North Korean Domain Names Return To the Internet

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

North Korean Domain Names Return To the Internet

Posted by timothy on Thursday January 13, 2011 @06:58PM from the still-can't-order-a-decent-bulgogi dept.

angry tapir writes "North Korean domain names have returned to the Internet over the last few days as the country continues to build its presence online. Websites, previously available only via IP addresses, are now accessible through dot-kp addresses and it appears more might be on the way."

135 comments

Min score:

Reason:

Sort:

All Fear NK! by Nethead · 2011-01-13 19:04 · Score: 4, Funny

They have achieved DNS technology. To the bunkers everyone!

--
-- I have a private email server in my basement.
1. Re:All Fear NK! by Anonymous Coward · 2011-01-13 19:17 · Score: 0, Troll
  
  Pretty sure we can just slashdot the fuck out of them, don't worry about it
2. Re:All Fear NK! by Bigbutt · 2011-01-14 01:54 · Score: 1
  
  slashdot != 1563
  [John]
  
  --
  Shit better not happen!
3. Re:All Fear NK! by CohibaVancouver · 2011-01-14 03:43 · Score: 1
  
  Americans mocking other countries... *Sigh* The impudence... the irony
  I'm not American, but I have no issue with mocking the nutbars that make up the North Korean leadership. Those guys are batsh1t crazy.
4. Re:All Fear NK! by mutherhacker · 2011-01-14 04:10 · Score: 0
  
  You see that's the problem with the west. Some people can't just accept that other countries are just ..different. Why can't you just accept others as they are?
  And where exactly do you base your opinion on North Korea? On the news? The news that said there are nukes in Iraq and that terrorists are hiding in Afghanistan? ROFL.
  To take things even further? What makes you think that western democracy is better than totalitarian communism? You see what is happening in the west? Corporations control countries and CEO's get rich while poor people are being thrown out of their homes. I bet in North Korea everybody gets a home to live in. But then again I'm only guessing.
  Don't get me wrong, I don't like regimes where there's no freedom of speech either but where do we get off judging them? You can speak freely in the US? Yes so long as you don't damage certain interests. Canada too I hear has been crazy with conservative censorship lately.
  To sum it up, we (the west) have no right to judge them since we are no better than them. Perhaps even worse. At least they oppress their own people whereas we oppress other countries!
5. Re:All Fear NK! by Reapman · 2011-01-14 05:03 · Score: 1
  
  "You see that's the problem with the west. Some people can't just accept that other countries are just ..different. Why can't you just accept others as they are?"
  Your right.. Nazi Germany was just.. Different. Stalin's Soviet Union was just... Different.
  "And where exactly do you base your opinion on North Korea? On the news? The news that said there are nukes in Iraq and that terrorists are hiding in Afghanistan? ROFL."
  Actually I base it off a variety of news sources, including those that NEVER said there was nukes in Iraq (not sure what Iraq has to do with this but whatever). I also base it off first hand accounts and video documentaries, including groups that operate inside China (safe from the US Media your so scared of)
  "To take things even further? What makes you think that western democracy is better than totalitarian communism? You see what is happening in the west? Corporations control countries and CEO's get rich while poor people are being thrown out of their homes. I bet in North Korea everybody gets a home to live in. But then again I'm only guessing."
  So your only guessing, but you feel your uneducated guess is a valid coutner point? Yes everyone gets a place to live in work camps that can span generations, why don't we join them in that ideal society?
  "To sum it up, we (the west) have no right to judge them since we are no better than them. Perhaps even worse. At least they oppress their own people whereas we oppress other countries!"
  Do yourself (and everyone else) a favor and educate yourself before spouting such garbage. Maybe do some travel, I seriously doubt you've been to any of these countries you've mentioned that are just as good if not better then the US or Canada. Stop insulting the people living in North Korea by saying they have it as good as we do. Go travel or hell, go live in North Korea for a few years, experience their "Utopian Society".
6. Re:All Fear NK! by mutherhacker · 2011-01-14 05:27 · Score: 1
  
  Your right.. Nazi Germany was just.. Different. Stalin's Soviet Union was just... Different.
  Two can play this game you know. Before nazi germany and the rest it was the British Empire, France and Spain who went off and enslaved people, put them in ships and brought them back home to collect their cotton. How far back do you wanna go? There's been war throughout mankind's history but at least to their defense those were times when people had no access to information. Same as the middle east, China and north Korea right now. No access to info = bad regimes. But what excuse does the US and UK have for bullying and overthrowing other countries?
  
  Actually I base it off a variety of news sources, including those that NEVER said there was nukes in Iraq (not sure what Iraq has to do with this but whatever). I also base it off first hand accounts and video documentaries, including groups that operate inside China (safe from the US Media your so scared of)
  Point taken. NK is a horrible place to live in.
  
  "To sum it up, we (the west) have no right to judge them since we are no better than them. Perhaps even worse. At least they oppress their own people whereas we oppress other countries!"
  
  Do yourself (and everyone else) a favor and educate yourself before spouting such garbage. Maybe do some travel, I seriously doubt you've been to any of these countries you've mentioned that are just as good if not better then the US or Canada. Stop insulting the people living in North Korea by saying they have it as good as we do. Go travel or hell, go live in North Korea for a few years, experience their "Utopian Society".
  Could you perhaps elaborate on what part of my statement is garbage and "educate" me.
7. Re:All Fear NK! by sglewis100 · 2011-01-14 05:49 · Score: 1
  
  You see that's the problem with the west. Some people can't just accept that other countries are just ..different. Why can't you just accept others as they are?
  I'd rather not. By all accounts there's something worse going on than a lack of free speech and free commerce. Namely, people are dying from starvation.
  
