North Korea Opens Official Website

wumpus188 writes "This is what I believe is the first official North Korean internet site 'Naenara' ('My Country'). Free reg required (login 'slashdot', password 'password' for you lazy slackers :) I esp. enjoyed the 'Favorite Korean Movies' section."

Comments

Don

[Anonymous Coward]

Someone already changed the password.

Re:Don

[NanoGator]

"Someone already changed the password."

Some anonymous nerd out there late on a Friday night is sitting there saying "Ha ha!"

If only...

[ThePDW]

Now if only they could just figure out how to feed their people :-(

Well well!

[timealterer]

I look forward to open, unbiased communication free of propoganda or heresay.

Re:Well well!

[Anonymous Coward]

I look forward to open, unbiased communication free of propoganda or heresay.

Are you talking about the North Korean site or Slashdot?

Re:Well well!

[stimpleton]

Unlike the whitehouse??

Re:Well well!

[pjt33]

And maybe written by people who know how to spell propaganda and hearsay.

password already changed?

[the_skywise]

username: slashdot
password: password

Invalid password.

go get 'em boys

[Killshot]

Oooh.. let's see just how much bandwidth the north koreans have.

Re:go get 'em boys

[LostCluster]

Apparently not much...

I thought Nukes were something they weren't allowed to have. Who gave them PHP-Nuke?

Re:go get 'em boys

[KrisHolland]

" Oooh.. let's see just how much bandwidth the north koreans have."

Watchout about wasting N. Korea's bandwidth, they've threatened nuclear war for less...

Re:go get 'em boys

[igrp]

Cool, we just slashdotted an entire country.

I'm so proud of my fellow /.'ers. ;)

Someone nukes N. Korea....

[mediaSage]

... With PHP!?!?!?

Not exactly the first...

[nordicfrost]

KCNA, the NK "news" agensy has had a website for years in Japan. It is under the JP TLD, and the new one is under the NET TLD.

KCNA functions as the spokesperson for the DPKR, the state of North Korea. Probably the least independent news agency in the world, Fox News included.

One Country

[Scarblac]

Click "One Country":

Object not found!
The requested URL was not found on this server. The link on the referring page seems to be wrong or outdated. Please inform the author of that page about the error.
Error 404
...

Kinda figures.

Already Bugmenot-ed

[glMatrixMode]

It's a funny thing : BugMeNot (still haven't installed this Firefox extension ?) already works with this website...

In the words of Stewie...

[the_skywise]

BLAST!

Inside DPRK

[Mmm coffee]

Here's an interesting article about a man's experiences when he went into North Korea, in case anyone's wondering what's really going on in there.

Re:Inside DPRK

[friedo]

Yeah, they're pretty similar. Except for the fact that people in the sourth aren't starving by the millions, don't have a fanatical national cult leader, are free to leave and come back to the country whenever they want, have an independent press, a thriving economy and cordial relations with the civilized world.

Yep. Very similar indeed.

Re:Inside DPRK

[nordicfrost]

have an independent press, a thriving economy

I object! While the press in DPRK is 100% unfree, the south Korean pess is not free at all. My boss went there on a press convention for new media, and the SK journalists were absolutely flabergasted by the ammount of freedom the press we are used to here. Not only can you be arrested (and frequently people do) for saying certain things in the press, but the media is tightly controlled by a consotrium of owners. The only really free media is an online newssite where hundreds of persons, journalists and non-journalists alike, contribute and 20-some persons edit and publish.

As for money, DPRK was actually richer than SK for a long time after the Korean war. They were bypassed in the eraly to mid 80ies since the USSR gave DPRK al lot of aid and trade. So did China.

In related news...

[Anonymous Coward]

... the first North Korean internet site has been slashdotted.

Their Server Runs SUSE!

[rally_redhat]

As mentioned before, clicking on their "One Korea" link gets you to a "page unavailable" message:

Object not found!

The requested URL was not found on this server. The link on the referring page seems to be wrong or outdated. Please inform the author of that page about the error.

