Vice Guide to North Korea

[SealLion]

This is an older video but it's still interesting to watch.
I initially saw this featured on the vice.com website and was fortunately able to insert it here from YT website.
It's about 20 mins. in length but I think you might enjoy it nonetheless.

[slikrapid]

these wannabe reporters sure like their exaggerations (hype sells), fear-mongering (constant interruptions using military footage) and the usual nonsense (trying to be funny, turning out ignorant/biased)

nk=north korea
sk=south korea
dmz=demilitarized zone


- nk does let strangers in, but their number is very limited, they are chaperoned all the time, their activities under constant surveillance, which gets reported daily to higher level authorities
- '100% homogeneous' society is a ridiculous claim - 'very high obedience/loyalty' would be more accurate
- underground tunnels a large threat? only if nk soldiers could surge out quickly in swarms, though thats pretty much useless as they wouldn't stand a chance vs. artillery/vehicles/air forces
- as for the missile preparedness, its similar to a cold war situation, just focused on a much smaller border
- seems like the southern part of the dmz is not too friendly either, eh?
- whats the use of 'sleeping with an assault rifle' when you're facing modern technology & usa aided sk's ?
- dmz the most dangerous place in the world? any statistics on that (daily death toll)? didn't think so
- so they drool over a piece of concrete split between 2 countries, yet forget similar demarcations between the majority of countries or to take a large example: the berlin wall
- was funny to see the medal-count on those vip generals
- that propaganda speech @05:20 is something very common in nk, spread throughout the media & repeated/varied constantly, ie. a continuous heavy brainwashing
- bush @5:50 : the pot calling the kettle black - didn't notice any comment on that from our 'valiant' reporters
- recently cell phones have been allowed, though only in the capital? with no outside connectivity
- customs officials/paperwork is a pain in the *ss anywhere, nk takes it to the next level
- not allowed 'shooting' (what about your camera?), making a documentary? incorrect, though your options are very limited and the material checked by the authorities prior to departure
- and this is terrifying? ever been to a real war zone?
- reused food? it never deteriorates, eh?
- american military prisoners? snooping around nk territory, are we? got lost on high seas, eh?
- russian 'militant' music was another 'subtle' hint at how serious these filmmakers are
- just as he mentions (a feeling of?) 'everyone staring at him with daggers', there is a scene (@16:45) of him talking while some nk's are passing by, not very interested or hostile...oops, another exaggeration
- nk does have cars (afaik even produces 2 own brands), though the rural areas use them mostly for transportation (not leisure), the city people can even import low numbers of foreign cars (recent development), however only sufficiently high ranked officials have these + the state can confiscate them at any time as it pleases
- (@19:00) so which is it, 6 or 10 months after a new customer shows up?
- nothing normal that happens ever in that country? thats simply an idiotic statement

- didn't bother watching the other 2 parts, this was certainly sufficient
- as for the title, the vice guide, what happened to the vice...lost in translation or something?

[SealLion]