Comments for North Korean Economy Watch http://www.nkeconwatch.com News and analysis of the North Korean economy Wed, 17 Mar 2010 01:21:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 Comment on North Koreans get out of cash by Werner http://www.nkeconwatch.com/2010/03/11/north-koreans-get-out-of-cash/#comment-186186 Werner Tue, 16 Mar 2010 11:42:00 +0000 http://www.nkeconwatch.com/2010/03/11/north-koreans-get-out-of-cash/#comment-186186 probably no waste. Lankov wrote (in, Pyongyang strikes back) that in 2006 alone about 350.000 DVD players were imported in NK from China (there were no restrictions at that time for this specific product). Thus, the more affluent Koreans north of the DMZ will watch the recently popular "Pasta" and "God of Study" dramas with their imported DVD-players, new DVDs and the new flatscreen. probably no waste. Lankov wrote (in, Pyongyang strikes back) that in 2006 alone about 350.000 DVD players were imported in NK from China (there were no restrictions at that time for this specific product). Thus, the more affluent Koreans north of the DMZ will watch the recently popular “Pasta” and “God of Study” dramas with their imported DVD-players, new DVDs and the new flatscreen.

]]> Comment on DPRK seeks hike in embassy rent by Ben http://www.nkeconwatch.com/2010/03/14/dprk-seeks-hike-in-embassy-rent/#comment-186100 Ben Tue, 16 Mar 2010 05:35:32 +0000 http://www.nkeconwatch.com/2010/03/14/dprk-seeks-hike-in-embassy-rent/#comment-186100 I also find North Korea's attempt to curb internet usage very strange. When I went to North Korea this past November, I met on the plane a nice Frenchman who's been working in Pyongyang for the European Union for about a year. He told me the few expats living and working in Pyongyang use Chinese satellite-provided internet, and therefore unrestricted (expect of course for the sites banned in China, such as Facebook, Youtube, and such), as opposed to the very restricted intranet system some North Koreans use. Thus, I'm surprised mentions this UN agency having requested internet usage to send documents. I'm guessing it might have been local UN employees, because again, based on what the Frenchman told me, foreigners do have access to internet at their workplace. I also find North Korea’s attempt to curb internet usage very strange. When I went to North Korea this past November, I met on the plane a nice Frenchman who’s been working in Pyongyang for the European Union for about a year. He told me the few expats living and working in Pyongyang use Chinese satellite-provided internet, and therefore unrestricted (expect of course for the sites banned in China, such as Facebook, Youtube, and such), as opposed to the very restricted intranet system some North Koreans use.

Thus, I’m surprised mentions this UN agency having requested internet usage to send documents. I’m guessing it might have been local UN employees, because again, based on what the Frenchman told me, foreigners do have access to internet at their workplace.

]]> Comment on North Koreans get out of cash by Mark http://www.nkeconwatch.com/2010/03/11/north-koreans-get-out-of-cash/#comment-186054 Mark Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:15:57 +0000 http://www.nkeconwatch.com/2010/03/11/north-koreans-get-out-of-cash/#comment-186054 Seems like such a waste to have a flatscreen when all you can watch is KCTV :) Seems like such a waste to have a flatscreen when all you can watch is KCTV :)

]]> Comment on DPRK seeks hike in embassy rent by Neil (Cogsinister) http://www.nkeconwatch.com/2010/03/14/dprk-seeks-hike-in-embassy-rent/#comment-185983 Neil (Cogsinister) Mon, 15 Mar 2010 18:09:41 +0000 http://www.nkeconwatch.com/2010/03/14/dprk-seeks-hike-in-embassy-rent/#comment-185983 I would have thought that Embassies in the DPRK if they wanted to have internet access they would use satellite based systems that the DPRK can not easily intercept....Embassies have the freedom to communicate with there home bases... I can't see the UN wanting to use a local internet connection to send documents, do the UN not have there own world wide sat comms system to do that ? I would have thought that Embassies in the DPRK if they wanted to have internet access they would use satellite based systems that the DPRK can not easily intercept….Embassies have the freedom to communicate with there home bases…

I can’t see the UN wanting to use a local internet connection to send documents, do the UN not have there own world wide sat comms system to do that ?