If you think this is a server error, please contact the webmaster.
Error 404
www.kcckp.net
Sat Jul 17 18:31:28 2004
Apache/2.0.48 (Linux/SuSE)

Look at the last line.

I was amazed initially - I thought "Linux really is everywhere" - until I realised that Microsoft probably doesn't have any branches in North Korea! That's one country where there won't be too many IIS servers!

Re:Their Server Runs SUSE!

[zz99]

Or, perhaps it is because the server is located in Germany, and run by a German company

Inside DPRK: behind the scenes.

[infolib]

In 1999 a german Doctor gained the confidence of the regime. Getting behind the 70ies-kitschy facade, he came back to report on the oppression and poverty.

Google will find you lots of interviews about his experiences.

Re:Inside DPRK: behind the scenes.

[daviddennis]

Have you ever visited a Communist country?

I have, Cuba in December 2002. It was a real eye-opener to see armed police on every street corner and people scared to talk to you when you took them out to a restaurant, because they knew the waiters are spies. And I'm not kidding.

To see fear in the eyes of people, because they would be punished with three years in Re-Education Camp if they told you the truth ... that eliminates the "our society is screwed" attitude real fast.

I know our society is imperfect. So are people, and so are all societies. But to say that people like living under tyranny because they don't have the power to overthrow it is just plain wrong.

Incidentally, Castro wants Cubans to hate us, because it creates solidarity for his policies within Cuba. But after decades of deprivation compared to how life was pre-Castro, this is wearing more than a little thin. In my experience, it isn't working now. Every Cuban I encountered - and I encountered many - loves America.

It seems like you have to live in a tyranny - or at least know what one's like - to appreciate what we have here.

D

And others....

[jrumney]

There are others that have been around a while, this one seems to be set up by an expat group, but this one claims to be the official site of the DPRK government. Check the Welcome from Kim Jong-Il.

check out the registration pull-down menus

[js7a]

On the registration page, check out these two pull-down menus:

Password hint question:

The name of your best friend is ...
The scenary I love most is ...
My favorite movie star is ...
How would Korea change after reunification?
What will you do when Korea is reunified?
My favorite movie is ...

Nationality / citizenship:

1. Korean
2. Chinese
3. German
4. Russian
5. Australian
6. Bahrain
7. Bangladesh
8. Chinese [duplicate]
9. Indian
10. Indonesian
11.Iranian
12. Iraqi
13. Israeli
14. Japanese
15. Jordan
16. Kuwaiti
17. Lebanese
18. New Zealand
...
52. Canadian
53. Mexican
54. American ["American"?]
55. Argentinian
...
97. Netherlander
98. Portuguese
99. Spanish
100. English

Apparently our sensitive alphabetical sorting technology has been sucessfully prevented from reaching the DPRK.

uhm...

[DraconPern]

With this slashdotting, I wouldn't be surpried their next front page news is 'World attacks North Korea's computer infrastructure'..

Has anyone else registered?

[Motherfucking Shit]

There's an English version of the registration page. According to that page,

"When you gain "Naenara" user ID, your webmail address is automatically allocated. eg: your "Naenara" ID@kcckp.net."

root, postmaster, and kimjongil were already taken. But as soon as I figure out how to use the webmail interface, I'm abuse@kcckp.net .. Leave it to Korea to ignore the abuse account :)

Re:Has anyone else registered?

[nkh]

This webmail address is good for us: the NSA won't be able to read our e-mails anymore if it's located in North Korea!

Re:Has anyone else registered?

[jhunsake]

Oh yeah, well I'm hostmaster@kcckp.net. Bow down before I change your dns entry!

Re:Server in Germany?

[Anonymous Coward]

http://www.kcc-europe.de/index.cfm?defnav=aktuelle &content=aktuelle&showdetail=03123001

Ein Berliner bringt das Internet nach Nordkorea

A doughnut brings the internet to North Korea.

Berliner Kurier: Berlin, 30. December 2003. Anschlüsse gibt es aber nur für regierungstreue Firmen und Behörden.

Berliner Kurier (Newspaper): Berlin, 30. December 2003. But access is only given to companies and agencies which are loyal to the government.

