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Tag: North Korea

  • New N. Korea Threats Issued Following Celebration

    On Monday, the citizens of North Korea celebrated the 101st birthday of Kim Il-Sung, the first leader of the country and the grandfather of its current leader, Kim Jong-un. Today, North Korea has issued more threats, continuing the rhetoric that has been sparking tensions on the Korean peninsula for weeks.

    According to a report from Reuters, the new threats are related to South Korean protests that took place during the North’s celebration. Portraits of North Korean leaders were reportedly burned during the protests, and North Korea is now demanding an apology from South Korea. According to the report, North Korea has threatened “sledge-hammer blows” if it does not receive such an apology.

    North Korea has been releasing inflammatory statements for weeks, criticizing joint U.S/South Korean military exercises near the border between the Koreas. The rhetoric has included the statements that North Korea now considers itself in a state of war and that it has rejected the Korean Armistice Agreement that ended the Korean War in 1953. The country has also cut off all communication with South Korea, including hotlines meant to stave off war. The U.S. has responded by deploying a greater military presence to the region, including F-22 stealth fighter jets.

    In other North Korea news, former NBA star Dennis Rodman has stated that he will be returning to North Korea in August to “hang and have some fun.”

  • Dennis Rodman: FBI Informant on North Korea?

    Now that Dennis Rodman has been fired from Celebrity Apprentice, it seems he will have more time to spend with his new pal, Kim Jong-un.

    Rodman this week revealed to Gossip Extra that he will be returning to North Korea on August 1st. He stated that he and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will “just hang and have some fun.”

    The report states that Rodman was interviewed at a fundraising gala in Miami, where the former basketball star was introduced as the “U.S. ambassador to North Korea.”

    Rodman first went to North Korea in February. When he returned to the U.S., he called Kim Jong-un an “awesome guy” and confirmed that the leader is now the father of a young girl.

    The provocative trip and comments earned Rodman a visit from the FBI, which was very interested in who the young North Korean leader was surrounding himself with. The Miami Herald is reporting that Rodman told the newspaper that he might be able to help calm the tensions that have recently been rising on the Korean Peninsula. From the Herald:

    “I’m not a total idiot. I know what Kim Jong-un is threatening to do regarding his military muscle. I hope it doesn’t happen because America will take whatever actions to protect America and our allies.”

  • Steve Johnson Tweet Suggests North Korea Bomb Foxboro (“If y’all do bomb 1st”)

    On Wednesday, Buffalo Bills (and former Kentucky Wildcats) receiver Stevie Johnson tweeted this:

    Then this:

    As you might imagine, some people (particularly Patriots fans) did not take too kindly to this, and Johnson did not follow this guy’s advice:

    The tweet is still there.

    Later, he followed up with:

    Then:

    I’m sure that will be the end of it. Right?

    Update: That one about people taking it too serious and Johnson having “much respect for The Pats” has mysteriously disappeared (hence the formatting issues above). Not the one I would have expected to disappear.

    [via Shutdown Corner]

  • Anonymous Hacks North Korea’s Twitter, Flickr Accounts

    Did you know North Korea has a Twitter and flickr account? The nation uses these accounts to spread its propaganda, but recent world events have made the nation’s online presence a target for hackers.

    The Guardian reports that North Korea’s Twitter and flickr accounts have been compromised by hackers claiming to be a part of Anonymous. The reasoning behind the attacks seems to be in retaliation to North Korea’s most recent threat to attack the United States and its allies with nuclear weapons. In fact, one of the images posted on flickr calls out North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un for “threatening world peace with ICBMs and nuclear weapons” among other things.

    Anonymous Hacks North Korea's Twitter, Flickr Accounts

    Other images on the flickr account include an image of the North Korean flag with a Guy Fawkes mask, and a simple “We Are Anonymous” in white text on a black background.

    The Twitter hack is far less entertaining, however, as the only updates to it thus far have been multiple messages that say “hacked” while linking to North Korean Web sites that have been taken down by Anonymous.

    Unlike other recent hacks, I doubt that North Korea will try to wrestle away its accounts from Anonymous. I highly doubt that Twitter and flickr are in the mood to help them get the accounts back either.

  • U.S. Jets to S. Korea Amid Rising Tensions

    As North Korea continues to release inflammatory statements about joint U.S.-South Korea military exercises on its border, tensions between the two Koreas are rising higher than they have in recent years.

