In 2008, the New York Philharmonic Orchestra played an historical performance in Pyongyang. They were invited half way across the world for 48 hours, to visit North Korea and play to a North Korean audience.
Americans in Pyongyang documents this trip and the final concert in the East Grand Pyongyang Theatre. For the first time, American and North Korean musicians meet on stage and bond over pieces such as the USA and North Korean national anthems.
The most moving and memorable part of their journey, for me at the very least, is an extended version of Arirang, the song that is often called the unofficial anthem of Korea. This song embodies the heart and soul of many Koreans and is often used to unite people during sporting and cultural events. As a foreigner, its hard to describe the importance and significance this song plays in the minds of Koreans.
To hear it played in Pyongyang by a mixture of American and North Korean musicians is absolutely astounding. It hints at the possibility that one day differences will be forgotten and that the people of North Korea can unite with the modern world at last. I won't lie, there were tears in my eyes listening to this.
Watch a youtube version of the performance here: http://youtu.be/TGGPWy3UtdU
A place for all North Korea related news, updates and interesting facts for anyone who has ever been curious about the hermit kingdom.
Tuesday, 1 July 2014
Thursday, 12 June 2014
World cup fever, the best and the worst
Sadly, the North Koreans didn't make it to the World Cup this year. They have, however, had a bit of success in the past. In the spirit of the Cup starting this week, let's take a look back.
2010: South Africa
Brazil has had the most wins in World Cup history. How ironic then, that they would be up against the team that was ranked dead last in the tournament for 2010: North Korea.
Brazil made a great start, leading the game 2-0 when amazingly, a North Korean player named Ji Yun Nam scored against the greatest team in World Cup history!
Naturally, you would think that this unbelievable feat would earn the team hero status in North Korea, but the propagandists had an even better scheme in mind.
They replayed a slightly edited version of the game back home, one where North Korea beat Brazil 1 - 0 (instead of the 2 - 1 to Brazil score that the rest of the world remembers).
In a bizarre twist, the team also were subjected to a 6 hour public denunciation session (The Guardian, 2010) where they were reprimanded for betraying the nation with their poor performance (losing every game, particularly badly to Portugal at 7 - 0).
2010: South Africa
Brazil has had the most wins in World Cup history. How ironic then, that they would be up against the team that was ranked dead last in the tournament for 2010: North Korea.
Brazil made a great start, leading the game 2-0 when amazingly, a North Korean player named Ji Yun Nam scored against the greatest team in World Cup history!
Naturally, you would think that this unbelievable feat would earn the team hero status in North Korea, but the propagandists had an even better scheme in mind.
They replayed a slightly edited version of the game back home, one where North Korea beat Brazil 1 - 0 (instead of the 2 - 1 to Brazil score that the rest of the world remembers).
In a bizarre twist, the team also were subjected to a 6 hour public denunciation session (The Guardian, 2010) where they were reprimanded for betraying the nation with their poor performance (losing every game, particularly badly to Portugal at 7 - 0).
Tuesday, 10 June 2014
Kimilsungia and Kimjongilia
Kimilsungia is a breed of violet orchid, especially created for the Great Leader and presented to him in 1965 by an Indonesian botanist. Through famine and electricity shortages, greenhouses dedicated to growing Kimilsungia are kept safe and powered.
Kimjongilia, a bright red begonia, was also introduced in 1988 to honour the Dear Leader Kim Jong Il. It has been said that Kim Jong Il needed a larger flower to overcome his father's great legacy.
Both flowers have annual festivals dedicated to the viewing of only these two flowers and are said to bring up to a million visitors to view and take photos with the flowers.
Kimjongilia is also inspiration to a North Korean song:
"The red blossoms that are blossoming over our land,
Are like our hearts: full of love for the leader,
Our hearts follow the young buds of Kimjongilia,
Oh! The flower of our loyalty!"
The name also is the title of a documentary that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2009 which interviews North Korean defectors and survivors of labour camps.
Kimjongilia, a bright red begonia, was also introduced in 1988 to honour the Dear Leader Kim Jong Il. It has been said that Kim Jong Il needed a larger flower to overcome his father's great legacy.
