Chiswickite - formerly The Croydonian

From KCNA:

"Kim Sun Yong, 36, residing in Central District, Pyongyang, told KCNA that her children owe many things to the state, more than to their parents".

Warned you all, didn't I?

Labels: DPRK, small people

An All Seeing Eye, being a splendid chap passed on this omega 3 / roughage-rich nugget of DPRK-related goodness, which he spotted in Swedish daily The Local:

"A trio of young Swedish entrepreneurs will on Friday launch what it calls the first-ever brand of North Korea-made jeans.  The first 1,100 individually numbered jeans" will initially be sold in a Stockholm department store and on the Internet, and then in selected stores elsewhere, Noko Jeans said".

Showing the usual savvy approach to commerce that one expects of the DPRK, things were not exactly plain sailing:

"The trio first contacted North Korean officials in mid-2007 by email, after finding an official website about outsourcing production to North Korea. "The first year, we spent time trying to gain access to the country," Ohlsson explained, adding that the trio visited North Korea twice, once to choose a factory and the second time to oversee production. Production of Noko's two models of jeans began in mid-2009 after a series of obstacles that included "being turned down by the biggest garment company in North Korea."  

Should anyone fancy forking out some £131 for a pair of NoKo jeans, a link to the Swedish site is here, and here is  a promo video featuring some novel english pronunciation:

Labels: DPRK, matters sartorial

Should serve to give everyone a good laugh too:

Yeah, right.

And there's more:

The advantages and vitality of socialism have been clearly proved by the reality in the DPRK which has brought about in a short span of historical time great socio-economic changes. It is impossible for capitalism to do so even though they would have taken it hundreds of years.

The South Korean economy weighs in at $929 billion (nominal) and that of the DPRK at $26.2 billion...  


And because I feel like it, a Daktoritang of DPRK odds and ends:


"General Secretary Kim Jong Il provided field guidance to the Taedonggang Combined Fruit Farm newly built by the Ministry of People's Security....Feasting his eyes on a vast expanse of fields under fruit trees standing in good order and roads stretching between orchards and modern structures, he expressed great satisfaction over the fact that soldier-builders built a modern large-scale fruit producer of world standard in a matter of a few months out of patriotism".

I would have thought bricks and mortar would have been a better choice.  


And the old villain really has been getting out and about:


General Secretary Kim Jong Il provided field guidance to the newly-built Sokjong Pig Farm and the Sokjong Factory for Producing Sliced Vegetables Preserved in Soy Sauce.

Snappy name.

Labels: DPRK, headlines

From Hansard:

"Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which luxury goods may not be exported to North Korea under the terms of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1718 (2006).

David Miliband: UN Security Council Resolution 1718 decided that all UN Member States shall prevent the direct or indirect supply, sale or transfer to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea of luxury goods. The Resolution did not specify which items were defined as luxury goods. Council Regulation 329/2007 defined those goods for the purposes of EU implementation. The list is available in Annex III of Council Regulation (EC) No. 329/2007".

And here is that list. With some helpful facetiae:


1. Pure-bred horses - So nags are ok, presumably

2. Caviar and caviar substitutes - Not even lumpfish roe?

3. Truffles and preparations thereof - How will KJI impress his guests?

4. High quality wines (including sparkling wines), spirits and spirituous beverages. Were I a marketing man, I would strive to get my company's product range on the list so I could market it as 'banned in the DPRK'. And if they don't fetch 'em, I don't know, erm, Pyongyang.

5. High quality cigars and cigarillos - Somehow I cannot imagine that the Cubans pay much heed to the boycott, so KJI will at least have the comfort of a decent stogy. Presumably everyone knows the tale about JFK cleaning out DC's tobacconists of Havanas the day before he signed an order banning their import. Scumbag that he was.

6. Luxury perfumes, toilet waters and cosmetics, including beauty and make-up products. Defined by how much is charged for them rather than any innate qualities, I imagine.

7. High quality leather, saddlery and travel goods, handbags and similar articles. So no Hermès concession at Pyongyang airport....

8. High quality garments, clothing accessories and shoes (regardless of their material). Now that's just mean.

9. Hand-knotted carpets, handwoven rugs and tapestries. Looks like it will have to be beige carpet tiles or lino for the next palace re-furb.

10. Pearls, precious and semi-precious stones, articles of pearls, jewellery, gold- or silversmith articles. I'm sure the next Mrs Kim will be delighted to have a cubic zirconium engagement ring.

11. Coins and banknotes, not being legal tender. I am so tempted to post him a farthing.

12. Cutlery of precious metal or plated or clad with precious metal.

13. High quality tableware of porcelain, china, stone-

or earthenware or fine pottery

14. High quality lead crystal glassware. I am beginning to sense that the plan is to mortify KJI by wrecking his ability to throw sufficiently swanky soirees.

15. High end electronic items for domestic use. Pretty vague that.

16. High end electrical/electronic or optical apparatus for recording and reproducing sound and images. There go the home movies.

17. Luxury vehicles for the transport of persons on earth, air or sea, as well as their accessories and spare parts. I'm sure a stretch Tata Nano could be very presidential.

18. Luxury clocks and watches and their parts. Not that they tell the time any better than a five quid digital effort.

19. High quality musical instruments. No Stradivari for Mt Paektu Philharmonic, and KJI will just have to keep dreaming of the day when he can belt out Highway to Hell on a Stratocaster.

20. Works of art, collectors' pieces and antiques. No postcards on the fridge then.

21. Articles and equipment for skiing, golf, diving and water sports. Given KJI's prowess at golf, he will not be that bothered.

22. Articles and equipment for billiard, automatic bowling, casino games and games operated by coins or banknotes. What, neither snooker nor pool? And I guess that Pong machine will remain the highlight of K's personal amusement arcade.

Labels: DPRK, I shop therefore I am, Parliament

From the usual place:

"Pyongyang, January 21 (KCNA) -- Barack Obama took office as the 44th president of the United States on Jan. 20.

The inauguration ceremony was held at the Capitol building that day.

He made an inaugural address there".

As an enthusiastic amateur Kumsusanologist, I note A - the lack of denunciation and B - the lack of congratulations, these normally being forthcoming when a new head of state assumes office.

So, perhaps the DPRK is prepared to give the new chap a crack of the whip before normal service is resumed.

Meanwhile, there are some freshly unveiled slogans with which the denizens of the DPRK might rend the air:

Let all of us turn out in the drive for implementing the tasks laid down in the joint editorial!

Let us bring about a new great revolutionary upswing on all fronts in the same spirit as displayed by the workers of Kangson!

Let us exalt the dignity and might of Songun Korea with the mental power of all the servicepersons and people!"

World, look at the spirit of Songun Korea! (I like this one a lot)

Let us bring about collective innovations!

For independence, democracy and reunification!


Hate to break it to them, but the overuse of screamers is utterly passé.

Labels: DPRK, United States