Sports Victory Equals More Power in Pyongyang, Literally
by Richardson ~ September 6th, 2006. Filed under: North Korea.Sounds like a Red Bull commercial! From Reuters: North Korea win boosts morale, power output in Pyongyang:
North Korea’s triumph in the women’s Under 20 world championship not only sparked rejoicing in Pyongyang, it even boosted electricity production in the capital city, the North’s state news agency KCNA reported on Tuesday.
The North Koreans thrashed China’s Steel Rosebuds, the pre-match favourites, 5-0 in a rainstorm in Moscow on Sunday to win their country’s first FIFA world championship crown.
“I was greatly excited to hear the news that our girls won the world championship,” Ri Chol-su, a worker at the Pyongyang Thermal Power Complex, told KCNA.
“This encouraged us to achieve an unprecedented high boost in the electricity production today.
“We believe this signal victory represents the spirit of Korea. We workers will step up the building of a great prosperous powerful nation in the same spirit displayed by them.”
Years of diplomatic isolation and central economic planning have left North Korea chronically short of energy.
The contribution made to the victory by the hardline Communist country’s secretive leader Kim Jong-il was not forgotten either.
“This victory was possible thanks to the wise leadership of Kim Jong-il, who instilled matchless courage into the footballers and showed boundless love and trust for them while the championship was underway,” said Kim Yong-chol, an instructor at the Korean Physical Culture and Sports Guidance Commission. (emphasis added)
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September 7th, 2006 at 3:28 am
Wow. This sounds like something out of The Onion!
September 7th, 2006 at 4:44 am
I think Ri Chol-su is actually a bit unpatriotic. I mean, why didn’t they get a boost from the missile tests in July! Those Pyongyang Thermal Power Complex workers have their priorities wrong! JUCHE!!!
September 7th, 2006 at 6:30 am
Just once, I’d like to see an athlete blame Kim Jong Il/God/Jesus for failing to guide him or “instill him with boundless courage” when he loses.