Both flowers have annual festivals dedicated to the viewing of only these two flowers and are said to bring up to a million visitors to view and take photos with the flowers.
Kimjongilia is also inspiration to a North Korean song:
"The red blossoms that are blossoming over our land,
Are like our hearts: full of love for the leader,
Our hearts follow the young buds of Kimjongilia,
Oh! The flower of our loyalty!"
The name also is the title of a documentary that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2009 which interviews North Korean defectors and survivors of labour camps.
Saturday, 7 June 2014
The defectors
For me, one of the greatest fascinations with North Korea is the people and their daily life. However, finding accurate information isn't easy.
Authorised visits are very strictly supervised and you will only ever see the government-approved, filtered version. Reports from North Korean officials themselves are laughable, at best.
The best accounts therefore, are from the thousands who have escaped North Korea, most usually by crossing over the Yalu or Tumen Rivers, the border between North Korea and China.
It's important to note here, the significance of leaving North Korea as travel even within the country itself is very strictly monitored and almost impossible without being granted a permit. In fact, only those who are well off or well connected can travel to, let alone live in Pyongyang, the capital.
Defectors risk their lives and the lives of their families (to three generations) when crossing the border and being caught can mean a sentence in a concentration camp or even execution for the whole family.
The reward however, is tempting and there are an estimated 25,000 North Koreans who have defected over the last two decades (BBC News, March 4 2014).
Some of those defectors choose to share their stories to raise awareness (and much needed income) and more and more books are now being published and even translated into different languages.
These stories are fascinating, eye-opening, heartbreaking and very hard to put down. I'll be sharing more about these stories and their authors soon.
Authorised visits are very strictly supervised and you will only ever see the government-approved, filtered version. Reports from North Korean officials themselves are laughable, at best.
The best accounts therefore, are from the thousands who have escaped North Korea, most usually by crossing over the Yalu or Tumen Rivers, the border between North Korea and China.
It's important to note here, the significance of leaving North Korea as travel even within the country itself is very strictly monitored and almost impossible without being granted a permit. In fact, only those who are well off or well connected can travel to, let alone live in Pyongyang, the capital.
Defectors risk their lives and the lives of their families (to three generations) when crossing the border and being caught can mean a sentence in a concentration camp or even execution for the whole family.
The reward however, is tempting and there are an estimated 25,000 North Koreans who have defected over the last two decades (BBC News, March 4 2014).
Some of those defectors choose to share their stories to raise awareness (and much needed income) and more and more books are now being published and even translated into different languages.
These stories are fascinating, eye-opening, heartbreaking and very hard to put down. I'll be sharing more about these stories and their authors soon.
Saturday, 24 May 2014
Who cares about North Korea?
Well, I do and if you stick with me on this, you might too.
We don't hear enough about North Korea here down under. Clearly we need to know more when, in finding out my partner is Korean, the most typical response is "Oh, North or South?"
The rare pieces of news that are reported are the occasional border clashes between North and South but even these do not seem to gain much coverage or public interest. For example, the latest flexing of Kim Jong-Eun's muscles, just a few days ago:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-05-22/north-korea-fires-missile-at-skorea-warship/5472120
But what is this country all about? How did it develop into the secretive hermit kingdom it is today? Who are it's people and what is their life like?
I hope to answer these questions and more, share news, stories, pictures, tweets and other interesting bits from the North!
Kohopop
We don't hear enough about North Korea here down under. Clearly we need to know more when, in finding out my partner is Korean, the most typical response is "Oh, North or South?"
The rare pieces of news that are reported are the occasional border clashes between North and South but even these do not seem to gain much coverage or public interest. For example, the latest flexing of Kim Jong-Eun's muscles, just a few days ago:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-05-22/north-korea-fires-missile-at-skorea-warship/5472120
But what is this country all about? How did it develop into the secretive hermit kingdom it is today? Who are it's people and what is their life like?
I hope to answer these questions and more, share news, stories, pictures, tweets and other interesting bits from the North!
Kohopop
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