    North Korea has stated that it is now at war and will now no longer abide by the Korean Armistice Agreement, which ended the Korean war in 1953. The country has gone so far as to cut off communication with South Korea, including hotlines meant to stave off war. Communication with U.S. and U.N. forces have also ceased.

    U.S. officials have been playing down Pyongyang’s rhetoric in recent weeks, likening it to the past posturing that North Korea is known for. However, chances are not being taken that the nuclear-armed country is merely bluffing.

    According to a Reuters report, the U.S. has now deployed F-22 stealth fighter jets to South Korea. The jets will become a part of ongoing military drills, as well as a show of force to North Korea. The deployment of F-22s follows the deployment of B-2 stealth bombers to the Korean peninsula last week.

    U.S. and South Korea have made it clear that any provocation by the North will result in a swift military response.

    According to the Reuters report, North Korea this week convened a meeting of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea. At the meeting, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is reported to have stated that the country’s nuclear weapons will not be on the table for future negotiations.

  • Kim Jong Un Uses an iMac [PHOTOS]

    We’re not international politics experts, so we’ll refrain from commenting on North Korean state media’s suggestions that leader Kim Jong Un and his generals are planning some sort of “U.S. mainland strike,” and whether or not this is credible or simply some sort of chest thumping designed to pump up support, domestically.

    But they did release some interesting photos of Kim Jong Un seemingly making some sort of plans in a military control room.

    And in those photos, we can confirm Kim Jong Un’s predilection for Apple products.

    Look! An iMac!

    “A 21.5 inch aluminium unibody iMac is on Kim Jong Un’s desk, confirming long-held rumors of the Kim family’s passion for Apple Macs,” says NK News.

    Here are the photos that purportedly references some sort of attack plans:

  • Kim Jong Un Baby: Dictator May Be A Father

    Kim Jong Un Baby: Dictator May Be A Father

    Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea, married Ri Sol-ju in the middle of last year. Now the couple has reportedly had their first child.

    The Washington Free Beacon reports that Sol-ju secretly gave birth to her first child late last year. The news comes from South Korea who have reportedly confirmed the birth though North Korea isn’t talking.

    So why is North Korea not wanting the world to celebrate in their glorious leader’s new child? According to some foreign policy analysts, the country didn’t announce the birth because the child wasn’t a boy. That being said, nobody’s sure as to the sex of the child at this point though.

    If the baby is a girl, it’s unlikely that she’ll be put into a position of power in North Korea. The Free Beacon notes, however, that North Korea is slowly turning into a family dynasty so nothing is off the table. They note that Sol-ju may even have more power than initially thought as she has been seen having considerable sway over decisions made by Kim Jong Un.

    It’s not known when Kim Jong Un will announce the birth of his first child, but he can’t hide it forever. It’s likely that we’ll see some news of it this year. Until then, start preparing for all the Baby Kim memes.

    [Image: Kim Jong Un Looking At Things]

  • The Pirate Bay Really Didn’t Move To North Korea

    The strangest story from yesterday came in the form of The Pirate Bay moving to North Korea. The site said that it had routed through the country’s ISP after being invited to by the government. It seemed a little suspect, and the site said just as much today.

    In a statement released on The Pirate Bay’s Facebook, the site’s team said that they never moved to North Korea and never would. The entire “hoax” was done for the “lulz:”

    Today, we’ve all learned something.

    We hope that yesterdays little hack proved that we know the internet better than our enemies. Since about 40% of the entire internets traffic consists of torrents enabled by us, you can almost say that we ARE the internets. Fuck with the internets and we’ll ridicule you (points at MAFIAA with a retractable baton) until you beg for mercy.

    We’ve hopefully made clear (once again) that we don’t run TPB to make money. A profit hungry idiot (points at MAFIAA with a retractable baton) doesn’t tell the world that they have partnered with the most hated dictatorship in the world. We can play that stunt though, cause we’re still only in it for the fuckin lulz and it doesn’t matter to us if thousands of users disband the ship.

    We’ve also learned that many of you need to be more critical. Even towards us. You can’t seriously cheer the “fact” that we moved our servers to bloody North Korea. Applauds to you who told us to fuck off. Always stay critical. Towards everyone!

    10 years and still running.
    We are Schrödingers site and it’s up to us whether we want to stay alive or not, or both.

    In retrospect, The Pirate Bay moving to North Korea made little sense. It would have been kind of funny if true though.

