Commenter Jack has started a new North Korea-centric blog, DPRK Forum. From what I can tell, the author is fairly new to the area but has been reading widely and voraciously on the subject, and I expect to see many interesting observations at DPRK Forum. As a starter, try this post on the intelligence challenges of North Korea.
Via the Times: "The exhibition features 400 hand-painted posters dating from the peak of the Dear Leader Kim Sung Il's power in the 1950s to the present regime led by his son, Kim Jong Il." The article has only one image, but has several interesting propaganda quotes.
- #Young Korean Herrenvolk engaging in their version of Agoge, at least according to the New York Times. The two Korean schools mentioned in the article are similar to Exeter or Andover in the United States in someways (they are private academies that serve children of affluent parents). But my guess is that the studious atmosphere and intense regimen compare more to the likes of Stuyvesant (my alma mater) in NYC or T.J. in Virginia (both highly selective, but publicly-funded high schools).
- #North Korea claims that on 25 April 1932 the Korean People’s Army (KPA, 조선인민군/ Chosŏn inmin'gun) was formed. However, the more likely accurate date is 08 February 1948. It is celebrated as “Military Foundation Day” in Kimland.
- #
August 22nd, 2007 at 2:51 pm
I have been sitting here a while trying to think of a good response, but I cannot. Therefore, the only thing I can say to this post is a very humble thank you.
Yes, I am still very new to the subject, but as time goes on, the posts should (hopefully) get better. However, I cannot profess to be an expert on the reclusive nation, but I can be an interested third party observer to the human condition that is not readily talked about in the so-called negotiations. Sadly, in my view, it is the ordinary people that seem to always get the short end of the stick, and the world should know about it.
Other Korea based blogs such as yours, One Free Korea (and many others) focus on this crisis very well and ask the same blaring question: ‘Why?’.
August 22nd, 2007 at 5:02 pm
Jack, no problem. A fresh set of eyes can bring new perspective so don’t think you don’t have anything to add.
August 22nd, 2007 at 7:58 pm
Hi Jack,
Looks like its going to build up to be a useful resource. Make sure you get into contact with some of the other regular Korean studies bloggers. I have just started a site too (www.koreanunification.net) and found the advice I got from some of the regulars here to be very helpful and encouraging.
Good luck,
Gunther
August 23rd, 2007 at 1:29 am
Yes, I will try my best to network a little but with the other Korea based blogs, but I will need more content and pingbacks with relevant content before bugging people about it.
I linked to DPRK Studies because this was the first Korea-centric blog I came across and felt comfortable pinging back here without fearing it would be seen as spam-like.
I really appreciate your kind words and will definitely read more of your blog like I read so many others (yes, even the pro-DPRK ones). I doubt I will be able to blog everyday on the subject, but the subject so vast, one can easily post something several times a day for a lifetime and never cover it all.