Jan Holthusen investierte mit seiner Firma KCC Europe 700 000 Euro, um Geschäfte mit Nordkorea zu machen. (Foto: V.Otto)

Jan Holthusen's company KCC Europe invested 700,000 Euros in order to do business with North Korea. (Foto: V.Otto)

Es ist der letzte Staat der Welt ohne Internet. Jetzt hilft der Berliner Jan Holtermann (49) Nordkorea ans Netz.

It's the last country in the world without Internet. Now Jan Holtermann (49) from Berlin helps North Korea onto the net.

Die guten Verbindungen in die ostasiatischen Diktatur hat der Kaufmann noch aus Nach-Wende-Zeiten. "Da verkaufte ich EDV-Anlagen aus der DDR nach Nordkorea."

The businessman's good connections to the east asian dictatorship go back to the time after the fall of the Berlin wall. "Back then I sold computer systems from the GDR to North Korea."

Er beriet die Asiaten bei Verträgen und Transaktionen, kam dann im Jahr 2000 zum ersten Mal in die Hauptstadt Pjöngjang. Dort stellt er fest: Kein Internet. Nirgendwo.

He advised the Asians concerning contracts and transactions, in 2000 he travelled to the capitol Pjoengjang for the first time. There he noticed: No Internet. Nowhere.

"Das ist die Chance, Geld zu verdienen", sagte sich der findige Unternehmer. Er gründete die KCC Europe GmbH. Jan Holtermann: "KCC heißt Korea Computer Center."

"That is a chance to make money", said the resourceful entrepreneur. He founded the KCC Europe GmbH. Jan Holtermann: "KCC means Korea Computer Center."

Seine Firma mit 15 Mitarbeitern schloss in diesem Jahr einen Exklusiv-Vertrag mit den Nordkoreanern zur Einrichtung und kommerziellen Nutzung des Internet ab.

This year, his company with 15 employees signed an exclusive contract on installation and commercial use of the Internet with the North Koreans.

2004, genau gesagt am 16. Februar 2004, startet das gemeinsame Projekt nach einem Test-Betrieb. Internet-Zugänge werden dann in ausgewählten Firmen und Regierungsstellen stehen. Nicht in Privathaushalten, für die ohnehin nur regionale Telefonverbindungen möglich sind.

In 2004, on the 16th of February, to be precise, the project started after a testing phase. Internet connections will be available in selected companies and government agencies. Not in private homes, who only have access to regional phone connections anyway.

Holtermann: "Es gibt rund 6000 sehr gut ausgebildete Programmierer. Sie mit Dienstleistungen zu beschäftigen, kostet einen Unternehmer nur kleines Geld."

Holtermann: "There are about 6000 well trained programmers. It doesn't cost much to have them provide their services.

Außerdem entwickeln die Nordkoreaner preiswerte Betriebssysteme für Handys, mobile Datenbank Systeme und Video-Konferenz-Systeme. "Alles preiswert und gut", sagt Holtermann. "Sie gewinnen viele internationale Preise."

The North Koreans also develop inexpensive operating systems for mobile phones, mobile database systems and video conferencing systems. "All inexpensive and good", says Holtermann. "They receive many international awards."

Der Server für den Datentransfer steht in der Botschaft Nordkoreas in der Glinkastraße. Um teure Kosten für die Satellitenverbindu

Not the First Official Site

[thelizman]

Kim Jong Il has a weblog.

21 Century Gulags

[ej0c]

For a nice little tour of N. Korea, you might visit the report at hrnk.org

A national policy of starvation, overwork, and torture. Newborns murdered on grounds of suspected genetic diversity. Imprisonment of three generation of an offender's family. A lifetime political prisoner population of 200,000 - more than all the US military in Iraq; more than all the people in a small industrial city.

Claudia Rosette wrote a column when the report was released.

Re:Korea makes me proud to be an American.

[Anonymous Coward]

You are ever so lucky to live in the land of the free. By the way, have you ever been to Cuba? I guess not, your government won't let you.