    The team wasn’t lying, however, when they said they were kicked out of Norway. So now The Pirate Bay will be on the lookout for somewhere else to drop anchor. We’ll let you know when they do.

  • The Pirate Bay Is Now Anchored In North Korea

    UPDATE: The Pirate Bay announced this morning that the move to North Korea was a joke. More on that here.

    Last week, The Pirate Bay announced that it would be moving to Norway and Spain after some legal trouble in Sweden. Only half of that plan worked, however, as the site was quickly booted out of Norway by a local anti-piracy group. Now the infamous torrent tracker has set up shop in the most unlikely of countries.

    The Pirate Bay announced over the weekend that the site is now being routed through North Korea. The site’s admins say that they were invited to do so by “the leader of the republic of Korea.” The Pirate Bay didn’t elaborate on which “leader” invited them, but an insider told TorrentFreak that the communist nation had been in talks with The Pirate Bay for the past few weeks.

    Here’s the full statement from The Pirate Bay:

    The Pirate Bay has been hunted in many countries around the world. Not for illegal activities but being persecuted for beliefs of freedom of information. Today, a new chapter is written in the history of the movement, as well as the history of the internets.

    A week ago we could reveal that The Pirate Bay was accessed via Norway and Catalonya. The move was to ensure that these countries and regions will get attention to the issues at hand. Today we can reveal that we have been invited by the leader of the republic of Korea, to fight our battles from their network.

    This is truly an ironic situation. We have been fighting for a free world, and our opponents are mostly huge corporations from the United States of America, a place where freedom and freedom of speech is said to be held high. At the same time, companies from that country is chasing a competitor from other countries, bribing police and lawmakers, threatening political parties and physically hunting people from our crew. And to our help comes a government famous in our part of the world for locking people up for their thoughts and forbidding access to information.

    We believe that being offered our virtual asylum in Korea is a first step of this country’s changing view of access to information. It’s a country opening up and one thing is sure, they do not care about threats like others do. In that way, TPB and Korea might have a special bond. We will do our best to influence the Korean leaders to also let their own population use our service, and to make sure that we can help improve the situation in any way we can. When someone is reaching out to make things better, it’s also ones duty to grab their hand.

    TorrentFreak was able to confirm that The Pirate Bay is indeed being routed through North Korea so at least part of the story is true. It still remains to be seen what kind of arrangement was struck between the two parties though.

    Regardless, it’s going to be interesting to see the response from the copyright owners. They have used various derogatory buzzwords to demonize the site before, but they can now say the site loves communism. That will gain it no friends in the U.S. political spectrum, but at least it’s safe from those who wish to shut it down.

  • North Korea Real-Time Instagramming Made Possible After Visitors Get Mobile Internet Access

    Up until recently, visitors to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) had to abandon their cellphones at the customs gates. When travelers were finally granted the access to carry their phones with them a little over a month ago, they still had the slight problem of not really being able to do much with them.

    Yep, no internet access (or local calls, for that matter). It wasn’t until just a few days ago that North Korea finally turned on some 3G for visitors (not the people of North Korea, mind you).

    What does that mean? Social media updates from tourists, of course. And the AP’s David Guttenfelder is providing some of the first-ever real-time photographs from the notoriously closed-off country

    “I feel I can help open a window into a place that would otherwise rarely be seen by outsiders,” he says. “As one of the few international photographers who has ever had regular access to the country, I feel a huge responsibility to share what I see and to show it as accurately as I can.”

    Instagram recently highlighted his photography in a blog post. Here are some incredible shots coming in from DPRK – ones that wouldn’t have been possible until very recently.

    North Korean commuters pass by propaganda posters in #Pyongyang.

    A North Korean guide uses a pointer at the start of a tour of an historic site. On Jan. 18, 2013, foreigners were allowed for the first time to bring mobile phones into North Korea. And this week the local service provider, Koryolink, is allowing foreigners to access the Internet on a data capable 3G connection on our mobile phones. In the past I could post geolocated phone photos to my Instagram feed by turning my online laptop into a hotspot to link my iPhone or iPod touch by wifi. But, today I’m posting this directly from my phone while riding in the back of a van in #Pyongyang. The window on to North Korea has opened another crack. Meanwhile, for Koreans here who will not have access to the same service, the window remains shut.

    North Korean babies rest in a row of cribs at the #Pyongyang Maternity Hospital.

    A North Korean doctor and a bank of video monitors inside a #Pyongyang hospital.