  And where exactly do you base your opinion on North Korea? On the news? The news that said there are nukes in Iraq and that terrorists are hiding in Afghanistan? ROFL.
  I highly recommend Nothing to Envy by Barbara Demick, taken largely from first hand reports of North Korean defectors now living in South Korea. Also, are you SURE there's NO terrorists hiding in Afghanistan? Sure, some probably fled to Pakistan, but I'm pretty sure there are a few.
  
  Don't get me wrong, I don't like regimes where there's no freedom of speech either but where do we get off judging them? You can speak freely in the US? Yes so long as you don't damage certain interests.
  Yes, we can speak pretty freely in the US. But I think the bigger issue in North Korea are things like no electricity, starving children, hospitals that can't or don't service the people and those that do use bribes. I think if I regularly ate grass to try and survive a bit longer, I'd probably hope that nobody worried about defending my regime. Free speech seems pretty small, to them, I bet.
  
  I bet in North Korea everybody gets a home to live in. But then again I'm only guessing.
  I'm sure everybody agrees with you on this point. You certainly are just guessing. Sadly, the reality seems to be that even those with homes aren't necessarily eating regularly.
8. Re:All Fear NK! by Reapman · 2011-01-14 05:50 · Score: 1
  
  "No access to info = bad regimes."
  You honestly think that the leaders of North Korea don't have access to world information?
  "Could you perhaps elaborate on what part of my statement is garbage and "educate" me."
  How about you educate yourself.. why take MY word for it? Travel, see the world, see what the other side is like, then tell me how much better it is. Maybe your problem is that you let others educate you instead of doing the work yourself.
9. Re:All Fear NK! by sglewis100 · 2011-01-14 05:51 · Score: 1
  
  Two can play this game you know. Before nazi germany and the rest it was the British Empire, France and Spain who went off and enslaved people, put them in ships and brought them back home to collect their cotton. How far back do you wanna go?
  Without defending British colonization and slavery, I'm not sure everything in life is black and white. There's probably a difference between not enslaving people, enslaving people and committing genocide. I gotta run though, I hear Godwin knocking at the door.
10. Re:All Fear NK! by mutherhacker · 2011-01-14 06:49 · Score: 1
  
  You honestly think that the leaders of North Korea don't have access to world information?
  I was referring to the people. The people have no access to information and thus don't feel compelled to overthrow the regime.
  
  Travel, see the world, see what the other side is like, then tell me how much better it is.
  I was born in east europe, studied undergraduate in a western european country and have seen the better part of western europe. I am currently a postgraduate student in east asia. My girlfriend is also a student here and comes from a country without democracy. I've never been to NK but I've learned not to judge based on hearsay. So please spare me the education peptalk.
  Plx read some Noam Chomsky asap.
11. Re:All Fear NK! by mutherhacker · 2011-01-14 06:58 · Score: 1
  
  There's probably a difference between not enslaving people, enslaving people and committing genocide.
  I agree with you. I'm just saying that people who's government are the indirect cause of genocides via military coups have no right to pass judgement.
12. Re:All Fear NK! by mutherhacker · 2011-01-14 07:01 · Score: 1
  
  Fair enough. So the west instead of passing judgement and mocking, as the parent did, should just fix itself and the others will follow suit. That's a promise.
13. Re:All Fear NK! by Anonymous Coward · 2011-01-14 10:44 · Score: 0
  
  ...
  Plx read some Noam Chomsky asap.
  What an idiot you are.
  What a downright fucking idiot.
  You defend North Korea by invoking Noam Chomsky. Not just once. Noam Chomsky's views on North Korea are irrelvant. You might as well invoke the Man in the Moon.
14. Re:All Fear NK! by garyebickford · 2011-01-14 11:08 · Score: 1
  
  I suggest you read some North Korean 'news' before you make any judgments about how sane their leaders are. I think 'bat-shit crazy' pretty much sums it up. Or, 'lost in the 1930s with Our Hero Joe Stalin' if you prefer.
  
  --
  It's easier to be a result of the past, but more fun to be a cause of the future! http://www.spacefinancegroup.com/
15. Re:All Fear NK! by Pseudonym+Authority · 2011-01-14 14:41 · Score: 1
  
  Two can play this game you know. Before nazi germany and the rest it was the British Empire, France and Spain who went off and enslaved people, put them in ships and brought them back home to collect their cotttooooonnnn blah blah blah death to america!! bitch bitch bitch western civilization is the cancer killing the world !!!
  Oh, I get it now, your an idiot and an apologist, so long it reinforces your hate for the "west". Honestly, I stopped reading after the part that I quoted, but if I may I ask, what are your views on Pol Pot? Was it justified ancient Egypt enslaved the Jews?
16. Re:All Fear NK! by mutherhacker · 2011-01-14 15:14 · Score: 1
  
  Chomsky is irrelevant to north Korea. I'm invoking Chomsky so that perhaps Americans can wake up from their slumber! That's the only reason.
17. Re:All Fear NK! by mutherhacker · 2011-01-20 20:48 · Score: 1
  
  Oh, I get it now, your an idiot and an apologist, so long it reinforces your hate for the "west".
  Ad hominem attacks only serve to prove my point so if you want to reply please attack my arguments, not me in person.
  My views on Pol Pot? He was a madman. I can't see the relevance of your question. Are you asking if it was right for the US to invade Vietnam? of course not.
  So let me get this straight. I believe the US is a tyrannical state run by corporations. Does that mean I should send my troops over and establish a regime to my liking? lol.
Watch out. by benjamindees · 2011-01-13 19:10 · Score: 1

The Juche is loose.

