Comments on: Even the Soviets thought North Korea was strange http://www.rjkoehler.com/2004/12/28/even-the-soviets-thought-north-korea-was-strange/ Korea... in Blog Format Sat, 22 Nov 2008 09:08:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Lankov http://www.rjkoehler.com/2004/12/28/even-the-soviets-thought-north-korea-was-strange/#comment-9957 Lankov Tue, 04 Jan 2005 01:41:35 +0000 http://rjkoehler.com/?p=1360#comment-9957 Dear Harry, Re Soviet documentary. It was widely discussed in the late 1970s. As far as I remember, it was shot by Kazverznev, a well-known and extremely popular TV journalist of quite liberal views. If you are looking for NK footage, contact ex-Soviet archives, especially Archive of video documents in Krasnogorsk. Otehr person to talk if Leonid Petrov, from NKstudies. His is from a Russian 'cinema family' and does research on the NK history - good combination. Check his site north-korea.narod.ru I e-mailed you with some details. Regards Al Dear Harry,

Re Soviet documentary. It was widely discussed in the late 1970s. As far as I remember, it was shot by Kazverznev, a well-known and extremely popular TV journalist of quite liberal views. If you are looking for NK footage, contact ex-Soviet archives, especially Archive of video documents in Krasnogorsk. Otehr person to talk if Leonid Petrov, from NKstudies. His is from a Russian ‘cinema family’ and does research on the NK history - good combination. Check his site north-korea.narod.ru

I e-mailed you with some details.

Regards

Al

]]> By: Harry Salmon http://www.rjkoehler.com/2004/12/28/even-the-soviets-thought-north-korea-was-strange/#comment-9956 Harry Salmon Fri, 31 Dec 2004 14:02:33 +0000 http://rjkoehler.com/?p=1360#comment-9956 Dr Lankov: In the article you mention a Soviet documentary showing young kindergarden kids performing the "My Heavy Maching Gun" dance. I'm working on my own documentary on North Korea, primarily focused on the bizarreness mentioned in your article. Do you know any specifics about this Soviet documentary or any other bizarre North Korean footage? I remember once seeing footage of a KPA unit storming down a road on rollerskates... Dr Lankov:

In the article you mention a Soviet documentary showing young kindergarden kids performing the “My Heavy Maching Gun” dance.

I’m working on my own documentary on North Korea, primarily focused on the bizarreness mentioned in your article. Do you know any specifics about this Soviet documentary or any other bizarre North Korean footage?

I remember once seeing footage of a KPA unit storming down a road on rollerskates…

]]> By: slim http://www.rjkoehler.com/2004/12/28/even-the-soviets-thought-north-korea-was-strange/#comment-9955 slim Thu, 30 Dec 2004 08:19:21 +0000 http://rjkoehler.com/?p=1360#comment-9955 >>>BTW, why is this ?€?bluejives?€™ troll being fed? Other than it?€™s blog ratings week and the Marmot?€™s slipping in the polls, I can see no reason. Maybe there is an Obnoxious Asian Troll awards that we don't know about. As virtually the only troll, bluejives has no competition in any of the blogs I pay attention to. Again, may I suggest that the Korea Herald bulletin board is a more suitable place for his, um, talents.... >>>BTW, why is this ?€?bluejives?€™ troll being fed? Other than it?€™s blog ratings week and the Marmot?€™s slipping in the polls, I can see no reason.

Maybe there is an Obnoxious Asian Troll awards that we don’t know about. As virtually the only troll, bluejives has no competition in any of the blogs I pay attention to. Again, may I suggest that the Korea Herald bulletin board is a more suitable place for his, um, talents….

]]> By: hanminjoke http://www.rjkoehler.com/2004/12/28/even-the-soviets-thought-north-korea-was-strange/#comment-9954 hanminjoke Wed, 29 Dec 2004 23:16:34 +0000 http://rjkoehler.com/?p=1360#comment-9954 Good to know you admire the freedom and power associated with murdering millions of North Koreans. Then again, North Korean lives amount to "very little," eh jivesy old boy? Better to keep coddling the despot and feeding his killing machine in the name of brotherhood. South Koreans are courageous like that. Good to know you admire the freedom and power associated with murdering millions of North Koreans. Then again, North Korean lives amount to “very little,” eh jivesy old boy? Better to keep coddling the despot and feeding his killing machine in the name of brotherhood.

South Koreans are courageous like that.

]]> By: bluejives http://www.rjkoehler.com/2004/12/28/even-the-soviets-thought-north-korea-was-strange/#comment-9953 bluejives Wed, 29 Dec 2004 22:02:38 +0000 http://rjkoehler.com/?p=1360#comment-9953 ^ Dr Lankov, there is a strange freedom and power that comes from being in a position with very little to lose. North Korea is like that. ^ Dr Lankov, there is a strange freedom and power that comes from being in a position with very little to lose. North Korea is like that.