    For more real-time photos from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, make sure to follow David Guttenfelder (@dguttenfelder) on Instagram.

  • Google Launches Updated Maps For North Korea

    Google Launches Updated Maps For North Korea

    Just a couple weeks after executive chairman Eric Schmidt returned from North Korea, Google has published more detailed maps of the country.

    “The goal of Google Maps is to provide people with the most comprehensive, accurate, and easy-to-use modern map of the world,” said Google Map Maker senior product manager Jayanth Mysore. “As part of this mission, we’re constantly working to add more detailed map data in areas that traditionally have been mostly blank. For a long time, one of the largest places with limited map data has been North Korea. But today we are changing that with the addition of more detailed maps of North Korea in Google Maps.”

    “To build this map, a community of citizen cartographers came together in Google Map Maker to make their contributions such as adding road names and points of interest,” added Mysore. This effort has been active in Map Maker for a few years and today the new map of North Korea is ready and now available on Google Maps. As a result, the world can access maps of North Korea that offer much more information and detail than before.”

    Google Maps North Korea

    Google acknowledges that the map is not perfect, and it is encouraging people to continue using Map Maker to help it improve.

    The updated maps are now live .

  • Google’s Schmidt Talks North Korea Trip On Google+

    Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt took to Google+ over the weekend to discuss his recent, controversial trip to North Korea. He shared an edited version of his comments from when his group (former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson’s delegation) returned from Pyongyang.

    “This was a private visit to North Korea to talk about the free and open Internet. The North Koreans showed up, listened to us and asked us a lot of questions,” Schmidt said. “Overall, the technology in North Korea is very limited right now.”

    “There is a 3G network that is a joint venture with an Egyptian company called Orascom. It is a 2100 Megahertz SMS-based technology network, that does not, for example, allow users to have a data connection and use smart phones. It would be very easy for them to turn the Internet on for this 3G network. Estimates are that are about a million and a half phones in the DPRK with some growth planned in the near future,” continued Schmidt. “There is a supervised Internet and a Korean Intranet. (It appeared supervised in that people were not able to use the internet without someone else watching them). There’s a private intranet that is linked with their universities. Again, it would be easy to connect these networks to the global Internet.”

    He went on to talk about the North Koreans demonstrating their software and technology based on open source – mostly Linux, he said. Schmidt said it was obvious to his group that Internet access was possible for the government, military, and universities, but not for the general public.

    “As the world becomes increasingly connected, the North Korean decision to be virtually isolated is very much going to affect their physical world and their economic growth. It will make it harder for them to catch up economically,” said Schmidt. “We made that alternative very, very clear. Once the internet starts in any country, citizens in that country can certainly build on top of it, but the government has to do one thing: open up the Internet first. They have to make it possible for people to use the Internet, which the government of North Korea has not yet done. It is their choice now, and in my view, it’s time for them to start, or they will remain behind.”

    Schmidt also posted a couple of photos from the trip, including this one:

    North Korea

    Quartz points to what has reportedly been confirmed as an account of the trip from Schmidt’s daughter, who went as part of the delegation as well. “It’s impossible to know how much we can extrapolate from what we saw in Pyongyang to what the DPRK is really like,” she writes. “Our trip was a mixture of highly staged encounters, tightly-orchestrated viewings and what seemed like genuine human moments. We had zero interactions with non-state-approved North Koreans and were never far from our two minders (2, so one can mind the other).”

    Her site, hosted on Google Sites, has plenty of the story from her point of view, many pictures, a video and this:

    I don't always play golf

  • Eric Schmidt Talks About North Korea Trip [Video]

    Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt’s trip to North Korea has ended, and he took the time to address the press about it.

    It remains unclear just how productive the trip was, but he and his companions, which included former New Mexico governor Bill Richardson, were unable to secure the release of a Korean-American that is being detained in the country, Reuters reports.

    Schmidt is quoted as saying, “As the world becomes increasingly connected, their decision to be virtually isolated is very much going to affect their physical world, their economic growth and so forth…The technology in North Korea is very limited…The government has to do something. They have to make it possible for people to use the Internet…It’s their choice now, and time, in my view, for them to start or they will remain behind.”

    The Wall Street Journal shares this video of some of Schmidt’s words:

    The trip was not vey well received by the U.S. State Department who conveyed that it was not thrilled with the timing, and noted that Schmidt and Richardson were well aware of the department’s feelings on the matter.