--
"I assumed blithely that there were no elves out there in the darkness"
Whole country's domain disappeared?? by Spy+Handler · 2011-01-13 19:11 · Score: 2

The reemergence of KP domain names marks the first time in several months that the North Korean domain has been functional. It was assigned in 2007... (but the domain) disappeared in the second half of last year for reasons that are still unclear.
How does an entire top level domain simply disappear?
1. Re:Whole country's domain disappeared?? by Anonymous Coward · 2011-01-13 19:20 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Capitalist oppression.
2. Re:Whole country's domain disappeared?? by totally+bogus+dude · 2011-01-13 20:52 · Score: 5, Informative
  
  Pretty easily, at least in this case. The root servers provide these name servers for .kp:
  kp. 172800 IN NS ns2.kptc.kp. kp. 172800 IN NS ns1.kptc.kp.
  which are both located on the same class C:
  ns1.kptc.kp. 86400 IN A 175.45.176.15 ns2.kptc.kp. 86400 IN A 175.45.176.16
  Which generally is indicative of the same network segment. I guess North Korea doesn't have a need for a particularly robust internet infrastructure, so there's a good chance there's just some servers listening on those addresses and no fancy load-balancing or anycast routing going on, and very likely they're at the same physical location.
  If either of those stop responding to queries, then resolution of anything under .kp will fail.
3. Re:Whole country's domain disappeared?? by Opportunist · 2011-01-14 02:04 · Score: 1
  
  In North Korea? C'mon, people disappear there.
  
  --
  We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
Block List by AndGodSed · 2011-01-13 19:11 · Score: 0

Right, another block of domains/ip's to add to my blocking list.

--
Seven Days with Ubuntu Unity
1. Re:Block List by aliquis · 2011-01-13 19:24 · Score: 2
  
  Right, another block of domains/ip's to add to my blocking list.
  Yeah, that will make a difference.
  Truly revolutionary!
So what? by MrQuacker · 2011-01-13 19:13 · Score: 0

What could a North Korean website possibly have on it that's worth visiting?
1. Re:So what? by somersault · 2011-01-13 22:38 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  Plenty of source material for political satire?
  
  --
  which is totally what she said
2. Re:So what? by xclr8r · 2011-01-14 00:46 · Score: 2
  
  Family to Family status (those who were split due to bad timing of being North or South of the 38th parrallel.
  
  --
  Beware of those who profit off the docile and persecute the unbelievers.
3. Re:So what? by Opportunist · 2011-01-14 02:06 · Score: 1
  
  Juche! Which for a German speaking person sounds like a mix of a common cheer ("Juchee!") and the word for liquid manure ("Jauche").
  In other words, you're complaining about German porn? That sounds like something that could be way more disgusting!
  
  --
  We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
Not a troll by Lord+Byron+II · 2011-01-13 19:14 · Score: 3, Interesting

This isn't a troll, but a serious question.
They are an unfriendly, communist, totalitarian regime. We exactly do we care if they are on the Internet?
Again, this is not a troll. I'm really interested in the ramifications of this action, which at the moment escape me.
1. Re:Not a troll by Anonymous Coward · 2011-01-13 19:30 · Score: 2, Informative
  
  If they're open to the internet instead of an intranet, it means they not only can information get out, information can also get IN.
  Or...so we hope.
2. Re:Not a troll by Anonymous Coward · 2011-01-13 19:31 · Score: 0
  
  I don't think they would be considered a communist nation. Anyway, perhaps it my be a chance to interact/communicate with North Korea at some level, which at this point is very difficult.
3. Re:Not a troll by devxo · 2011-01-13 19:36 · Score: 1, Insightful
  
  This isn't a troll, but a serious question.
  They are an unfriendly, communist, totalitarian regime. We exactly do we care if they are on the Internet?
  Again, this is not a troll. I'm really interested in the ramifications of this action, which at the moment escape me.
  Yeah, because US is the one that should dictate that, right?
4. Re:Not a troll by timid3000 · 2011-01-13 19:37 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  They are an unfriendly, communist, totalitarian regime.
  Do you mean like China ?
5. Re:Not a troll by Anonymous Coward · 2011-01-13 19:41 · Score: 1
  
  The regime may be, but that doesn't mean you should hold it against the people. That's like saying no one should care if anyone in the US are on the internet just because there are a lot of people who don't like Obama and the Democrats. (and vice versa when it was Bush and the Republicans)
  Besides, they already had the intertubes, you just had to know the IP address to visit one of their sites. Now they have DNS resolution... which is a convenience, sure, but not exactly earth shattering.
6. Re:Not a troll by outsider007 · 2011-01-13 19:43 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  smaller suprise dongs on chatroullette?
  
  --
  If you mod me down the terrorists will have won
7. Re:Not a troll by Anonymous Coward · 2011-01-13 19:53 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  Because we live in the same world?
8. Re:Not a troll by SlovakWakko · 2011-01-13 20:16 · Score: 1
  
  Because 'they' are people. There are a few power-hungry morons who manage to keep them enslaved with terror and brainwashing, but I'm pretty sure you would find there a lot of nice and friendly young girls to whom you'd love to show how the Internet works ;) Also, having Internet makes people happuy (well, it makes me happy), and happy people are usually pretty reluctant to go to war.
9. Re:Not a troll by dbIII · 2011-01-13 20:27 · Score: 2
  
  Communism sort of implies at least pretending to be doing something for people and not being some sort of wierd theocracy worshipping a dead former leader with his son as high priest. That strange cult in Stargate that spent so much time worshipping that they wouldn't be able to grow enough to eat is oddly close to the reality found in that place.
10. Re:Not a troll by Amorymeltzer · 2011-01-13 20:38 · Score: 1
  
  There are no short, witty words that end in kp, so we don't.
  
  --
  I live in constant fear of the Coming of the Red Spiders.
11. Re:Not a troll by Anonymous Coward · 2011-01-13 20:46 · Score: 1
  
  Sorry but I have a feeling there are far better ways to get information in, like leaflet drops and radio broadcasts.
  How many people would have a computer outside of people high up in the chain-of-command?
12. Re:Not a troll by Anonymous Coward · 2011-01-13 20:49 · Score: 1
  
  Not even mud.kp ?
13. Re:Not a troll by pspahn · 2011-01-13 21:03 · Score: 1
  
  No.
  
