The Pyongyang Metro

[Aurelian]

http://www.earthnutshell.com/stopping-a ... ang-metro/

I found this an interesting series of photos. Something outsiders would not otherwise see,

Let's not make any comments that could be construed as political.

[Terl]

What a wonderful and amazing article. The photos are marvelous and give a glimpse into their society. Thanks for posting this.

[wings7]

Thanks for posting!

[OttoVonBlotto]

great photos, good find, thanks.

[Zap]

Really interesting. The hammer and sickle on the flag had an image I'm guessing is a candle or is it a missile? And the other emblem with the hammer and AK47 WOW. It also seemed the people were very serious no laughing and smiling.

[warspite1]

Great share Emperor! [:)]

Very interesting to see this.

- The people don't seem very happy (like the London tube on a Monday [;)])
- Very clean, ordered, tidy but at the same time "bland". No advertisements on the walls (but no graffiti either)
- Given the ornate interior (lights/chandeliers and marble effects) I was surprised at the dull greyness of the entrance to Konguk.
- I wonder how many ordinary people would use that at peak time (although he says its packed then)?
- Strange to see the recycling symbol on the bin!
- Can you have enough pictures/statues of your leader?

[Neilster]

Apparently there is no rush hour in North Korea. The working day is staggered to prevent it.

Pyongyang is the carefully maintained show-piece of the country. To even live there is a privilege only afforded to trusted families. You have to have proved your loyalty to the state and for probably more than one generation. Most of the rest of the country is a dump and the people there look very thin and often dirty. Apparently smuggled DVDs and USB sticks mean there is a growing knowledge of the outside world but it's in your interest to pretend you know nothing.

I remember a very respected and experienced Australian journalist named George Negus doing a TV report from there about 20 years ago. He stood on an overpass over a completely deserted six lane highway and said to camera, "How about the traffic!?" Those highways are mostly to move the military around quickly. His minders tried to herd him to all the usual propaganda sites but he kept asking to see an ordinary worker's apartment. After days of "That may be difficult" he was finally granted his wish.

Upon walking in he noted with a smile, "Fresh paint! I can smell fresh paint." It had clearly been spruced up just for his visit. The minders squirmed and glanced at each other. The model family who supposedly lived there were full of gushing praise for the Party, the Great Leader etc etc. There was a radio built into the wall, but it didn't have a dial. It didn't need one as it was fixed to the official station. Apparently not having said radio on loud enough could mean being reported to the authorities by your neighbours.

These days lots of people in the capital have televisions but don't expect a lot of channels and watching them is a bit hit or miss as there are frequent blackouts, apparently caused by America...somehow [:D]

About 25 years ago, the University of Tasmania used to get a North Korean propaganda magazine that they stamped "Display and then discard". It was truly bizarre, with endless articles about how, for example, Kim Il Sung would turn up at a site where they were trying to build a hydroelectric dam and that his inspirational engineering advice solved all the problems. They were also very keen to show how many computers they had, although it looked suspiciously like the same old PC was being placed in all the photos [;)]

The really worrying thing about North Korea is that this Stalinist freak-show is probably going to fall apart at some stage, with extremely unpredictable and possible dire results. Who knows what a nuclear armed lunatic regime will do in its death throes?

Anyhoo, their official website is a hoot. Even though it works like it's broken...

http://www.korea-dpr.com/

Cheers, Neilster

[Recognition]

Thanks for posting....This is a fantastic article. Isn't Internet great!!!

[british exil]

Great posting.

It did remind me of the former GDR. I remember visiting East Berlin in the mid 80's. All the buildings were grey, lots of NVA uniforms around, although at the time I thought they were Soviet soldiers.
It was a surreal experience in hindsight. A wall dividing two ideologies.
At the time west Berlin seemed to be booming, the east was in a dire situation, although it was not admitted.
East Berlin was the tourist attraction, so it was in good condition. The surrounding cities, towns and villages were in a shambles.
The Stasi, had the population living in fear. Neighbours would be spying on each other, pretending to be friends - denouncing the other just to get ahead in society or because they didn't like them them for whatever reason.

Looking back it was not a nice place to live.

Today visiting the same places, it seems the cold war never existed. I feel some reminders should have remained, as a reminder of just what it was like. Youths today at school have no idea, to them WWII and the cold war took place in the dark ages.

Mat

[mikkey]

Thanks for sharing Aurelian!

[Missouri_Rebel]

The only smiling people in those photos are the visitor and the subjects portrayed in all the commie propaganda. Everyone else looks like they've seen a ghost and smelt a poopturd.

[GaryChildress]

Looks truly amazing. [X(]

[Pvt_Grunt]

Very interesting read, thanks. [&o]

[CGGrognard]

Thanks for the link. Looking at North Korea from this perspective makes it seem little different from other countries. Other than the ever presence of their dear leader everywhere.