(Hat Tip: hapo) I was given some links to some interesting videos on YouTube with some North Korea footage before the kim Jong il era (although he was firmly in power and successor), before the Soviet collapse and the famine. The sanctions were in place because of the jet liner bombing in November, 1987, but it seems from these pictures North Korea then was not nearly as bad as today. See the videos and enjoy:
This shows city life, and obviously looks more vibrant. North Korea without a guide seems very odd, but note the person following the camera person around. Creepy, and very North Korea.
A North Korea department store. Interesting. Seems to have a lot of stuff for sale. I do not know of North Korea has the same level of goods available, but all the same, the choices look alright. Also, it could all be for show. Again, this is North Korea.
A street parade in North Korea. Looks like they are having a good time (I suppose), but do not mind the acid washed jeans.
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I’m amazed at the freedom the tourists seemed to have back then. Good find
A great travelogue on several Communist Bloc countries, which includes a chapter on the author’s visit to Pyongyang during the 1989 International Youth Festival, is Anthony Daniel’s book “Utopia’s Elsewhere.” It is one of the best chapters in the book.
His visit to a Pyongyang department store was very interesting. If I remember correctly, his impression — after spending some time there — was that North Korean patrons were paid (with socks, or some other product) to walk around for hours and “look busy.” But they did not buy anything. When he decided to buy a ballpoint pen the North Korean patrons took an interest because someone was actually buying something.
Looks like the festival had something to do with the failed attempt to co-host the 1988 olympics with Seoul: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1282/is_n2_v41/ai_7013498
Interesting videos - Found two more probably from the same series on the 1989 World Festival of Youth and Students:
Covering the Opening Ceremony:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxJ6Ed5h65k
north korean department store electrofunk:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hg0Ss-gszLM
Tukhachevsky - thanks for the tip on the “Utopia’s Elsewhere.” book - looks very interesting and I will get it soon.
My pleasure SRS. According to Daniels’ bio on Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Daniels_%28psychiatrist%29) “Utopias Elsewhere” is the title for the US market. The book was published in the UK under the title: “The Wilder Shores of Marx: Journeys in a Vanishing World.” Enjoy!