  • AP Posts Video Of Eric Schmidt In North Korea Computer Lab

    The Associated Press has posted a video of Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt visiting a computer lab in North Korea:

    Schmidt’s and former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson’s trip has been a controversial one, with the U.S. State Department indicating that it was not thrilled with the timing of the visit, in light of a recent missile launch by North Korea.

    In a press briefing last week, State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland said, “With regard to the trip, we are obviously aware of the trip that has been announced for Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt and Governor Richardson. As you know, they are private citizens. They are traveling in an unofficial capacity. They are not going to be accompanied by any U.S. officials. They are not carrying any messages from us. Frankly, we don’t think the timing of this is particularly helpful, but they are private citizens and they are making their own decisions.”

    She indicated that the two were well aware of the Department’s views, but they went anyway. During their trip, they are said to be reaching out to North Korean officials concerning a detained American citizen.

  • Eric Schmidt’s North Korea Trip Involves Negotiations for Detained American

    Earlier today, Google’s Eric Schmidt and New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson landed in North Korea on their unrelated-to-Google, definitely-not-state-sponsored trip. We’ve heard reports that Schmidt took the trip to the notoriously reclusive country on interest in economics, or maybe social media. In reality, nobody is 100% certain why Schmidt and Richardson are in North Korea.

    Richardson said in a statement that the trip would be a “private humanitarian mission,” and now Reuters is reporting some specifics on that aspect of it.

    According to their report, Richardson and Schmidt will be reaching out to North Korean officials concerning a captured American citizen who has been detained for over a month.

    “We are going to ask about the American who’s been detained. A humanitarian private visit.” Richardson said.

    The detainee in question is Kenneth Bae, a Korean-American tour guide and frequent North Korean traveller. He was detained a couple of months ago after entering the country with five other tourist, after North Korean officials claimed that one of the tourist possessed a hard drive with “sensitive information.”

    The trip has been the subject of some controversy, as the White House has been vocal in its complaints. Mainly, the recent North Korean missile launch compounded an already-tense relationship between the U.S. and North Korea, and the State Department made it know that they though the timing was a little less-than-helpful.

    “As you know, they are private citizens. They are traveling in an unofficial capacity. They are not going to be accompanied by any U.S. officials. They are not carrying any messages from us. Frankly, we don’t think the timing of this is particularly helpful, but they are private citizens and they are making their own decisions,” said State Department rep Victoria Nuland before Schmidt and Richardson made the trip.

  • Eric Schmidt Ignores U.S. State Department’s Wishes, Arrives In North Korea

    The Associated Press reported last week that Google Executive Chairman and New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson were to head to North Korea. Following the report, which was picked up by numerous media outlets, the U.S. State Department expressed its views about the trip in a press briefing.

    Spokesperson Victoria Nuland said, “With regard to the trip, we are obviously aware of the trip that has been announced for Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt and Governor Richardson. As you know, they are private citizens. They are traveling in an unofficial capacity. They are not going to be accompanied by any U.S. officials. They are not carrying any messages from us. Frankly, we don’t think the timing of this is particularly helpful, but they are private citizens and they are making their own decisions.”

    She went on to say that she doens’t think the timing is helpful, “in light of recent actions by the D.P.R.K.,” in reference to a recent missile launch. She also indicated that Schmidt and Richardson were aware of the Department’s views.

    Apparently they were aware, but did not let said views keep them from their plans. The New York Times is reporting today that Schmidt and Richardson have arrived in North Korea, saying that Schmidt is “interested in some of the economic issues there, the social media aspect.”

    Additionally, the AP quotes Richardson as saying, “This is not a Google trip…”

    Still, that does not mean that Schmidt won’t taken into consideration the things he learns while he is there for future decisions.

    Schmidt, as part of his job as Executive Chairman, is the main Google exec who is to meet with governments, even if this is an unofficial company trip. The duo will reportedly meet with “political leaders” in the country.

    In the State Department briefing last week, Nuland was asked if she thought i possible for Google to do business in North Korea legally, in light of sanctions. Her response was, “Well, obviously, without knowing what might be planned, et cetera, Google, like all U.S. companies, are subject to the restrictions under U.S. law.”

    When asked if she would be happy to see Google help North Korea to expand its Internet access to the global community, she said, “Well, obviously we support Internet freedom around the world. We support the right of all people to have access to the Internet, and we oppose government restrictions on that wherever they are found. That said, all U.S. companies are subject to the U.S. sanctions regime with regard to the D.P.R.K.”