  --
  Someone flopped a steamer in the gene pool.
14. Re:Not a troll by Anonymous Coward · 2011-01-13 21:15 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  OK, this is what's wrong with Slashdot. The comment by the parent has nothing to do with the GP it responds to. There isn't even a hint that anyone should dictate anything in the GP's post. Still the parent's response to it was modded insightful, probably simply because the comment is vaguely anti-US. The US shouldn't have any say in that, of course, but this is still not a command that adds anything to the discussion at hand, least of all any insight.
15. Re:Not a troll by Anonymous Coward · 2011-01-13 21:23 · Score: 0
  
  I don't have any statistically significant evidence one way or the other, but all the smuggled information I've seen coming out of NK shows that only in the major centers(particularly where foreigners are allowed) do they spend any significant time away from work to praise dear leader.
  The vast majority of people do spend a ton of time trying to provide(one specific video I recall showed a family trying to keep a UN donated tractor going even with fuel and tool shortages). Out side of Pyongyang, not everyone puts on an act to the rare journalists who get access.
  Again, while I have no doubt that certain central planning measures are sub optimal to say the least, this is only anecdotal evidence. These results could be caused by a number of factors including your point above. As with all social science, without additional evidence and reasoning to rule out these uncontrolled variables, we can only say that the observed results are a function of any or all of those variables unaccounted for. I'd bet my money on certain ones being sufficient reasons, but I have no direct proof.
16. Re:Not a troll by MrQuacker · 2011-01-13 21:41 · Score: 1
  
  They are conditioned to believe that if they touch the papers that are dropped from the sky that they will die. And if they touch them anyways they are sent to labor camp.
17. Re:Not a troll by petermgreen · 2011-01-13 21:57 · Score: 1
  
  Unfortunately the regime being on the internet and the general public being on the internet are very different things. My understanding is in north korea the regime are but the general public aren't (even those of the general public who can afford computers etc).
  
  --
  note: i'm known as plugwash most places but i screwd up registering that here somehow in the past and now can't register
18. Re:Not a troll by Anonymous Coward · 2011-01-13 22:04 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  Shut up! Shut up you American. You always talk, you Americans, you talk and you talk and say 'Let me tell you something' and 'I just wanna say this', Well you're dead now, so shut up.
19. Re:Not a troll by Kvasio · 2011-01-13 22:05 · Score: 1
  
  more like "1984". China seems to be wild democratic and open country, compared to NK.
20. Re:Not a troll by Jarik_Tentsu · 2011-01-13 22:08 · Score: 2
  
  I think what the parent was getting at is...what exactly are they going to put on the internet that is going to harm us? "Bomb the US" sites? And who is going to look at them?
  At least with radical Islamic terrorist groups, they have potential similarly minded extremists all over the globe who may look up these sites and follow them. But how many North Koreans living in other countries who probably escaped as refugees are going to look up North Korean websites and have their actions influenced by that?
21. Re:Not a troll by jandersen · 2011-01-13 22:27 · Score: 2
  
  They are an unfriendly, communist, totalitarian regime. We exactly do we care if they are on the Internet?
  Because they are an unfriendly, communist, totalitarian regime; the more they enter into dialog with the rest of the world, other than through a megaphone and the barrel of a gun, the better.
  If you have ever been ostracised for a prolonged period of time, as I have, then you will know that it doesn't do much to make you more open and willing to participate in the normal, more peaceful activities of life. The fact that China has broken out of isolation like they have, is exceptional, and we can't expect a country like NK with its delusional leadership to do this.
  All in all, we should welcome them - then, perhaps they will find the courage to open up more and loose their paramoia, which can only be a good thing for all.
22. Re:Not a troll by Ginger+Unicorn · 2011-01-13 23:00 · Score: 1
  
  +1 million funny
  
  --
  (1.21 gigawatts) / (88 miles per hour) = 30 757 874 newtons
23. Re:Not a troll by Issarlk · 2011-01-13 23:05 · Score: 1
  
  They have a country-wide intranet anyway.
24. Re:Not a troll by lordandmaker · 2011-01-13 23:48 · Score: 1
  
  At a guess, the "we" is those people who care if North Korea is on the Internet or not, given the wording of the question.
  
  He's not speaking for anyone, he's asking a question of people.
25. Re:Not a troll by Zouden · 2011-01-13 23:48 · Score: 1
  
  Yes, and what the AC was getting at is: something doesn't have to be threatening to be newsworthy. This is probably the least-connected country in the world, a stark contrast to its southern neighbour. The fact that it is putting websites online now is therefore of interest, especially to a tech audience.
  I'm sorry that two decades of scaremongering by US news networks has lead you to feel that something is only news if it directly impacts you.
  
  --
  "A week in the lab saves an hour in the library"
26. Re:Not a troll by SimonInOz · 2011-01-14 00:00 · Score: 1
  
  --- There are no short, witty words that end in kp ...
  Hmm, how about "crackpot", just without the "ot"?
  
  --
  "Cats like plain crisps"
27. Re:Not a troll by Pharmboy · 2011-01-14 00:06 · Score: 1
  
  Most of the gains in humans rights in China can be related to other countries opening up to them, giving them an incentive to create a more market based society. China still has far to go in the area of human rights, but they have come far since Nixon opened relations in the early 70s.
  So yes, it is a good thing if North Korea gets on the internet and we try to open up to them. Since they have nukes, the only other choice would likely end is a giant glass parking lot in eastern asia, about the size of the Korean peninsula.
  
