Friday fun: Kim Jong-il flies, “pasty-foods”, DPRK Gatorade

Kim Jong-il Flies: Recently KCTV has broadcast many videos on the life and work of Kim Jong-il. One of these videos was on Kim Jong-il’s contributions to the theatrical and cinematic arts.  In this video, Kim Jong-il can be seen riding in a plane while he scouts out locations for movie sets:

I have watched more North Korean television footage than a healthy person should, but this was the first video footage I had seen of Kim Jong-il on a plane.

Alejandro Cao de Benos once told me that Kim Jong-il could fly fighter jets, though I have not seen any footage of that.

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Koryo Tours has a great Facebook Page.  Here are some of the gems that have popped up over the last few weeks:

Pasty, fast food (yum):

DPRK Tourist Card:

In the next few days Koryo Tours will be offering a brand new tourist route in the DPRK, from Rason down the East Coast to Chongjin and Mt. Chilbo, previously only accessible by charter flight from Pyongyang.

Take On Me by a-ha, North Korean Style (YouTube):

A-ha’s “Take on me” performed by young accordion players from the Kum Song School, filmed in Pyongyang, North Korea December 2011. Part of multi-genre project The Promised Land by director and artist Morten Traavik. Here is more information on the video.

Ceausescu’s visit to Pyongyang, North Korea in 1971:

I believe this clip comes from a feature film: The Autobiography of Nicolae Ceausescu (2010) (trailer here).

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DPRK Gatorade: North Korea is making its own-style sports drink. Here is a link to the report on KCNA (posted to YouTube):

This drink is manufactured in the Kumkop Combined Foodstuff Factory (금컵체육인종합식료공장) in Mangyongdae District. Satellite image and coordinates here.

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3 Responses to “Friday fun: Kim Jong-il flies, “pasty-foods”, DPRK Gatorade”

  1. Mr. Brown says:

     Thanks for the interesting updates. I always find it odd that North Korea promotes Kim Jong-Il’s interest in cinema so much. It contributes to the impression that he is an eccentric person.

  2. mfahey says:

    “Alejandro Cao de Benos once told me that Kim Jong-il could fly fighter jets, though I have not seen any footage of that”. Oh that is so classic! When I read that line I burst out laughing so hard that I scared my cat and it fell of the chair.

    • Guest says:

      I think I remember reading something about his training in East Germany – but I agree, I doubt it’s true.