  • U.S. State Department Talks About Google And North Korea

    Earlier this week, news came out that Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt was planning a trip to North Korea. He would reportedly be travelling with New Mexico governor Bill Richardson.

    The subject came up in a press briefing with the U.S. State Department on Thursday.

    Spokesperson Victoria Nuland said, “With regard to the trip, we are obviously aware of the trip that has been announced for Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt and Governor Richardson. As you know, they are private citizens. They are traveling in an unofficial capacity. They are not going to be accompanied by any U.S. officials. They are not carrying any messages from us. Frankly, we don’t think the timing of this is particularly helpful, but they are private citizens and they are making their own decisions.”

    Nuland later clarified that Google had not announced the trip, but that it was made public in the press (the AP initially ran the story). She also added that the Department doen’t think the timing is helpful “in light of recent actions by the D.P.R.K., obviously,” specifying that she is referring to a recent missile launch.

    When asked if the Department expressed its views to them, Nuland said, “They are well aware of our views.”

    When asked if she thinks it is possible for Google to do business in North Korea legally, Nuland said, “Well, obviously, without knowing what might be planned, et cetera, Google, like all U.S. companies, are subject to the restrictions under U.S. law.”

    When asked if she would be happy to see Google help North Korea to expand its Internet access to the global community, Nuland responded, “Well, obviously we support Internet freedom around the world. We support the right of all people to have access to the Internet, and we oppose government restrictions on that wherever they are found. That said, all U.S. companies are subject to the U.S. sanctions regime with regard to the D.P.R.K.”

    Part of Schmidt’s role as Executive Chairman is government outreach, so while he may be going to North Korea as a private citizen, it’s highly likely that he is also going as a representative of Google, which has historically maintained a clear position on an open Internet – something unavailable to the overwhelming majority of North Korean citizens.

    A few months ago, Schmidt traveled to South Korea, where he danced Gangnam Style.

    Schmidt Dances with PSY

  • North Korea Makes A Tablet That Nobody Can Buy

    North Korea is the odd one out of all the Communist countries left in the world. While other communist nations (i.e. China) have made strides to become more open and work with the world, North Korea is content to be the kid in the corner throwing a temper tantrum every few days. That doesn’t mean the country is behind the times. Check out their new tablet:

    North Korea Makes A Tablet That Nobody Can Buy

    According to the North Korea Tech blog, the new tablet is called “Achim” which translates into “morning.” State-run television says the tablet is a hit among students because it provides “teaching materials, references, dictionaries and scientific data.” Unless those school children have connections, I highly doubt any of them can actually afford it.

    It’s obvious that the tablet is just another attempt on the part of North Korea to stand up screaming, “Me too!” to the world. After being left in the dust by every other developed nation in the world, the country probably believes that they have to do more than just build nukes to catch the attention of the world.

    I can just imagine that Kim Jong-Un and his military staff were probably sitting around a table trying to figure out ways to best the West. After looking through the wonderful tumblr of “Kim Jong-Un Looking At Things,” they realized the venerated leader had never looked at a tablet. An idea was born and North Korea was off to start manufacturing.

    Funny enough, it would appear that North Korea didn’t even make the tablets that they’re so proud of. The pictures of the production line that appeared on state-run television show workers just inspecting the tablets without having any tools or other construction tools that are indicative of electronics assembly. North Korea Tech speculates that the country imported them from China and then made it appear that the country’s workers were making them.

    As for the tablet itself, nobody knows the technical specs. Someone will probably smuggle one out sooner or later to give us the details on North Korea’s entry into the post-PC world. Until then, I think the major tablet manufacturers of the world are safe. It would be hard to compete with North Korea’s technological excellence. It’s a good thing they keep it all to themselves.

    [Image Credit]

  • Ri Sol-Ju and North Korean Leader Kim Jong-Un Are Now Husband and Wife

    Ri Sol-ju, a North Korean singer, has been identified as the “mysterious woman in black” spotted next to Kim Jong-Un. At the time, rumors regarding the lady’s identify were all over the proverbial map. Some believed her to be Kim’s sister, while others speculated that she could be his wife or lover. However, since North Korean leaders are rarely seen in public with their spouses, that particular theory didn’t seem to hold up very well. So much for speculation.

