North Korea Sends a ‘Message to the World’
Secretive State Welcomes Visitors for Month-Long Celebration of Patriotism, Talent
From Washington Post Foreign Service:
“You are about to see the true identity of our great nation,” a North Korean
guide proudly told a cluster of South Korean tourists as one evening session
opened last week. “Please pay attention. This is our message to the world.”
Please, people, just pay attention. Hello? I’m talking to you Malaysia! Lebanon, please sit down, the lesson is about to begin… please! Angola, put down the rifle! Mongolia, don’t wear your fur hat indoors. Saudia Arabia— stop passing secret notes to Syria-would you like me to read that aloud to the class?
The guests have included hundreds of Americans, typically barred by the North Koreans. Among them have been New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and former CBS News anchorman Dan Rather.
I’ve got to hand it to BR— he has the whole “perks of statesmanship” thing down flat. Shouldn’t he be guarding the parking lots of America’s Home Depots against Mexican migrants? Or painting portraits of cow skulls hung on pink stucco walls?
The North Koreans have not offered an explanation for the strictly controlled and likely temporary opening. But analysts have said it amounts to a demonstration of public support for Kim, 63, in which hundreds of thousands of North Koreans are attending the festival — many walking for days to reach the stadium.
Hmmm… An explanation for the strictly controlled and temporary opening…. ahhh… no, nothing comes to mind. That’s incidentally why hundreds of thousands of NK’s are walking: they can’t afford private automobiles nor can their impoverished country afford a functioning bus system.
a technology job is no excuse 