North Korean Diplomats Not Impressed with DC
by Richardson ~ October 8th, 2007. Filed under: Diplomacy.If an American acted this way in Pyongyang, the trip might get shortened, though these may have had their talking points prepared for them:
A group of North Korean diplomats got a secret tour of Washington last month, seeing the White House and driving past the Pentagon. . . But the 16 North Korean diplomats and their families posted to the United Nations and normally not allowed to travel outside New York were not all that impressed on their September 8 visit…
“They were like, ‘Is that all?’ when they stopped at the White House, Fred Carriere, executive director of the Korea Society and one of the group’s tour escorts, told the newspaper.
[. . .]
Carriere told the Tribune that the North Koreans also visited the Lincoln Memorial landmark in central Washington, where they demonstrated their knowledge of US history.
One pointed to the Lincoln quote inscribed on the memorial wall asserting that all men are created equal and said: “But we understand he had slaves,” Carriere said. (emphasis added)
And no, Lincoln didn’t have slaves.
October 8th, 2007 at 5:40 pm
Sounds like whoever briefed them on their talking points should have distinguished the presidential monuments and memorial. My ten-year-old nephew was confused at first - he thought Jefferson was the fellow who flew a kite and discovered electricity - but after visiting each place with Dad and Auntie, he managed to sort out our most honored presidents.
Maybe “Is that all” was an expression of disappointment by the North Koreans that their tour didn’t include a stop at the Korean War Memorial to read the words “Freedom is not free,” followed by visit to Arlington National Cemetery to reflect on the profound meaning of those words.
October 8th, 2007 at 8:00 pm
Who gives a crap what these North Korean drug dealers/counterfeiters think?! The tour guide should have taken these clowns to a supermarket and videotaped their reaction.
October 9th, 2007 at 6:58 am
I wonder if any of them commented that Juche Tower is meter taller than the Washington Monument?
I think I would have told them that, no, Lincoln didn’t have slaves but many of the founding fathers did. However, not to worry, none of them could ever rival the number of slaves the Dear Leader has.
October 9th, 2007 at 8:39 am
Count the silverware after a North Korean diplomat leaves a restaurant.
October 11th, 2007 at 7:51 am
They should have stopped by the new Korean-run bulkogi/pibimbap stands in DC - Korean fast food (and no silverware!).
October 11th, 2007 at 9:02 am
Where can I find them, Richardson? Is the food good?
October 11th, 2007 at 9:32 am
I just learned about them last night when my wife told me, and saw this at the Marmot’s today. If I get a chance I’ll try out the food and report back.
October 11th, 2007 at 4:46 pm
I sent Marmot the link. As I recall from playing tour guide this summer, DC street food is scarce and scary. I’ll be looking for your food review.
BTW, I got a colleague hooked on Korean kim. She had bought a Japanese cookbook and picked up laver at a local supermarket. I gave her a package of toasted sesame kim and told her to taste the difference. She gobbled up the package before she got home from work. It’s the touch of sesame oil that really makes Korean food appealing to the senses.
One more question - do you know exactly where the Grand Mart in Sterling is located? I know it’s on Rt. 7, and I drove into Sterling a few weeks ago but somehow missed it.
October 11th, 2007 at 8:28 pm
Sonagi-
Grand Mart in Sterling is on the north side (right side if you are going west) of Rt. 7, more or less behind IHOP. Going west, turn right off Rt. 7 as if you were going to IHOP and you will see it to your left immediately after you turn in. It is behind a fence and not easy to see from Rt. 7 unless you know where to look. Go sometime other than mid-day Saturday if you want to be sure you can park and get a shopping cart.
There is another Grand Mart at Seven Corners in what once was a Giant a little east of the BB&T office buildings (two tallest in the area). The one in Sterling is superior in many ways.
October 11th, 2007 at 8:49 pm
I’m coming in from the west, so obviously I’ll be making a left. Do you know what the nearest intersection is?
October 12th, 2007 at 8:43 am
Ongura;
Thanks for the info.
Sonagi;
Sorry for the late reply. I’ve never been to that Grand Mart, but the address/phone is:
If you have the time and are a bit further South (~16 miles, from Grand Mart; continue East on 7, 7100 South, 50 East, 50 West/29 North), I suggest Super H Mart:
October 12th, 2007 at 9:20 am
Thanks for the maps, Richardson.
October 12th, 2007 at 10:59 pm
Sonagai-
Coming from the west, make your left at the light at Lakeland, which is opposite the main entrance to Sterling Plaza (Burlington Coat Factory, Shopper’s, etc.) on Rt. 7. Turning left there is much safer. CVS will be on your left. Go behind CVS and Grand Mart is on the right about 100m beyond the IHOP, which at that point is on your left. There is no light at Cedar but there is a lot of trafic on Rt. 7, some crazy, including speeders.