    According to the Associated Press, Kim Jong-Un and Ri Sol-Ju have apparently tied the knot, though no one seems to know any specific details about their marriage. The only thing known for sure is that the two are now husband and wife, a fact which comes straight from the country’s state media. Broadcaster KCNA reportedly made the announcement on Wednesday.

    In order to prove to the world that the two are now officially a couple, footage of Kim Jong-Un and Ri Sol-Ju having a laugh during a recent performance of western show tunes has been making the rounds. Also in attendance at said event: Mickey Mouse. Apparently his love and adoration for Disney characters isn’t going to end now that he’s found someone to share his bed.

    Experts feel the public disclosure of the Dear Leader’s marriage is another step taken by Jong-Un to move the country away the days of his father. In addition to allowing more women to wear pants and earrings, mobile phones have also been become widely available. Bans on such foods as pizza, French fries, and hamburgers have recently been lifted, as well.

    Outside of these sketchy details, not much is known about the union, including when or where they made their relationship official. If you’re curious to see some footage of Ri Sol-Ju performing in public, have a look at the videos embedded below.

  • Kim Jong-Un Gives Himself the Title of Army Chief

    Kim Jong-Un, the recently-appointed North Korean leader and son of deceased Supreme Leader Kim Jong-Il, has taken his role as the country’s masthead one step further. Following the departure of military leader Ri Yong-ho — the country has stated that his vacancy was due in part to health concerns — Kim Jong-Un has appointed himself as Army Chief. Although reports previously indicated that Kim intended to place someone of his choosing into the role, it would appear that the newly-minted ruler had other plans in mind.

    The announcement came directly from the country’s state media, claiming that Jong-Un was extremely interested in holding the same title his father held before his death late last year. Some believe this move was made in order for the young leader to leave his mark on North Korea, and to show that he isn’t entirely controlled by the military. Puppet leader, be damned.

    Some analysts have speculated Jong-Un’s appointment as Army Chief precedes an announcement regarding the country’s nuclear program. However, officials at the Korean Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources have reported that no seismic activity has been documented in the area, which indicates that nuclear testing has not taken place. This, of course, is extremely good news, as the country seems obsessed with flexing its military muscles from time-to-time. As if their million-man army wasn’t enough to get the point across.

    Trying to get information out of North Korea is an almost impossible task. Very little is known about the country and its new leader, including his real age. Recently, a mysterious woman dressed in black was spotted alongside Kim Jong-Un, prompting endless speculation as to who, precisely, this lady really is. Some have said she’s nothing more than the leader’s lover, while others believe she could be his younger sister.

    Wise-cracking Twitter users have weighed in on the Kim’s announcement. A few of their witty comments can be found in the space provided below. If you’re curious, check ’em out.

  • North Korean Mystery Woman: Nobody Really Knows Who She Is

    The North Korean mystery woman who recently appeared next to the country’s new leader Kim Jong-Un has caused the speculation machine to spin out of control. Is she his sister? His lover? His wife? His mistress? Although quite a few insiders and North Korean experts have weighed in on the matter, at the end of the day, nobody truly knows who this woman is. All we can do is sit back and speculate, which is precisely what is happening right now.

    The country’s state television aired footage on Sunday of a woman dressed in all black, who appeared next to Jong-Un during their tribute to the leader’s late grandfather, Kim Il-Sung. At a concert by the state orchestra on Friday, the woman was seated next to Jong-Un, leading some to speculate that she may, in fact, be the leader’s younger sister.

    JoongAng Ilbo, a newspaper published in Seoul, South Korea, said the woman could be Hyon Song-Wol, a famous North Korean singer who many believe is Jong-Un’s lover. According to reports, the woman disappeared from the public eye in 2006, though she resurfaced in late March with a bun in the oven. Rumors are swirling that Hyon, who has been friends with Kim since they were teenagers, is the leader’s lover.

    However, Yang Moo-Jin of Seoul’s University of North Korean Studies, explained there was very little chance that Hyon is Jong-Un’s lover, as first ladies rarely make public appearances with the leaders. So much for that theory, I guess.

    Since it’s hard to get any information out of the country — for example, nobody seems to know just how old Kim Jong-Un is — it’s really anybody’s guess who this woman in black truly is. Those who might know the truth, such as Seoul’s intelligence agency and unification ministry, simply aren’t saying. Unless you’re willing to risk life and limb by sneaking into the country and learning the truth first-hand, chances are this one is mystery that will remain unsolved.