Comment on AP Exclusive: Driving up revered N. Korea mountain

By ERIC TALMADGE, Associated Press, San Francisco Chronicle: World
Wed, 10/22/2014 - 9:56pm

AP Exclusive: Driving up revered N. Korea mountain

[...] it was when the authoritarian government granted permission for a road trip so extensive that few North Koreans — let alone a pair of American journalists — could imagine taking it. North Korea is pursuing a plan to create dozens of special foreign investment and tourism zones, and this is one of the places it most wants to promote. For the most part, we were not to detour from our pre-approved route, which, to no one's surprise, didn't include nuclear facilities or prison camps. North Koreans venerate it for its natural beauty, but more importantly because it is considered the home of the North Korean revolution. No borders were involved, but a South Korean housewife who strayed off the accepted path at a tourist site was fatally shot in the back by a North Korean guard. Wrested out of our beds for our ascent up to the summit after four days on the road, we fumbled without lights to pack our equipment, made our way down our hotel's candlelit staircase and climbed into our car in the pouring-down rain. Many people have been amazed by nighttime satellite images that show North Korea as dark as the ocean, set against a northeast Asia brimming with light.

 

Comment On This Story

Welcome to Wopular!

Welcome to Wopular

Wopular is an online newspaper rack, giving you a summary view of the top headlines from the top news sites.

Senh Duong (Founder)
Wopular, MWB, RottenTomatoes

Subscribe to Wopular's RSS Fan Wopular on Facebook Follow Wopular on Twitter Follow Wopular on Google Plus

MoviesWithButter : Our Sister Site

Movies With Butter More Movie News

More World News

  • Beijing Half-Marathon Revokes Win for Chinese Runner He Jie After Investigation
    Time, Friday - 04/19/2024 - 12:43 PM

    Decorated Chinese athlete He Jie had been stripped of his Beijing half-marathon win Friday after an investigation found that the three African runners who competed alongside him had “actively slowed down” to let him cross the finish line first during the race on Sunday, April 14. He won the 21 km.

    More | Talk | Read It Later | Share
  • Ally of Pakistan’s Prime Minister Demands End to Ban on Social Media Platform X
    Time, Friday - 04/19/2024 - 06:47 AM

    ISLAMABAD — An important ally of Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif demanded the government lift a two-month-old ban on the social media platform X, saying on Friday that it violates citizens’ right to speech and expression. The ban on X has been in place since February, when the party of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan announced a nationwide protest against alleged election rigging ahead of the Feb.

    More | Talk | Read It Later | Share
  • Amid U.S.-China Rivalry, Beijing Agrees to Send Two Furry Diplomats to San Francisco
    Time, Friday - 04/19/2024 - 05:15 AM

    BEIJING — San Francisco is the latest U. S. city preparing to receive a pair of pandas from China, in a continuation of Beijing’s famed “panda diplomacy.” San Francisco Mayor London Breed announced the panda loan in Beijing on Friday, alongside officials from China Wildlife Conservation Association, or CWCA. It will be San Francisco’s first time hosting the beloved animals long-term—the result of a yearlong advocacy campaign, Breed said. [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] San Diego previously announced it was receiving two pandas back in February. China is home to the only natural habitat for pandas and owns most of the black-and-white bears in the world.

    More | Talk | Read It Later | Share
  • The Modi-fication of India Is Almost Complete
    Time, Friday - 04/19/2024 - 04:00 AM

    Earlier this month, two Indian writers published an ode to their Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. Written in lyric form and titled “Forever In Our Hearts,” it recounts his achievements while singing his praises in highly effusive language. “With courage and wisdom/you show citizens the way,” it gushes. “Oh Modi, oh Modi/their hopes never sway/A people’s beacon, in whom they see light/Oh Modi, oh Modi, guiding day and night.” [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] Such reverence captures the essence of Modi’s popularity.

    More | Talk | Read It Later | Share
  • The U.S. Vetoes Resolution to Upgrade Palestine’s U.N. Membership
    Time, Friday - 04/19/2024 - 01:05 AM

    The U. S. blocked on Thursday a draft resolution that would have allowed the United Nations General Assembly to vote on allowing a Palestinian state to become a full member state of the U. N. The move has triggered backlash from other states and pro-Palestinian groups, as global divisions continue to sharpen over Israel’s war on Gaza. [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] The U.

    More | Talk | Read It Later | Share
  • Apple Pulls Meta’s WhatsApp and Threads From App Store in China After Government Order
    Time, Friday - 04/19/2024 - 12:50 AM

    Apple Inc. said that it removed Meta Platforms Inc.’s WhatsApp and Threads from its China apps store after an order from the country’s internet regulator, which said the services pose risks to the country’s security. The order comes on the heels of a cleanup program Chinese regulators initiated in 2023 that was expected to remove many defunct or unregistered apps from domestic iOS and Android stores.

    More | Talk | Read It Later | Share