Some paintings from the Sinchon-Ri Museum in North Korea, depicting America’s “war atrocities” in the Korean War [wiki] from North Korea’s “point of view”.
North Korea
North Korea archives - North Korean lifestyle, travel, politics and pop culture
North-South Korea qualified for FIFA World Cup 2010
Both North Korea and South Korea have qualified from the Asian groupings to play in the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. It will be the first time both nations are participating in the tournament phase.
North Korea will be making only their second appearance; their first was a fairy tale in 1966 when they defeated European giant Italy en route to the quarter finals, a result that stunned the world.
South Korea however is the most successful Asian team in World Cup history and will be making their eighth appearance in 2010. Their best result was fourth place in 2002 when they were joint host (with Japan) for the event.
The Koreans met in the qualifying stage in which the southern counterpart has the upper hand with a win and a draw. The northern boys are unlikely to get their revenge in 2010 though, as chances are pretty slim for them to meet each other.
South Korean tourist shot dead by North Korean soldier
The North-South Korea relationship is on tension again after the death of a South Korean tourist who was shot dead by the North Korean soldiers at the Kŭmgangsan holiday resort in North Korea.
The shooting incident occurred on Friday morning. North Korea claimed that the 53-year-old woman had crossed deep into a fenced-off military area and ran away when a soldier told her to halt… the soldier chased her and fired a warning shot before she was shot dead at around 5am.
Kŭmgangsan, or Mt Kumgang, is a tourist spot in North Korea. South Korean tourists have been allowed to visit Kŭmgangsan since 1998 but within a fenced zone; it’s a popular place for South Koreans to take a glimpse of their northern neighbouring land.
The tragedy has caused outrage in the south, as the public is questioning the authenticity of North Korea’s explanations and called for thorough investigations into the matter. North Korea on Saturday have expressed their regrets over the death, but has dismissed any wrong doings on their side.
From the current development, it seems like there are no other alternative explanations besides what the North Koreans are saying… which would be a very unfortunate incident regardless. Rest in peace, Madam Park.
Crossing (2008) Korean movie trailer
English subbed teaser for Crossing, a South Korean movie based on life accounts of numerous North Korean refugees. In theatres later this month.
Actor Cha In-pyo starred as a North Korean coal miner who crossed illegally into China to get medicine for his wife. His wife passed away soon after he crossed the border, and he’s separated from his 11-year-old son (Shin Myung-chul) who’s desperately trying to reunite with him from North Korea.
The story shares the hardship of North Korean refugees in late 1990’s, with famine striking the country and killed an estimated 1 million people.
The North Koreans couldn’t cross into South Korea directly because of landmines and heavy military presence at the border… these defectors had to cross into China and made a de-tour to South Korea instead.
The Chinese government, an ally of the North Korean regime, does not recognise the defectors as refugees and would send them back to North Korea to face stiff action.