]]> By: lankov http://www.rjkoehler.com/2004/12/28/even-the-soviets-thought-north-korea-was-strange/#comment-9952 lankov Wed, 29 Dec 2004 19:31:00 +0000 http://rjkoehler.com/?p=1360#comment-9952 Dear bluejives, It's OK, it happens. I also often make opinion about books, articles etc., by reading just few paragraphs! Now, I see that I am not alone... And about rationality. Right now I read a long and interesting article with new data about the 'loans affair' of the 1970s. It was when NK cheated on major international banks. The NK guys are so good in manipulating powerful partners! The problem is that the results of this brilliant (if utterly cynical) diplomacy are wasted due to inefficiencies of the domestic economy and politics. Dear bluejives,

It’s OK, it happens. I also often make opinion about books, articles etc., by reading just few paragraphs! Now, I see that I am not alone…

And about rationality. Right now I read a long and interesting article with new data about the ‘loans affair’ of the 1970s. It was when NK cheated on major international banks. The NK guys are so good in manipulating powerful partners! The problem is that the results of this brilliant (if utterly cynical) diplomacy are wasted due to inefficiencies of the domestic economy and politics.

]]> By: bluejives http://www.rjkoehler.com/2004/12/28/even-the-soviets-thought-north-korea-was-strange/#comment-9951 bluejives Wed, 29 Dec 2004 18:15:03 +0000 http://rjkoehler.com/?p=1360#comment-9951 Dr Lankov, I apologize for launching a Bush-style preemptive attack on your article. I read your article. I found no weapons of mass distraction. Sometimes it is hard to distinguish valid comments from the cacophony of what I deem 'white noise'. Like the FOX News channel, conservative AM radio, Sean Hannity's "Deliver us from Evil", you know, stuff that the likes of Haminjoke likes to regurgitate. So much to respond to, so many ignant fools yapping their lips to bitch-slap, where does one begin? Dr Lankov,
I apologize for launching a Bush-style preemptive attack on your article. I read your article. I found no weapons of mass distraction. Sometimes it is hard to distinguish valid comments from the cacophony of what I deem ‘white noise’. Like the FOX News channel, conservative AM radio, Sean Hannity’s “Deliver us from Evil”, you know, stuff that the likes of Haminjoke likes to regurgitate. So much to respond to, so many ignant fools yapping their lips to bitch-slap, where does one begin?

]]> By: Lankov http://www.rjkoehler.com/2004/12/28/even-the-soviets-thought-north-korea-was-strange/#comment-9950 Lankov Wed, 29 Dec 2004 08:30:02 +0000 http://rjkoehler.com/?p=1360#comment-9950 Dear ?€? dkapflzks?€™ (Marmot's note: I think Dr. Lankov means Bluejives) I strongly suspect that you did not read the article but limited itself to reading Marmot?€™s posting alone. Actually, I am sure you did not. I do not think I?€™ve ever used the word ?€™strange?€™ in the entire article. And generally it is not about ?€™strangeness?€™ or even about current affairs, but about changes in perception of North Korea in Russia over the last 60 years: from a ?€œheroic younger brother?€? in the 1950s, to a strange (yes, this time I say ?€™strange?€™) and weirdly amusing ?€œStalinist theme park?€? in 1960-1990, and a rather mixed feelings now, from adoration of a ?€™small brave country who challenges the Yankee?€™ to ?€?Oriental tyranny, of course, but it?€™s none of our business?€™. Please, read the article if you have time, and then express your veiws, positive or negative?€? Talking about irrationality. They are very rational (if brutal) and efficient. But once again, it has nothing to do with the article... Dear ?€? dkapflzks?€™ (Marmot’s note: I think Dr. Lankov means Bluejives)

I strongly suspect that you did not read the article but limited itself to reading Marmot?€™s posting alone. Actually, I am sure you did not. I do not think I?€™ve ever used the word ?€™strange?€™ in the entire article. And generally it is not about ?€™strangeness?€™ or even about current affairs, but about changes in perception of North Korea in Russia over the last 60 years: from a ?€œheroic younger brother?€? in the 1950s, to a strange (yes, this time I say ?€™strange?€™) and weirdly amusing ?€œStalinist theme park?€? in 1960-1990, and a rather mixed feelings now, from adoration of a ?€™small brave country who challenges the Yankee?€™ to ?€?Oriental tyranny, of course, but it?€™s none of our business?€™. Please, read the article if you have time, and then express your veiws, positive or negative?€?

Talking about irrationality. They are very rational (if brutal) and efficient. But once again, it has nothing to do with the article…

]]> By: Anonymous & Andy http://www.rjkoehler.com/2004/12/28/even-the-soviets-thought-north-korea-was-strange/#comment-9949 Anonymous & Andy Wed, 29 Dec 2004 07:31:20 +0000 http://rjkoehler.com/?p=1360#comment-9949 Great article, great insights. BTW, why is this 'bluejives' troll being fed? Other than it's blog ratings week and the Marmot's slipping in the polls, I can see no reason. Great article, great insights.

BTW, why is this ‘bluejives’ troll being fed? Other than it’s blog ratings week and the Marmot’s slipping in the polls, I can see no reason.

]]> By: dkapflzks http://www.rjkoehler.com/2004/12/28/even-the-soviets-thought-north-korea-was-strange/#comment-9948 dkapflzks Wed, 29 Dec 2004 05:25:33 +0000 http://rjkoehler.com/?p=1360#comment-9948 Bluejives... 10 points for a perfect deflection! So I'm guessing in your mind, he's wrong until he offers a rebuttal to your unsubstantiated jibberjabber? Nice logic. By the way, did you see the excellent response to your earlier post (scroll all the way down)? Can't wait for your response to that one. Bluejives… 10 points for a perfect deflection!

So I’m guessing in your mind, he’s wrong until he offers a rebuttal to your unsubstantiated jibberjabber? Nice logic.

By the way, did you see the excellent response to your earlier post (scroll all the way down)? Can’t wait for your response to that one.

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