MUST SEE: More Russian photos from the DPRK

by Robert Koehler on August 1, 2006

Someone was kind enough to send me this link to another long photo essay by Russian tourists to the Workers Paradise, this time to the Najin region. Some really, really outstanding (and revealing) photos in this one. I’m told the commentary is also interesting, but alas, it’s in Russian.

Anyway, be damn sure to check out all seven pages.

{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Nomad August 1, 2006 at 12:32 pm: Excellent series, Robert. North and South…night and day.
2 Nomad August 1, 2006 at 12:42 pm: Hey…page 6, second pic from the bottom – is that a pot plant to the lady’s left?
3 sunbin August 1, 2006 at 1:07 pm: rough translation
http://babelfish.altavista.com...../index.htm
4 R. Elgin August 1, 2006 at 10:43 pm: Women balancing loads on their heads is not unusual down south in Korea. I’ve seen such more than a few times but I guess the Russians found it quaint.
5 Pyotr August 2, 2006 at 7:28 am: Very interesting post. Thanks.

Can’t remember if I already posted this here. Did a search, but found nothing, although I am not so confident about the search machine.

Anyway, the English translation of yet another Russian expedition.

From the report, it seems that the Norks are more tolerant of Russians going for walks at six AM than we might think. And are also happy to be paid in US dollars. Also, the commentary clearly comes from someone who sees North Korea as being a little odd, that is, it is not the observations of a westerner expecting to be landed on another planet.

Humourous remarks in parts (click the forward arrows):

http://www.enlight.ru/camera/d.....ual_e.html
6 Pyotr August 2, 2006 at 7:36 am: Oh, and when the narrator talks about “the girls”, he is referring to his (and his partner’s) minders.

So it is a little funny when he goes on about “the girls” trying to climb a mountain in high heels(!)
7 Pyotr August 2, 2006 at 7:40 am: This is a nice quote (and I’ll shut up now as I have to go to bed):

The saleswomen are obviously different from those in the foreign currency stores (where girls are clearly selected by age, height, and attractiveness). Though, rudeness is apparently not acceptable in Korea, regardless of the status of the store.
The shoppers are common people – both workers and engineers and technical workers. They don’t buy very much, mostly look and compare prices before their holiday shopping. In the musical instruments department, someone was playing a piano, put out for sale.

Needless to say, the people in this store were looking at us not even with astonishment and curiosity (like on the streets), but as if we were a hallucination
8 mmirmak August 2, 2006 at 2:26 pm: I note that Babelfish translates Korea’s stereotypical name as “land of the morning freshness.” Madison Avenue is no doubt salivating over that one.
9 R. Elgin August 3, 2006 at 10:32 am: Also Pytor, notice how the two handlers are most likely from Pyongyang (Ideologically Correct City) since they are wearing higher heeled shoes (city shoes) while everyone else is wearing practical shoes (country shoes).

I think this small detail is telling in its implications.