Why is Slashdot Wasting Its Time with this Spoof

[Anonymous Coward]

If anyone had bothered to scratch the surface of this site a little, you would soon realise that this is a dummy spoof site set up and run by a German businessman who uses it as a "sweetener" to get computing business in North Korea (which is illegal under UN sanctions, I believe).

He claims he is going to wire up North Korea via satellite - bul*shit!

If you really want to provide your personal details to an unscrupulous German, then feel free - you must really like spam.

It really does not deserve any further attention, other than to say "nice marketing ploy fella".

Anyone for an "official" Ossama Bin Laden blog?

Damian, UK

I'm moving there

[LNX Flocki]

That's it, I'm moving to North Korea. Look what their constitution says:

Article 71

Citizens have the right to relaxation. This right is ensured by the establishment of the working hours, the provision of holidays, paid leave, accommodation at health resorts and holiday homes at State expense and by a growing network of cultural facilities.

Don't slashdot rogue nation-states! :)

[FooAtWFU]

Don't slashdot North Korea! They've probably never been slashdotted, don't know what to expect. What if they think it's cyberterrorism and launch some of their missles?!? I hear some of those suckers are nuclear (or might be before long)! You guys want to start World War III or something?

Re:Great

[flossie]

Is it really smart to send thousands of exploit riddled IE lusers to a website ran by a government that is known to actively conduct computer espionage?

Do you mean sites like this or this?

Interesting password hints

[Desprez]

The password hint questions were an interesting change from the normal: mother's maiden name, pet's name, etc that we are so used to seeing from western/european registrations

Here are the DPRK's registration password hint questions:
The name of your best friend is...
The scenery I love most is...
My favorite movie star is...
How would Korea change after reunification?
What will you do when Korea is reunified?
My favorite movie...

(Emphasis mine)

I'll say, they just can't resist packing in the propaganda and agenda into every square inch.

Re:Is it true, the two Koreas reunified?

[Melantha_Bacchae]

Not completely, but they are actually working toward that goal.

For instance, you will see one Korean team at the Olympics this summer under the banner of a united Korea.

Despite the US being against it, a unified Korea is for the best. It would solve most of the problems currently posed by North Korea, including the nuclear one.

Of course, then the US will have no need for troops in Japan or South Korea...

"The path of peace is yours to discover for eternity."
Japanese version of "Mothra" (1961)

Re:Korea makes me proud to be an American.

[grendelkhan]

It is because of us that South Korea is free, and God willing one of these days we'll bring freedom to ALL of Korea.

And let me tell you something, the older Koreans remember and thank us for it. I spent six years of my time in the Air Force stationed in Korea, and while most people my age there were more curious than anything to talk to an American (most really wanted to practice their English!), I was extremely touched one day on the subway in Seoul.

As I was standing there, an older man sitting next to me asked me if I was an Amerian serviceman. When I answered yes. he shook my hand and said "Thank you. Young people don't remember, but I do. Thank you for helping us. Thank you for coming here."

One of the guys I worked with had a similar experience, the older Korean gentleman said to him "Your country was willing to send its young men to come here and die to protect us." I think the ROK is a shining example of American military power used for the right reasons.

The difference between the Korean war and our current debacle? The South was attacked and overrun by the North. We came in to defend, not to do a pre-emptive attack on an entire country.

Hearsay?

[sczimme]

I propose a new word: heresay. It would be a portmanteau of 'heresy' and 'hearsay'.

'Heresay' would be the practice of spreading false claims and attacking the local religious establishment based on secondhand information.

FYI: Worldwide Press Freedom Index...

[plj]

...can be found here. Note: published at October 2002!

Some countries of interest:

1. Finland
...
15. Switzerland & Costa Rica
17. United States
18. Hong Kong
...
35. Taiwan
...
38. Bulgaria
39. South Korea
40. Italy (the worst country of EU-15; hurrah, Berlusconi!)
41. Czech Republic (back then not yet an EU member state)
...
92. Israel (no Arab country performed in top 50, either)
...
104. Afghanistan (year after collapse of the Taliban regime)
...
130. Iraq (still Saddam's regime)
...
138. People's Republic of China
139. North Korea (the last one)