding the plight of the North Korean people, as they can see past the DPRK bullsh*t and give a true account of life in North Korea. For example, the Nat Geo documentary at this link, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQXfMMHV8FM.
On the other hand, this documentary crew seems to have allowed themselves to be spoon fed by their handlers. So much for investigative journalism. If they weren't going to even try to do in-depth reporting, they might as well stayed home and not supported the Kim regime with the several thousand dollars it takes to go on one of these "tours."
Given what has recently happened to a couple of Current TV journos it seems it might have been advisable to do and act as these folks did. I do not dispute your assessment, Helmandsare, I merely attempt to get you to look at the facts as they are. Had Piven et al turned in anything other than a report like this, chances are that the next handful of "fully legal US tourists" would not be returning....at all.
Bill Piven sounded like Steven Wright.
It seemed to me that every north Korean male shown in this video was also in the Armed forces.
Most of the females shown were students.
*(makes me curious about the rest of the population)
I think roughly half the population is active or reserve.
Isnt it Switzerland that has the whole population either active or reservist?
Daily life seems to be an empty metro and vacant seats on the trolley because no one can afford to ride.
I've seen several things on Nkorea and its always the same 5 places they go to. Its kinda sad
After the concert, they cooked and ate the accordions.
Probably more nutritious than anything else they'd eaten in their lives!
MMmmmmmm the white keys taste best!
Mr. President, we can’t afford to have an accordion gap with North Korea.
The VBS documentary from North Korea was fascinating. Search YouTube for it if you want a grittier view of Kim Jung-il's people's paradise.
Very interesting report. Must have been quite an experience.
Cool accordion jam!
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First Posted: 11-16-09 10:04 AM | Updated: 11-16-09 10:51 AM