Commerical ads are actually allowed in DPRK Well...but how many private company is actively working there? I once read from Aisaweek or something that a NK car maker had put up a big ad board in Pyongyang, advetising a model that looks like a Fiat. Later I found out that company is now the only car maker in NK and Fiat is (or was?) actually involved. Well...I just dunno why they threw money into a shithole like this --- no one can afford a private car, and the government uses either Mercedes Benz or second hand Toyotas. Same question for that Egypt Tycoon who recently incvested in NK 3G (yes, 3G) mobile network and that 103 stories Ryukyeon hotel.
Actually, North Koreans didn't get to see the match live on TV. It was SK's station SBS that aired the match live while North Koreans had to see it on tape delay later in the day. So those ads were probably targeted towards people in SK. If I remember correctly, they were mostly South Korean and Japanese ads.
I remember in 2002 they replayed Germany-USA on DPRK TV with a nasty anti-US commentary, even though we outplayed the Jerries. Go figure. DPRK look to be in good position to qualify, or at least get fifth. I would like their chances home and away against New Zealand. What I want to see is the DPRK in the WC and have them get drawn into the same group with, you guessed it, the USA. That match will get the world's attention.
It would nice to see DPR in there for a change. Saudi Arabia has been there 5 times in a row and so many other countries have been there several times more recently and it's been SOOOOOOOOOOOO long DPR. Imagine if they played the United States at the World Cup?? I just hope they could make a game out of it.
maybe a bit OT but I found this NK car TV "commercial/ adver" in youtube [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0P6HSXzo4P4"]YouTube - Car Manufacturing Plant in North Korea (?? ??? & ??, DPRK)[/ame] any folks can kindly translate it ? just highlights will be great~
True and they certainly don't have to worry about overpopulation. Have you seen those videos of Pyongyang on YouTube? There is one where they have this MASSIVE waterslide there and it looks really nice. They live pretty nicely other than the fact the don't have cars but with not too many people there and good public transportation they don't need them like we do here.
WOW. I didn't know they have the largest stadium in the WORLD. But why do they need it since they really don't hold any major sporting events besides N.Korea football games? What is that massive event going on in that pic near the bottom?
well, their subway is 150M deep, practically just a shelter. They have buses and trams and everything but not the fuel to power them so most people end up walking
Don't you know the KEY purpose of these stadiums are to host mass performances like A-ri-rang at times like Fat arxe Kim 's birthday?
After seeing those pics that were posted it would be interesting to see Pyongyang just for a day or something. Any bigsoccer members planning a trip? LOL!
Bobjones you know a lot about DPRK. Have you been there? I was just following up on how Divingisgay said North Koreans live decently in cities. Obviously I know it's nothing like what we have in AMerica.
realfootball, i'm not attacking you. I'm just making the point that life in Pyong Yang is about the same as life in Seoul in the 1960's. Which to my mind, is not really good living. I'm just saying "good life" is a matter of perspective. It just sounds like "good life" by Divingisgay's definition is not starving. There are enough reports by North Korean defectors and foreign travelers to get a good sense of living conditions over there. Everything I wrote before is just a regurgitation of what North Korean defectors in Seoul say about what their life was like in Pyong Yang.
Can't ANYONE besides government officials get cars? Doctors, lawyers, businessmen? Are there any ranch or 2 story houses like here in America? Only for super rich or government or some well educated citizens too?
hihi, i want to rep you, but it says i must spread rep. realfootball, in North Korea doctors, lawyers, and businessmen are by definition government officials. well, maybe not doctors, but they are probably members of the Party. From what defectors say, some people have access to vehicles, but may not "own" them as they are government property. Some of these people take advantage of this situation and make money from it. But we know that certain athletes are given cars as rewards for good performance. They actually do sell cars in North Korea too, but for all practical reality, only people who can afford them are people who have good jobs through the government---since everything is owned by the government in a communist country. as for 2 stories houses... there is a bit of a misperception here in the US in regard to apartment complexes. In the US, only poor people live in apartment complexes which we dub "the projects." In the far east, apartment complexes are for wealthy people like rich people who live in the Upper Eastside. In the North Korea this is even more true. Also, traditional Korean houses are single story---but my wild guess tells me that at least some houses are 2 stories. To be fair to North Korea, things like Arirang festival is probably really fun for the kids who perform in it. I mean, we play sports here, they do mass games. And I suppose Pyong Yang kids who gets to do these Mass Games are having a jolly time compared to rural kids who don't even get to do that.
Bobjones you said "we play sports HERE". Are YOU in North Korea?? Are you a westerner? If so, WHAT are you doing in North Korea? Also, apartments are NOT for the poor in AMerica. Sure some poor people like in apartments but just like you have cheap houses and expensive houses you have crappy apartments and very nice apartments. Many middle class live in apartments with nice cars and they are not poor by any means. Even some upper class live in apartments who don't want to be hassled with property ownership but it's mostly middle class in the nice apartments.
Hi real, i live in nyc area. i just meant "we play sports here" i mean that kids play sports as extracurricular activity in the world outside North Korea. So Arirang Mass Games is kinda like North Korean version. You are right about the apartments in the west. Sorry for creating a confusion. I just wanted to point out that to a lot of Americans, "rich people" live in suburbs and poor people live in "the projects". What I wanted to emphasize is that in a country like North Korea, people envy those who live in apartments. Most westerners probably wouldn't realize it. And nope. I've never been to North Korea. There are just tons of information now available on the internet. Although it helps to know Korean. NKdaily is a good website run by Korean defectors who actually have connections there. If you know Korean the korean service for radio free asia or freenk radio is good too. freenk radio is also run by defectors, but they don't translate into english as their target audience is North Korean. South Korea also have numerous sources too. Nowadays you can even watch full length north korean TV dramas and films on Youtube, but they are pretty boring to sit through. I recommend A State of Mind. I thought that was a very good view of life of North Korean elite in Pyong Yang.