  --
  Tequila: It's not just for breakfast anymore!
28. Re:Not a troll by mutherhacker · 2011-01-14 00:07 · Score: 1
  
  Dear Lord Byron *STOP*. You buffoon *STOP*. You carpet bagger *STOP*. In all seriousness, I would be interested in knowing WHY you consider them unfriendly.
29. Re:Not a troll by FuckingNickName · 2011-01-14 00:12 · Score: 1
  
  Strictly speaking, the same thing applies in the West. Those who choose not to follow their government's system of money/tax/etc aren't going to be getting Internet access any time soon.
  As always, it's leaders and followers of the local regime who get access to the resources which in turn make them feel free. The rest are either marginalised or incarcerated. It's just harder for people in the West to accept how limited they are in how they may interact in order for them to enjoy the benefits of modern life.
30. Re:Not a troll by Anonymous Coward · 2011-01-14 01:06 · Score: 0
  
  Dear Lord Byron *STOP*. You buffoon *STOP*. You carpet bagger *STOP*.
  In all seriousness, I would be interested in knowing WHY you consider them unfriendly.
  I sure hope you're joking. Because if you're not, you're quite ignorant. Literally.
  Google a few of these:
  "North Korea bombs civilian jetliner"
  "North Korea kidnaps Japanese civilians"
  "North Korea sinks South Korea ship"
  "North Korea shells South Korea"
  "North Korea nuclear proliferation"
  But maybe you don't think that's unfriendly.
31. Re:Not a troll by hcs_$reboot · 2011-01-14 01:06 · Score: 1
  
  They are an unfriendly, communist, totalitarian regime. We exactly do we care if they are on the Internet?
  Most of the North Korean people dream about an end to that regime, to build a peaceful reunited Korea.
  Most of the people who endorse the totalitarian regime have no other choice.
  
  What can we expect from that country on the Internet? Certainly a lot of inevitable regime-driven-anti-capitalistic messages.
  But maybe some people over there will post some more realistic pages about their life, and how harsh it is to live there compared to what we are able to enjoy in our countries.
  
  --
  censored sig
  
  --
  Slashdot, fix the reply notifications... You won't get away with it...
32. Re:Not a troll by wvmarle · 2011-01-14 01:22 · Score: 1
  
  They are conditioned to believe that if they touch the papers that are dropped from the sky that they will die. And if they touch them anyways they are sent to labor camp.
  And a result of the second is the first so it's not just conditioning: it's true. Just like we westerners are conditioned to believe that when you shoot someone you will go to jail.
  That said I think North Korea is a really bizarre country... and for that reason very interesting.
33. Re:Not a troll by wvmarle · 2011-01-14 01:26 · Score: 1
  
  China is also North Korea's only ally; and as far as I know to travel to North Korea you have to first go to Beijing as there's the only place in the world to apply for a visa (China is the only country with diplomatic ties with NK, and as such their only embassy), and the only city with regular flights to Pyongyang.
  So even though GP gets the obligatory +1 insightful for China-bashing, it's not totally false. But then it's the half-truths that make politics go.
34. Re:Not a troll by Vectormatic · 2011-01-14 01:28 · Score: 1
  
  i remember reading that north koreans are told the leaflets are poisened by 'those evil americans', the fear of dying part has little to do with the labor camps
  
  --
  People, what a bunch of bastards
35. Re:Not a troll by Vectormatic · 2011-01-14 01:32 · Score: 1
  
  *goes to register mud.kp*
  Comming soon, meme-central!! at http://moar.mud.kp/
  
  --
  People, what a bunch of bastards
36. Re:Not a troll by wvmarle · 2011-01-14 01:33 · Score: 1
  
  No matter what, it's a fact that North Korea can not feed its own population. Malnutrition is a real issue in the country - only thanks to food donations mainly from South Korea they stay alive.
  A few years ago I read a quite telling study: North Koreans are, on average, several cm shorter than their Southern counterparts. And that length difference is fully attributed to the poor nutrition in the north: genetically they're the same race.
  Central planning doesn't work, that has been proven by the soviets already. The small patches of private land handed to farmers yielded more produce than the much larger communal farmed land.
  And about the putting on an act: read any story by journalists visiting NK and you hear about this. They are not allowed to go out on their own; the whole trip is pre-arranged; and even everyone they meet en route one visit to another appears to be an "actor".
37. Re:Not a troll by Anonymous Coward · 2011-01-14 01:47 · Score: 0
  
  crac.kp/ot/
38. Re:Not a troll by mutherhacker · 2011-01-14 02:02 · Score: 1
  
  I bet if you replace "North Korea" with "CIA operatives in North Korea" you'll get more hits. Plx read more. I recommend Noam Chomsky as a starting point.
39. Re:Not a troll by Anonymous Coward · 2011-01-14 02:03 · Score: 0
  
  I bet if you replace "North Korea" with "CIA operatives in North Korea" you'll get more hits.
  Plx read more. I recommend Noam Chomsky as a starting point.
  No thanks, I don't live in Fantasyland.
40. Re:Not a troll by Opportunist · 2011-01-14 02:07 · Score: 1
  
  So they're not conditioned to believe it, it's reality. You touch the papers and you will die.
  
  --
  We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
41. Re:Not a troll by Opportunist · 2011-01-14 02:09 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  People are fleeing from NK to China, just to give you an idea that there are various degrees of "bad".
  
  --
  We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
42. Re:Not a troll by Opportunist · 2011-01-14 02:24 · Score: 1
  
  [citation needed]
  I'm more worried that they, lacking any information from outside, think that all the world is like this, or even worse.
  
  --
  We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
43. Re:Not a troll by elrous0 · 2011-01-14 02:25 · Score: 1
  
  Internet will be 100x better with Glorious Leader's presence!
  
