1. Alejandro Cao de Benos, head of the Korean Friendship Association, did an interview for an Italian publication (Page 1, Page 2). Josh is posting a translation: part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4.
2. Flower of Reunification: North Korean propaganda film about Im Suk Yong. Lots of great footage of the 1989 World Festival of Youth and Students in Pyongyang. Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7.
3. North Korea has launched a new propaganda campaign aiming to increase living standards. See the new paintings in the Choson Ilbo here.
4. Ice skating: Pyongyang might have the DPRK’s only indoor ice skating rink (as far as I know), but ice skating–particularly on frozen rivers and lakes–seems to be pretty popular in the DPRK. Scenes like the one below (Hyangsan) can be easily found in North Korea on Google Earth:
6. According to Google’s international dailing chart, North Korea and Cuba are the most expensive places to call!
7. North East Asia Matters posts interview with former member of KJI pleasure squad.
Great stuff. Thank you! Looking forward to further installments of the interview with Alejandro Cao de Benós.
Might I also recommend a video tour of the DPRK narrated by a Spanish journalist and hosted by Mr. Cao de Benos. http://gallery.me.com/mcalcada#gallery
Really good stuff.. that Spanish vid gives a wonderful insight to cao de Benos ..
Wonderful site – keep up the good work
Japan seems to be underwater on that poster with the big globe.