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Friday, April 13, 2012

International Life in North Korea

Posted by Charles Mudede on Fri, Apr 13, 2012 at 8:02 AM

What's more interesting than that failed rocket thing? Photos of daily life in North Korea. More fascinating yet, the 105-story Ryugyong Hotel construction was completed! Considered the ugliest building in the world, an opinion that's hard to challenge, Ryugyong Hotel took a quarter of a century to finish.

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You can also see years' worth real-real behind the scenes North Korea (as much as is possible) on http://www.flickr.com/photos/kernbeisser. But be prepared to spend a weekend indoors in front of the computer.

Posted by Quincent on April 13, 2012 at 8:51 AM

It's not actually completed, Charles. They installed glazing on the one facade that tourists are allowed to see.

Posted by yourepretentious on April 13, 2012 at 9:27 AM

i don't think its the ugliest building in the world.

Posted by Max Solomon on April 13, 2012 at 11:16 AM

I don't think it's the ugliest building in the world. That moniker is better applied, collectively, to the brutalist tower blocks blighting the major cities of the industrialized world.

Posted by rocketgeek on April 13, 2012 at 11:40 AM

The photos of daily life should have included a wood-gas-burning truck, common in rural areas of the PRK.

It's surprisingly efficient, if a pain to operate:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wood_gas#In…

Posted by rob!

on April 13, 2012 at 12:24 PM

Wow this is a fascinating post -thanks, Charles!

Posted by katrat

on April 13, 2012 at 12:26 PM

Behold the fail that is extractive institutions. Not only do the extractees starve to death, the extractors can't even build a skyscraper in a reasonable amount of time.

Posted by I have always been... east coaster on April 13, 2012 at 6:22 PM

I quite like it. As long as it has an elevator. Nations like this intrigue me. I spent some time in Uzbekistan. One can have surreal experiences in such nebulous locations.

Posted by michijo on April 15, 2012 at 12:56 PM