  --
  SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
44. Re:Not a troll by wvmarle · 2011-01-14 02:33 · Score: 1
  
  Of course. But whether it's poisoning by Americans or the effects of the labour camp... the result is the same.
45. Re:Not a troll by lwsimon · 2011-01-14 02:40 · Score: 2
  
  Are the dongs really a surprise at this point, or are they the reason you go there?
  Just sayin'.
  
  --
  Learn about Photography Basics.
46. Re:Not a troll by Atzanteol · 2011-01-14 02:41 · Score: 1
  
  There is a difference between information *sent* to you and information you seek out. The latter is more trustworthy.
  
  --
  "Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge"
  
  - Charles Darwin
47. Re:Not a troll by CohibaVancouver · 2011-01-14 03:48 · Score: 1
  
  We [sic] exactly do we care if they are on the Internet?
  Because they might have pr0n of course.
48. Re:Not a troll by Anonymous Coward · 2011-01-14 03:49 · Score: 0
  
  I bet if you replace "North Korea" with "CIA operatives in North Korea" you'll get more hits.
  Plx read more. I recommend Noam Chomsky as a starting point.
  BWAAA HAA HAA HAA!!!
  OMG, that's LOL funny.
  I'm sure it was "CIA operatives" that forced North Korea to blow up KAL 858, to sink that South Korean ship, and to shell that South Korean island.
  I know! It was George W. Bush! He was channeling Sarah Palin via a Ouija board when he ordered Dick Cheney to make North Korea start acting crazy! (In case you missed it, I'm mocking you while I laugh AT you, you complete fool)
  You're an almost-useless tool. You're hilariously benighted, so you're not totally useless: the penultimate almost-useless idiot.
  "Noam Chomsky"!?!?! HA HA HA HAHA!!!
49. Re:Not a troll by Anonymous Coward · 2011-01-14 03:55 · Score: 0
  
  Sweden has an embassy in North Korea and there is a North Korean embassy in Sweden.
50. Re:Not a troll by Anonymous Coward · 2011-01-14 04:00 · Score: 0
  
  Unfriendly? Well apparently the big-corp/consumers in the west love the stuff outsourced/exported from there.
51. Re:Not a troll by petermgreen · 2011-01-14 04:17 · Score: 1
  
  I still think there is a huge difference between a place where anyone with a bank account and money can get on the internet and a place where only people high up in the regime can get on the internet.
  I think some of the PAYG mobile internet deals can even be used by people without a bank account as long as they have cash to buy top-up cards.
  
  --
  note: i'm known as plugwash most places but i screwd up registering that here somehow in the past and now can't register
52. Re:Not a troll by mutherhacker · 2011-01-14 04:18 · Score: 1
  
  I'd like to know where you base your information. Could you please cite your sources?
53. Re:Not a troll by I8TheWorm · 2011-01-14 04:25 · Score: 1
  
  Welcome to /. where people have the ability to see through the ANSI and know what the person on the other end of the wire actually meant to type. Spooky huh?
  
  --
  Saying Android is a family of phones is akin to saying Linux is a family of PCs.
54. Re:Not a troll by FuckingNickName · 2011-01-14 05:07 · Score: 1
  
  Although the landscape has changed slightly in the UK over the past decade as government has prodded banks to provide basic accounts, there were/are a shocking number of people which banks won't open accounts for: at the one end we have illegal immigrants, then people in financial trouble (and not everyone who gets into debt managed money poorly!), then people who were victims of ID fraud, then those for whom computer repeatedly says no - some faceless algorithm (e.g. National Hunter) has wrongly decided that they're some risk. Oh, and make sure you have paid for a full passport or driver's licence.
  Then, over the past decade, you have anti-money-laundering regulations meaning automated algorithms flagging people up for non-standard banking activity. The response by banks when the accounts owner hasn't got large deposits or is otherwise profitable is simply to close the accounts with ~30 days' notice. HSBC had a fairly well-known spate of this a few years ago, but Natwest and Barclays do it too (and probably Lloyds - I don't really pay attention to them).
  I'm lucky never to have experienced any of the above problems, and I'm in a position where it probably wouldn't affect me. But I'm very much aware of what can go wrong.
  And everything assumes that you are prepared to accept the government's system of money to the extent that you have spare cash lying around to pay for usable Internet access. Now you could try working outside the system cash-in-hand, and if you're sufficiently successful and sneaky then you can still have what you want - but the same applies anywhere. For the average person, however, this means a "legal" job, i.e. paying your taxes. At this point you're "in the regime" no matter how free you feel. How high up you are is labelled perhaps as Party affiliation in Soviet style, and labelled worker/middle/upper class in the Western style. It's true that the West still has a larger (dwindling) middle tier than NK, but the principle's the same.
55. Re:Not a troll by Anonymous Coward · 2011-01-14 07:21 · Score: 0
  
  It's not too hard to figure out their motivation for being on the internet: Stuff like this.
  But seriously, in that country, that's actually somebody's job.
56. Re:Not a troll by c6gunner · 2011-01-14 08:39 · Score: 1
  
  but I'm pretty sure you would find there a lot of nice and friendly young girls to whom you'd love to show how the Internet works ;)
  I dunno. Given the level of brainwashing they receive about the evil western capitalist-imperialist devils, I'd be too afraid of getting my .. err ... "internet" cut off.
  
  Also, having Internet makes people happuy (well, it makes me happy), and happy people are usually pretty reluctant to go to war.
  I think having electricity would make them even happier, and might be a prerequisite for this interwebs thingy.
57. Re:Not a troll by spauldo · 2011-01-14 18:42 · Score: 1
  
  Central planning doesn't work, that has been proven by the soviets already.
  The Soviets didn't prove anything, really. They only proved that the soviet government couldn't do it. Corruption undercut them at every turn.
  In a capitalist system, you don't go through one entity for everything, so corruption doesn't affect your life to quite the same degree it does under a communist system.
  They still have the same problems with corruption under the current government. It's a cultural thing, and it's unlikely to go away. And that's good for pretty much everyone else, because otherwise the Warsaw Pact would have steamrolled over most of the world.
  Add in the fact that there's a huge difference in running a communist system for a country with a huge, diverse population and almost unlimited natural resources and running one on a small peninsula of racially and culturally homogeneous people. The PRNK could probably do fine under a well maintained communist system if their leaders weren't batshit crazy.
  
