Just east of Myohyangsan (SE of Huichon) is the largest collection of communications towers I have found in the DPRK…more than 20 towers clustered together.
You can click on the image to see a larger version, or you can see it in Wikimapia here.
I have spent more time than I can count looking at the DPRK on Google Earth, but there are still some treasures out there waiting to be found.
Hat tip to a reader.
Pyongyang is often referred to as a “potemkin village” because visitors to the city are often skeptical that what they see is representative of reality. However while making updates to North Korea Uncovered this weekend, I stumbled on what appears to be an an actual “potemkin city” in the DPRK. It is very large and appears to me to be used for military training–because frankly I can’t immediately think of another use (probably too large for a movie set). Here is an overview image of the facility:
Click on image for larger version
The “main street” in this model city is appx .75km (running from NW to SE in the image) . The width of the city is .47km. I checked very quickly to see if the city plan matched up with anywhere in Seoul, but could not find any similarities. The compound itself looks very “Soviet” in design so it might not be a location in South Korea at all (It kind of reminds me of Bucharest). The other possibilities are that it could be a location that no longer exists (I do not know how old this “training area” is) or it could be a model of a location that has never existed.
Here are a couple of close up images:
(Click images for larger version)
Here you can see how thin the “buildings” are as well as the sun shining through the facades and dotting the ground where the “windows” are.
You can see the facility in wikimapia here. The coordinates are: 40° 0′52.32″N, 125°53′11.79″E.
If anyone has a better theory about this place, please let me know in the comments. If I am wrong I would like to know before my reputation is completely destroyed.
UPDATE: In the comments, DCK points out another facility near Pyongyang:
Click image for larger version.
This one is located at 38° 58.079′N, 126° 6.328′E.
As capitalist countries are struggling with falling property values and a glut of housing inventories, Pyongyang is experiencing a housing construction boom (previously covered here and here). In North Korea, however, the housing boom is not the result of an “unexpected” asset bubble but rather a deliberate government policy to achieve a “strong and prosperous country (Kangsong Taeguk)” by 2012 — the year the earth is predicted to be destroyed according to the Mayan calendar.
As part of this construction boom, the North Koreans are (re)building a substantial number of housing units on Mansudae Street east of the Potong River Gate and north of the Russian Embassy. Kim Jong il recently gave an “on-the-spot-guidance” visit there, so using information provided in the coverage of his tour, I was able to map out the areas to be torn down and rebuilt.
First, here is the image from Kim’s visit (courtesy of Daylife and Reuters):
(click image to enlarge)
Using this and other information, I was able to map out the construction areas in Google Earth. Here are some pictures to explain the scale of the work (click images to enlarge):
Construction area
(red=demolish/rebuild; white=preserved)
Previous real estate posts can be read here.
Previous construction posts can be read here.
If you would like to make an effort at improving on my work, you can download my Google Earth overlay here and use it yourself. Some of the buildings in the construction area are specifically identified in North Korea Uncovered.
UPDATE: Here are some pics of the construction site:
DPRK 3D
Several prominent buildings have been modeled in 3D for viewing in Google Earth. Check them out here:
1. Mansu Hill
2. Moument to Party Founding
3. Monument to 3 Charters for National Reunification
4. Tower of the Juche Idea
5. May Day Stadium
6. You can also access a 3D model of the Ryugyong Hotel through Google Earth.
BBC photos
The BBC published some interesting photos of life in the DPRK. See them here.
Jenkins Unplugged
An intrepid traveler ventured to Sado to speak with Jenkins. A couple of interesting new data points come out.
North Korea Uncovered version 18 is available. This Google Earth overlay maps North Korea’s agriculture, aviation, cultural locations, markets, manufacturing facilities, railroad, energy infrastructure, politics, sports venues, military establishments, religious facilities, leisure destinations, and national parks.
This project has now been downloaded over 140,000 times since launching in April 2007 and received much media attention last month following a Wall Street Journal article highlighting the work.
Note: Kimchaek City is now in high resolution for the first time. Information on this city is pretty scarce. Contributions welcome.