]]> Comment on Rajin SEZ electrified perimeter on Google Earth by North Korean Economy Watch » Blog Archive » DPRK revises Rason investment law http://www.nkeconwatch.com/2008/07/25/raijin-electrified-perimeter-on-google-earth/#comment-185918 North Korean Economy Watch » Blog Archive » DPRK revises Rason investment law Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:14:37 +0000 http://www.nkeconwatch.com/2008/07/25/raijin-electrified-perimeter-on-google-earth/#comment-185918 [...] 3. I mapped out the fence built with Mr. Roh’s wire. [...] […] 3. I mapped out the fence built with Mr. Roh’s wire. […]

]]> Comment on DPRK to remove inactive Chinese companies from Rajin by One Free Korea » Meet Roh Jeong-Ho: Ex-Millionaire, Symbol of a Failed Policy, and Asshole http://www.nkeconwatch.com/2008/12/19/dprk-to-remove-inactive-chinese-companies-from-rajin/#comment-185903 One Free Korea » Meet Roh Jeong-Ho: Ex-Millionaire, Symbol of a Failed Policy, and Asshole Mon, 15 Mar 2010 12:12:02 +0000 http://www.nkeconwatch.com/2008/12/19/dprk-to-remove-inactive-chinese-companies-from-rajin/#comment-185903 [...] makes a fresh effort to revive it. Some reports in late 2008 suggested that North Korea had evicted some or all of the Chinese companies that originally bought into Rajin. This is a curious thing; after [...] […] makes a fresh effort to revive it. Some reports in late 2008 suggested that North Korea had evicted some or all of the Chinese companies that originally bought into Rajin. This is a curious thing; after […]

]]> Comment on Rajin SEZ electrified perimeter on Google Earth by One Free Korea » Meet Roh Jeong-Ho: Ex-Millionaire, Symbol of a Failed Policy, and Asshole http://www.nkeconwatch.com/2008/07/25/raijin-electrified-perimeter-on-google-earth/#comment-185900 One Free Korea » Meet Roh Jeong-Ho: Ex-Millionaire, Symbol of a Failed Policy, and Asshole Mon, 15 Mar 2010 12:04:50 +0000 http://www.nkeconwatch.com/2008/07/25/raijin-electrified-perimeter-on-google-earth/#comment-185900 [...] much else came of the Rajin-Sonbong zone, the North Koreans did put up the fence, at least. Curtis identified it in satellite imagery. What is not stated is how, exactly, one isolates an area from “ordinary [...] […] much else came of the Rajin-Sonbong zone, the North Koreans did put up the fence, at least. Curtis identified it in satellite imagery. What is not stated is how, exactly, one isolates an area from “ordinary […]

]]> Comment on Monument to the African Renaissance taking shape by North Korean Economy Watch » Blog Archive » North Koreans working on South African football stadiums http://www.nkeconwatch.com/2010/01/31/monument-to-the-african-renaissance-taking-shape/#comment-185804 North Korean Economy Watch » Blog Archive » North Koreans working on South African football stadiums Mon, 15 Mar 2010 02:39:14 +0000 http://www.nkeconwatch.com/2010/01/31/monument-to-the-african-renaissance-taking-shape/#comment-185804 [...] Helping South Africa can be interpreted as an attempt to earn some much-needed foreign capital. North Korea has up to 30,000 laborers in China, Russia and some Middle Eastern countries. Last September, North Korea sent nearly 50 workers from the state-run Mansudae Art Studio in Pyongyang to construct .... [...] […] Helping South Africa can be interpreted as an attempt to earn some much-needed foreign capital. North Korea has up to 30,000 laborers in China, Russia and some Middle Eastern countries. Last September, North Korea sent nearly 50 workers from the state-run Mansudae Art Studio in Pyongyang to construct …. […]

]]> Comment on Former DPRK embassy to become hotel by North Korean Economy Watch » Blog Archive » DPRK seeks hike in embassy rent http://www.nkeconwatch.com/2008/04/04/former-dprk-embassy-to-become-hotel/#comment-185789 North Korean Economy Watch » Blog Archive » DPRK seeks hike in embassy rent Mon, 15 Mar 2010 01:41:26 +0000 http://www.nkeconwatch.com/2008/04/04/former-dprk-embassy-to-become-hotel/#comment-185789 [...] embassies in Pyongyang, the DPRK earns revenue from its embassies abroad.  See here, here, here, here, here, and [...] […] embassies in Pyongyang, the DPRK earns revenue from its embassies abroad.  See here, here, here, here, here, and […]

]]> Comment on North Korean embassies having business problems by North Korean Economy Watch » Blog Archive » DPRK seeks hike in embassy rent http://www.nkeconwatch.com/2008/02/24/north-korean-embassies-having-business-problems/#comment-185788 North Korean Economy Watch » Blog Archive » DPRK seeks hike in embassy rent Mon, 15 Mar 2010 01:40:14 +0000 http://www.nkeconwatch.com/2008/02/24/north-korean-embassies-having-business-problems/#comment-185788 [...] embassies in Pyongyang, the DPRK earns revenue from its embassies abroad.  See here, here, here, here, here, and [...] […] embassies in Pyongyang, the DPRK earns revenue from its embassies abroad.  See here, here, here, here, here, and […]

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