2Koreas:Jeju WW2 history

[ncr]

Here's the Boing Boing Link (http://www.boingboing.net/2005/03/05/north_korea_promotes.html) again.

Don't forget to download the "Foreign delegation visits the DPRK" soundtrack to play it whenever you like:
MP3 (http://spamguy.cwru.edu/misc/music/nkdelegation.mp3)
And a remix (http://www.positronrecords.com/KFA_Time_To_Get_Il.mp3)

More delightful North Korean music is here (http://www.kcckp.net/en/art/music/music.php?21).
People at Boing Boing especially recommend the "Reunification Rainbow" (http://www.kcckp.net/en/art/music/music.php?21+23+2).

[ncr]

A lot of weird stuff to be found there (http://www.kcckp.net/en/), no question.

Just wanted to share the Kim Jong Il 63rd birthday picture gallery (http://www.kcckp.net/en/event/2005-02-16/). Not that it's particularly weird per se (at least when compared with the written stuff they put up....), but don't miss out on seeing this (http://www.kcckp.net/en/event/2005-02-16/?1+10) for an unbelievably kitschy example of Socialist Realism.

What the heck is that anyway? A drawing of the mountain with the two abominable leaders photoshopped into it? :p

[Wisarut]

We should NEVER miss this NK propaganda -> Click here: :D :cool:
http://www.dprkstudies.org/documents/nkpics/picgal.html
http://northkoreanart.com/index.html
http://www.northkoreanart.com/gallery/
http://www.iisg.nl/~landsberger/ff-nk.html

[jpatokal]

What the heck is that anyway? A drawing of the mountain with the two abominable leaders photoshopped into it? :p
And the strangest thing is that they didn't even photoshop away The Beer Leader's rather sizable belly...

[ncr]

And the strangest thing is that they didn't even photoshop away The Beer Leader's rather sizable belly...Hehe.... and the strange jacket doesn't help to conceal it either.

In some pictures you'll also clearly notice the leader's stature-enhancing plateau shoes, by the unnatural way the trouser legs come to lie under a 45º angle; whereas in the older ones (in times when daddy was still alive) he didn't seem to wear them yet.

(Compare, for instance, this (http://www.kcckp.net/en/event/12-24-mil/?2+comment), this (http://www.kcckp.net/en/event/2005-02-16/?3+1), and this (http://www.kcckp.net/en/event/2005-02-16/?3+10) to this (http://www.kcckp.net/en/event/2005-02-16/?1+4).)

[Cosmo Valmar]

Hi,

I am curious to know if any members have visited North Korea & if so, what were (or are) their opinions of this part of the Axis of Evil?

[jpatokal]

I've been to Panmunjeom (http://wikitravel.org/en/Panmunjeom), walked about 5 meters into the DPRK and gazed upon Kijong-dong (http://jpatokal.iki.fi/photo/travel/Korea/Panmunjeom/).

And I think that Kim's regime is easily the most murderous in Asia since the Khmer Rouge. :mad: Here's hoping that I wake up tomorrow to find him hanging from a langpost and the Koreas reunited.

[Clayton]

Hi,

I am curious to know if any members have visited North Korea & if so, what were (or are) their opinions of this part of the Axis of Evil?

Ganyc is the man to speak to - he's a member of the KFA ( North Korean affiliated Korean Friendship Association). A word of warning, don't be critical of him or he might "tell teacher about you.":D

[doseiai]

N. Korea launched a missile that nearly missed a Asiana Airlines 747 with over 200 on board, from Chicago to Seoul (Inch'eon). 10 minutes clearance is not really "nearly", but still, no warning from N. Korea is pretty scary if u were on that plane...not to mention no warning where it lands (fishing boats, on land...etc)

To make matters worse, nearly all flights from the US and Canada from Taiwan, Thailand (incl Bangkok), Korea, and Japan cross over Japan airspace...including popular China Airlines, Eva Airways, Japan Airlines, Asiana Airlines, Korean Airlines, etc (it just so happens the earth is curved that way and its the shortest route, as you can see from google earth).

http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200607/200607060029.html

[GWR]

I thought I would include this as it Jeju is a place almost all visitors to South Korea eventually end up going to. And I don't know about you, but the usual round of temples, nicky-knacky-noo shops and resorts tends to fill me with extreme dread: :eek:

Jeju's Japanese airfield
By Cho Chung-un
The Korea Herald
Publication Date: 08-01-2008

http://www.asianewsnet.net/admin/doc_storage/article_gallery/20080108/14852.jpg
[Photo: Asia News Network - An aircraft hangar located in Alddreu airfield.]

Jeju Island is a major destination for honeymooners, golfers and foreign tourists from around the world. But only a few people know that this island endured great suffering, and that its tragic past is, for many, not far below its picturesque surface.

During the Japanese colonial rule, especially in the 1930s and 1940s, thousands of Jeju islanders were conscripted to hard labour and their lands were taken by the Japanese military because the island was regarded as a strategic spot to defend against the American forces and regarding Japan's actions in China.

Jeju Island is finally illuminating its painful past by developing the Japanese wartime facilities that are left on the island into a major historic site. The self-governing province plans to invest a total of 10 billion won (US$11 million) in the project by 2015.

The project centres on Alddreu, one of the two airports that the Japanese used as a transoceanic bombing base during the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937-45).

"The hangars located at Alddreu Airport are among the best- preserved Japanese military sites. The government will develop the site into a major historic site on Jeju Island, in order to provide accurate information about the tragic past of this island," said one Jeju official.

While the other airfield -- Jeong-ddreu in the northern part of the island -- was later developed into Jeju International Airport, Alddreu still remains as it was near 70 years ago, making it ideal as a view into one part of the island's history.

Centering on Alddreu field, the Japanese military built various facilities, including tunnels, artillery stands, naval training grounds and bomb-storage sites.

There are also underground bunkers located in the center of the former airport. Historians say that those bunkers were used as transmitting posts, as well as meeting rooms for high-ranking Japanese army officials. Made of ferro-concrete, with grass and trees growing on the roof, the entrance to the bunkers and aircraft hangars are well-hidden, indicating how the Japanese military hid itself during the war.

Only a five minute-ride from Alddreu, tourists will eventually be able to see how the Japanese army protected the airport from American air bombardment.

By March of 1944, the Japanese navy had installed anti-aircraft and other guns to shield the airport.

"To construct these military facilities, many Jeju people were forced to suffer harsh and painfully demanding labour," said Jeju officials.

They added that the Japanese wartime facilities on Jeju clearly show that Japan had held the people of that isle hostage.

"By developing Alddreu into a historic site, we hope that foreign tourists will learn about what happened in Jeju, and why that tragic past must not be repeated," said one official.

http://www.asianewsnet.net/admin/doc_storage/article_gallery/20080108/14852.jpg