Additions to this version include: New image overlays in Nampo (infrastructure update), Haeju (infrastructure update, apricot trees), Kanggye (infrastructure update, wood processing factory), Kimchaek (infrastructure update). Also, river dredges (h/t Christopher Del Riesgo), the Handure Plain, Musudan update, Nuclear Test Site revamp (h/t Ogle Earth), The International School of Berne (Kim Jong un school), Ongjin Shallow Sea Farms, Monument to “Horizon of the Handure Plain”, Unhung Youth Power Station, Hwangnyong Fortress Wall, Kim Ung so House, Tomb of Kim Ung so, Chungnyol Shrine, Onchon Public Library, Onchon Public bathhouse, Anbyon Youth Power Stations.
Using Google Earth’s feature which allows users to view the same location at different points in time, we can see that Pyongyang has experienced quite a construction boom in the 21st century, particularly in the southern Rakrang District. Below I have posted some of the more interesting discoveries (dates are in the upper right corner of the images).
Tudan Duck Farm (Pyongyang)
Rakrang District
Tongil Market (Rakrang)
Russian Orthodox Church (Rakrang)
Kaesong Industrial Zone
Sinuiju market growth
Many have speculated that the construction boom is related to the DPRK’s plan to achieve a “strong and prosperous state” (Kangsong Taeguk) by 2012—the 100th birthday of the country’s eternal president, Kim il Sung.
UPDATE: Jon Herskovitz writes in Reuters that all this construction is actually making pepole worse off. According to the article:
The programme to forge a “great and prosperous nation” by 2012 was a central part of the mandate for Kim Jong-il, son of the founding president, when parliament extended his official leadership in March for five years.
The goals for the broken economy are lofty. The North wants to revamp its railways, coal mines, steelworks and electrical supply, end hunger and strengthen its already large military.
“The Korean people will strikingly demonstrate their heroic stamina as socialist workers … and thus fling open the gate to a thriving nation in 2012,” North Korean state media said in a report to mark May Day.
Foreign residents in Pyongyang say streets are being spruced up and buildings refurbished to mark the 100th birthday of Kim Il-sung, who died in 1994 but is still considered president for eternity of Asia’s only communist dynasty.
“The 2012 project fits into these themes: glorification of the past, and if past history is any guide, the wasting of huge sums on useless monumental edifices,” Marcus Noland, an expert on the North’s economy with the U.S.-based Peterson Institute for International Economics, wrote in an email.
“The problem for North Korea will be financing this initiative.”
North Korea’s centrally planned economy has shrunk significantly since the rise to power in 1994 of Kim Jong-il, whose government quickly stepped away from early attempts at economic reform which might have threatened its grip on power.
Money from overseas has been drying up as the prickly North has backed away from an international disarmament-for-aid deal and the impact of U.N. sanctions, tightened after its April 5 test launch of what many saw as a disguised long-range missile.
…
Those likely to bear the brunt of this shift in internal spending will be the most impoverished in the already destitute state, analysts said.
They will be forced to mobilise for government projects, leaving their local and mostly rural economies to stagnate, which means less food in a country that for years has been unable to produce enough grain to feed its 23 million people.
Read the full article here:
North Korea’s prosperity push could raise poverty
Reuters
Jon Herskovitz
5/12/2009
North Korea Uncovered v.16
Download it here
The most recent version of North Korea Uncovered (North Korea Google Earth) has been published. Since being launched, this project has been continuously expanded and to date has been downloaded over 32,000 times.
Pictured to the left is a statue of Laurent Kabila of the Democratic Republic of Congo. This statue, as well as many others identified in this version of the project, was built by the North Koreans. According to a visitor:
From the neck down, the Kabila monument looks strangely like Kim Jong Il: baggy uniform, creased pants, the raised arm, a little book in his left hand. From the neck up, the statue is the thick, grim bald mug of Laurent Kabila (his son Joseph is the current president). “The body was made in North Korea,” explains my driver Felix. In other words, the body is Kim Jong Il’s, but with a fat, scowling Kabila head simply welded on.
This is particularly interesting because there are no known pictures of a Kim Jong il statue. The only KJI statue that is reported to exist is in front of the National Security Agency in Pyongyang. If a Kim Jong il statue does in fact exist, it might look something like this.
Thanks again to the anonymous contributors, readers, and fans of this project for your helpful advice and location information. This project would not be successful without your contributions.
Google Earth added some image overlays to the DPRK and shifted some older images, so out of the kindness of my heart I reorganized the place marks to give you a more authoritative geographical experience!
