Visiting the DMZ

March 4, 2003 9:13 AM

An American Visits the DMZ. With the rising tensions on the Korean border, it seems like a good time to get a first hand account on the situation. Insightful observations like, so I went into North Korea. It was a lot like South Korea, maybe colder. And there were more fat Canadians than I expected, especially just after a famine. While you're at his site, don't miss Tim Hoo is a Genius and Ask not for whom The Bell™ tolls.
posted by jonah (24 comments total)

That site is awesome. Now this is the kind of linkage we need more of!
posted by oissubke at 9:29 AM on March 4, 2003

That site reminded me of the movie JSA (Joint Security Area), it's a Korean military thriller that touches on a lot of things brought up on the page, such as the axing incident.
posted by bobo123 at 9:54 AM on March 4, 2003

What's with the fat Canadian comments?
posted by flash at 10:12 AM on March 4, 2003

Thanks for the excellent link, jonah. Besides single-handedly restoring my faith in MeFi, you have also provided me with a diversion filled with great stories and engaging writing.

For those who like the links above, I recommend checking out the whole site.
posted by VulcanMike at 10:17 AM on March 4, 2003

For more info on Canada, check here. The whole site does have some great writing, might be mildly offensive to some, but overall the stories have me laughing out loud.
posted by jonah at 10:29 AM on March 4, 2003

The Other Imminent Danger
posted by homunculus at 10:51 AM on March 4, 2003

read also The New York Review of Books - A Visit to North Korea by Suki Kim, the author of the new novel "The Interpreter."
posted by gen at 11:45 AM on March 4, 2003

Bill Clinton didn't go to Coolin' in Compton '91 wearing a Maui and Sons shirt, but I did, so the man has no concept of the word scary.

Yep, that site is really, um, awesome. That is the kind of stereotyping (along with the Canada bashing, sexism, and ridiculing handicapped babies on the site) we really need more of here on MetaFilter.

Damn glad the "high signal" posse didn't see this thread....

~chuckle~
posted by fold_and_mutilate at 12:26 PM on March 4, 2003

gen - That's an amazing article, obviously much different tone than the ones I linked to, but very interesting.
posted by jonah at 1:21 PM on March 4, 2003

glad to be appreciated :)
posted by gen at 2:39 PM on March 4, 2003

Fratboy Bill Bryson. Ick.
posted by Armitage Shanks at 3:15 PM on March 4, 2003

I went back into South Korea. I told my friend Anna about my trip into communist North Korea.

"I just went into North Korea, but I'm okay now," I said.

"What?" she answered.

"Never mind. Do you have any more gum?"

"Yeah," she said. Then, "wait, no." I was pissed and went back into communist North Korea to cool off for a while.

Lovely.
posted by hama7 at 4:44 PM on March 4, 2003

humonculus, I read that article you posted yesterday, and I stll feel all icky.

It was a very sober and unfortunately honest take on a grim situation which doesn't seem to be improving, and which hopefully doesn't turn out as Kurtz predicts.

There's something ironic about the name 'Kurtz".
posted by hama7 at 4:52 PM on March 4, 2003

Or, homunculus, that is
posted by hama7 at 5:04 PM on March 4, 2003

"I've been here four months and I had to get my grub on, Taco Bell style. It had to happen. I repeat: it had to happen"

Oh man, i hate to admit it, but i've been there.

Great links jonah, thanks.
posted by quin at 5:19 PM on March 4, 2003

What's with the fat Canadian comments?

The article was poorly written frat boy crap, I agree, but it is true that there are a worrisome number of fat Canadians here in Korea.

Fat Americans too, of course.

Who's Kim Dong Il, by the way? Or was that just a comedy gold dick joke that I missed in my haste to get back here and snark?
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 5:30 PM on March 4, 2003

`NK Missile Warhead Found in Alaska’

More bad news.
posted by hama7 at 6:35 PM on March 4, 2003

From the Washington Post: "The United States and Asian countries have begun to accept the idea of a nuclear-armed North Korea, according to officials and analysts here and in Washington. Increasingly, the Bush administration is turning its attention to preventing the Communist government in Pyongyang from selling nuclear material to the highest bidder."
posted by homunculus at 9:18 PM on March 4, 2003

Democratic senators urge direct talks with North Korea
posted by homunculus at 6:06 PM on March 5, 2003

Thanks for the Korea Times link Hama. That's a provocative story, though I haven't been able to find any other references to it.

Like you, I'm really unsettled by Kurtz's predictions. But I still think that there is a diplomatic way out of this, as Scowcroft and Zakaria have suggested.
posted by homunculus at 6:11 PM on March 5, 2003

though I haven't been able to find any other references to it.

But owillis found this. This story might be a candidate for MoJo.
posted by homunculus at 6:24 PM on March 5, 2003

I haven't been able to find any other references to it.

Nor have I, which is peculiar since the KT is usually not the first to report anything critical of NK.

I still think that there is a diplomatic way out of this

I hope so. The new South Korean president is being received by NK with great jubilation as the indulgent babysitter with the big pocketbook, so I don't think much can be expected of him. He's also said that South Korea should "remain neutral" in the event of a conflict between the U.S. and NK. Chilling and frighteningly surreal.
posted by hama7 at 6:31 PM on March 5, 2003

Sopke too soon. Nice find, owillis.
posted by hama7 at 6:33 PM on March 5, 2003

spoke...dammit
posted by hama7 at 6:35 PM on March 5, 2003