  --
  Those who can't do, teach. Those who can't teach either, do tech support.
58. Re:Not a troll by wvmarle · 2011-01-14 19:02 · Score: 1
  
  Source: main source is the South China Morning Post (a Hong Kong newspaper). This one not available online for non-subscribers (I always buy single copies). And various news reports, history lessons, etc.
59. Re:Not a troll by wvmarle · 2011-01-14 19:09 · Score: 1
  
  Corruption is a big issue in governments - and will always rear it's ugly head whenever governments are involved.
  It's made possible by a lack of competition: a government is a natural monopoly. Costs don't matter for a government. If say the government wants to build a road, they would invite tenders from various companies. Now say the winner wins by bribing the government official. This bribe will be recovered in their profit margin, plus a bit more.
  The fact that there is a bribe means that this contractor's quote is higher than necessary. But the government doesn't care, they can just raise taxes. They won't go bankrupt.
  On the other hand when a private company wants to build a road on their factory terrain, there is no room for bribes. Bribes raise their costs, and in the end the profit margin of the ordering company. At worst they simply go out of business for they can not compete with the other companies.
  If now your complete country is planned by the government there always will be people trying to take advantage of it, and that includes bribes.
  On top of that for a government doesn't matter too much if they don't reach the best possible result - they do not have competition, they can't go out of business. So they don't care too much either.
Strange by Anonymous Coward · 2011-01-13 19:18 · Score: 0

I wonder if Stuxnet has anything to do with this?
1. Re:Strange by Anonymous Coward · 2011-01-14 00:42 · Score: 0
  
  Yes. Their DNS records aren't stored on a hard drive, they're stored on magnetic tape wrapped around a centrifuge. If the controller fails, not only can't they enrich uranium anymore, but even more disastrous, they can't boot the server either!
All praise our leader Kim Dung Dong by syousef · 2011-01-13 19:19 · Score: 1

Our fearless leader armed with secret superweapon force western pig-dogs singlehandledly to restore what is rightfully ours. All praise our fearless leader!

--
These posts express my own personal views, not those of my employer
E-shop by chazchaz101 · 2011-01-13 19:31 · Score: 2

I wish the E-shop on http://www.naenara.com.kp/en/ wasn't "now in suspension." I could totally go for a t-shirt or something.
1. Re:E-shop by MichaelSmith · 2011-01-13 19:36 · Score: 1
  
  I wonder if they have a turnip to sell me.
  
  --
  http://michaelsmith.id.au
2. Re:E-shop by Frosty+Piss · 2011-01-13 20:35 · Score: 1
  
  I wonder if they have a turnip to sell me.
  Or how about this honkin' radish (being examined by Kim Jong Il himself!)
  
  --
  If you want news from today, you have to come back tomorrow.
3. Re:E-shop by fandingo · 2011-01-13 20:41 · Score: 1
  
  Don't fret. There's lots of free books you can download http://www.naenara.com.kp/en/book/reading.php from our dear leader.
4. Re:E-shop by pspahn · 2011-01-13 21:09 · Score: 1
  
  I totally saw that link to "my cart" and "e-shop" and got all excited. I'd love to get me some North Korean swag. You can imagine my disappointment to find the service "now in suspension".
  I wonder if it has something to do with the creamy white stuff dripping off of the navigation bar.
  
  --
  Someone flopped a steamer in the gene pool.
5. Re:E-shop by WillAdams · 2011-01-14 00:49 · Score: 1
  
  Yep, authored in Microsoft Word and converted to .pdf using Acrobat Distiller 6.0 for Windows.
  Kind of interesting to see source material for the resistance against the Japanese occupation though (which seems to have some translation / OCR issues unfortunately, ``bum all''?.
  William
  
  --
  Sphinx of black quartz, judge my vow.
6. Re:E-shop by Opportunist · 2011-01-14 02:26 · Score: 1
  
  The radish certainly got promoted, after all the Leader himself picked it out!
  
  --
  We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
7. Re:E-shop by sgt+scrub · 2011-01-14 02:32 · Score: 1
  
  i hear ya man. their 6 year old girls do damn good work. well, if it is made within the first 82 hours of the work week anyway.
  
  --
  Having to work for a living is the root of all evil.
8. Re:E-shop by oldmac31310 · 2011-01-14 06:57 · Score: 1
  
  That's hilarious. They are charging money for propaganda!
  
  --
  http://www.acetonestudio.com
Just for fun I tried wikileaks.kp by countertrolling · 2011-01-13 19:32 · Score: 0

It's not up yet

--
For justice, we must go to Don Corleone
Can't view NK domains... by incognito84 · 2011-01-13 19:35 · Score: 4, Funny

...or I get a nasty little message telling me not to, here in Seoul. What are they worried about? It's not like looking at webpages that look like they were made in 1994 are going to make me want to cross the border.
1. Re:Can't view NK domains... by Opportunist · 2011-01-14 02:28 · Score: 1
  
  They want to protect your feeble mind from the dreaded communist propaganda.
  What? Why did anyone think propaganda is a one edged sword?
  
  --
  We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
2. Re:Can't view NK domains... by rockNme2349 · 2011-01-14 04:55 · Score: 1
  
  You might become overwhelmed by Glorious Leader's use of strength in html.
  