I also added a couple of new locations: Cholima Steel Works, Jang Chol Gu University of Commerce, the DPRK’s Central Bank, Changwang Kindergarden, Chongryun Housing, and Maekjon Ferry Relics. Addtionally the electricity grid and railway network have been marginally imporved. Thanks to “HandyDandy61″.
You can download the most recent version of North Korea Uncovered here.
North Korea Uncovered: Version 12
Download it here
About this Project: This map covers North Korea’s agriculture, aviation, cultural locations, markets, manufacturing facilities, energy infrastructure, political facilities, sports venues, military establishments, religious facilities, leisure destinations, national parks, shipping, mining, and railway infrastructure. It is continually expanding and undergoing revisions. This is the 12th version.
Additions include: Tongch’ang-dong launch facility overlay (thanks to Mr. Bermudez), Yongbyon overlay with destroyed cooling tower (thanks to Jung Min Noh), “The Barn” (where the Pueblo crew were kept), Kim Chaek Taehung Fishing Enterprise, Hamhung University of education, Haeju Zoo, Pyongyang: Kim il Sung Institute of Politics, Polish Embassy, Munsu Diplomatic Store, Munsu Gas Station, Munsu Friendship Restaurant, Mongolian Embassy, Nigerian Embassy, UN World Food Program Building, CONCERN House, Czech Republic Embassy, Rungnang Cinema, Pyongyang University of Science and Technology, Pyongyang Number 3 Hospital, Electric Machines Facotry, Bonghuajinlyoso, Second National Academy of Sciences, Central Committee Building, Party Administration Building, Central Statistics Bureau, Willow Capital Food House, Thongounjong Pleasure Ground, Onpho spa, Phipa Resort Hotel, Sunoni Chemical Complex (east coast refinery), Ponghwa Chemical complex (west coast refinery), Songbon Port Revolutionary Monument, Hoeryong People’s Library, Pyongyang Monument to the anti Japanese martyrs, tideland reclamation project on Taegye Island. Additionally the electricity grid was expanded and the thermal power plants have been better organized. Additional thanks to Ryan for his pointers.
I hope this map will increase interest in North Korea. There is still plenty more to learn, and I look forward to receiving your contributions to this project.
The most authoritative map of North Korea on Google Earth
Download it here
This map covers North Korea’s agriculture, aviation, cultural locations, markets, manufacturing facilities, railroad, energy infrastructure, politics, sports venues, military establishments, religious facilities, leisure destinations, and national parks. It is continually expanding and undergoing revisions. This is the eleventh version.
Additions include: Mt. Paegun’s Ryonghung Temple and resort homes, Pyongyang’s Chongryu Restaurant, Swiss Development Agency (former UNDP office), Iranian Embassy, White Tiger Art Studio, KITC Store, Kumgangsan Store, Pyongyang Fried Chicken Restaurant, Kilju’s Pulp Factory (Paper), Kim Chaek Steel Mill, Chongjin Munitions Factory, Poogin Coal Mine, Ryongwun-ri cooperative farm, Thonggun Pavilion (Uiju), Chinju Temple (Yongbyon), Kim il Sung Revolutionary Museum (Pyongsong), Hamhung Zoo, Rajin electrified perimeter fence, Pyongsong market (North Korea’s largest), Sakju Recreation Center, Hoeryong Maternity Hospital, Sariwon Suwon reservoir (alleged site of US massacre), Sinpyong Resting Place, 700 Ridges Pavilion, Academy of Science, Hamhung Museum of the Revolutionary Activities of Comrade Kim Il Sung, South Hamgyong House of Culture, Hamhung Royal Villa, Pork Chop Hill, and Pyongyang’s Olympic torch route. Additional thanks go to Martyn Williams for expanding the electricity grid, particularly in Samjiyon, and various others who have contributed time improving this project since its launch.
Disclaimer: I cannot vouch for the authenticity of many locations since I have not seen or been to them, but great efforts have been made to check for authenticity. These efforts include pouring over books, maps, conducting interviews, and keeping up with other peoples’ discoveries. In many cases, I have posted sources, though not for all. This is a thorough compilation of lots of material, but I will leave it up to the reader to make up their own minds as to what they see. I cannot catch everything and I welcome contributions. Additionally, this file is getting large and may take some time to load.