  --
  Sewage Treatment Facilities - "Our duty is clear."
Anonymous Coward by Anonymous Coward · 2011-01-13 19:38 · Score: 0

...Now we can finally DoS THEM...
1. Re:Anonymous Coward by Opportunist · 2011-01-14 02:29 · Score: 1
  
  I think I have an old Pentium on a dialup here, it should be sufficient.
  
  --
  We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
.kp Webmail? by chazchaz101 · 2011-01-13 19:42 · Score: 1

From the FAQ here: http://www.naenara.com.kp/en/users/index.php?faq#faq_2_2 it looks like they might be offering a web based email accounts if you register. Any confirmation?
1. Re:.kp Webmail? by Rebelgecko · 2011-01-13 19:59 · Score: 1
  
  Unless I'm missing something, there isn't actually a register button on the registration page, although there is an alert about some service being available within a month in the page source (http://www.naenara.com.kp/en/users/index.php?add)
  However, it's nice of them to tell you in the FAQ how secure your loin info is in their database when they also embed your attempted login info in the URL in plaintext
  
  --
  CATS/Diebold '08- All your vote are belong to us!
2. Re:.kp Webmail? by chazchaz101 · 2011-01-13 20:26 · Score: 1
  
  On further research, it appears that the domain does not have an MX record and that registration seems to fail if the commented out submit button is re-enabled via firebug.
Comment removed by account_deleted · 2011-01-13 19:58 · Score: 1

Comment removed based on user account deletion
Yay! by lawnsprinkler · 2011-01-13 20:07 · Score: 0

Looking forward to see where they go with this.
Awww how cute by sv_libertarian · 2011-01-13 20:29 · Score: 1

Dear Reader has a website. Now he get up to date with 21st century right quick! Next upgrade website with Adobe Frash prayer, and piss off riberal Apper fanboiz who can't see furr webpage on iphone.
1. Re:Awww how cute by Anonymous Coward · 2011-01-13 21:12 · Score: 0
  
  stil beats most Amrcn kds dEz dAz, hu hav yt 2 Lern how 2 wrte a full wrd much less Lern 2 spL.
  Racist much?
Invade North Korea From Below by Anonymous Coward · 2011-01-13 20:38 · Score: 0

Would it be possible for a military to dig deep underground and from several points miles apart, invade and liberate the citizens of NK?
1. Re:Invade North Korea From Below by Freultwah · 2011-01-13 22:04 · Score: 2
  
  North Koreans have at least four times set out to liberate the South this way.
One to pre-emptively block by WillerZ · 2011-01-13 21:12 · Score: 4, Funny

TwoGirlsOne.kp?

--
I guess today is a passable day to die.
1. Re:One to pre-emptively block by Cwix · 2011-01-13 22:23 · Score: 1
  
  Ahh the best .kp address I've seen so far.. Bravo!
  
  --
  You are entitled to your own opinions, not your own facts.
How do I register by lul_wat · 2011-01-13 21:27 · Score: 1

www.bestkorea.kp ?

--
Divide a cake by zero. Is it still a cake?
Strong HTML design by Ailure · 2011-01-13 21:30 · Score: 3, Interesting

So does this mean we get to see more "strong" HTML? ;)
The might by NightFears · 2011-01-13 21:35 · Score: 1

it appears more might be on the way
All hail the might of the proletarian tongue!
So they're coming online now by sea4ever · 2011-01-13 22:41 · Score: 1

..but does this mean that 'Anonymous' is going to DDoS them back off the internet soon? North Korea seems like a place they would target.
I cant wait for the spam from the KP by Rivalz · 2011-01-13 23:29 · Score: 1, Funny

Spam from N Korea is something like this:
You Lecherous infidel capitalist swine need to buy our Koragra the newest in Dictatorship enhancement with PENIS ENVY.
Side Effects Include: Bi-Polar Mood Swings, Funny Hair, Insane Offspring, God Complex, Ego Maniacal Tendency and sexual arousal towards Disney Characters.
Order now and receive a free trial if you sign ownership of your immortal soul to the honored leader ping pong ill
Brilliant by s1lverl0rd · 2011-01-14 00:49 · Score: 1

There's actually a lot of cool things on those sites, including the Strategy of Brilliant Commander. It reminds me of that shouting NK news anchor we keep seeing...
1. Re:Brilliant by wvmarle · 2011-01-14 01:37 · Score: 1
  
  Your link is broken.
2. Re:Brilliant by s1lverl0rd · 2011-01-14 01:47 · Score: 1
  
  Drat, foiled again. Strategy of Brilliant Commander
Re: Real poison in leaflets? Really? by Isaac+Remuant · 2011-01-14 02:36 · Score: 1

Some of you guys seem to be implying that North Koreans believe that leaflets may have real poison (not propaganda poison) and fear death in consequence? Am I reading this right?
Gloves or some other mechanism to take a curious look without exposing your skin would be out of the question?
I think fear is of repression might play a much more important role than alleged poison.

--
"Science can amuse and fascinate us all, but it is engineering that changes the world. " - Asimov.
My Cart by BobbySkillzz · 2011-01-14 02:42 · Score: 1

I love the "My Cart" button on the upper right side of the page.. http://www.naenara.com.kp/eShop/shopping_cart.php?language=en I can't wait 'til it goes live.
1. Re:My Cart by ProfessionalCookie · 2011-01-14 06:10 · Score: 1
  
  I love the hit counter (home page, top right) - yesterday 17,000. Today, 60,000,000 ;) Good job team.
Re: Real poison in leaflets? Really? by Vectormatic · 2011-01-14 04:12 · Score: 1

that is how i understand it
As for the gloves, i doubt the average north korean has the knowledge on biological/chemical agents to dare take a chance like that

--
People, what a bunch of bastards
Leaky roof by oldmac31310 · 2011-01-14 06:42 · Score: 1

This one has a leaky roof. http://www.naenara.com.kp/en/

--
http://www.acetonestudio.com