News about North Korea

This is how North Korean women are trafficked into China.
You don't want to read the stories of their detention camps, it's gross and inhumane.
North Korea Freedom Week (NKFW) is held for the first time in Seoul, from 25 April until 1 May 2010. Previous years it was held in Washington, though this year some events are still held there, the major ceremony and activities are in Seoul.
Lots of North Koreans tell their heart-clenching stories through many press conferences and seminars.
All events are actually within walking distance from our residence (gasp!), so I hope I can get my works done today so that we can at least go to The North Korea Genocide Exhibit at Seoul Press Center.

To go to Seoul Press Center, take the Line 5 (Purple line) subway to Gwanghwamun Station, walk out of Exit 5 and the Seoul Press Center building is directly on your left.

The days are getting warmer, it's time to plan the trip to the Demilitarized Zone :)

I believe

Keep your dreams alive. 
Understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, determination, and dedication. 
Remember all things are possible for those who believe.

Gail Devers.

Having a dream (or more), plus powerful prayers, work hard, and to believe the dreams will come true, are the recipes of why I am where I are now and do what I'm supposed to do.

Work harder, achieve more.

Call for Papers: 5th World Congress of Korean Studies

Theme: Korean Studies for the Advancement of Global Civilization The organizing committee of the 5th World Congress of Korean Studies announces a call for papers to all academics and professionals in Korean studies. The World Congress, co-organized by the Academy of Korean Studies (AKS) and Chinese Culture University, will be held from Oct. 25-28, 2010 at Chinese Culture University, Taipei, Taiwan. As one of the prominent Korean studies conference in the world, it will provide scholars with an opportunity to share their latest academic achievements and develop friendships in the field of Korean studies. - Date: Mon. Oct. 25 ~ Thu. Oct. 28, 2010 - Venue: Chinese Culture University, Taipei, Taiwan - Official Languages: Korean, English, Chinese(Mandarin) - Jointly organized by the Academy of Korean Studies (AKS), Chinese Culture University, International Society for Korean Studies (ISKS), Pacific and Asia Conference on Korean Studies (PACKS), Korean Studies Association of Australasia (KSAA), Association for Korean Studies in Europe (AKSE), Central Asian Association for Korean Studies (CAAKS) and the Committee on Korean Studies-Association for Asian Studies (CKS-AAS) Sessions - Designated Session (Individual Proposal) ● History ● Sociology ●Culture/ Anthropology ● Political Science ● Economics/Trade/Industry ● Law       ● Art         ● Folklore      ● Literature ● Education ●Science/Technology   ● Philosophy    ● Religion ● Language -Free Paper Session (Panel Proposal) This session is to present participants’ interests and reflections on Korean studies. A panel proposal including the topic of the session and organizing plan is required. -Special Session (Individual Proposal) ● Korean Language Education and its Exchanges between China and Taiwan ● Cultural Exchanges between Korea and China / Korea and Taiwan *Each panelist has 30 minutes. There is a 20 minute time limit for the presentation and 10 minute for discussion. Eligibility Scholars and professionals, including graduate students pursuing a master’s or doctorate Submission Abstract submissions will only be accepted via email to congress@aks.ac.kr from January 26 - April 30, 2010. Once you have submitted your application, you will receive an e-mail confirmation within 3 working days. The abstracts will be reviewed based on content and suitability. Selected presenters will be contacted individually by May 28, 2010 and notified about the guidelines. Submission of the full paper (10-15 pages) is due via e-mail by Aug. 27, 2010. * The abstract cannot exceed 1 page (A4 size) in English, Korean or Chinese. ** Please complete enclosed application form and send it as well as your abstract and CV. ***For the free paper session, a panel proposal, abstract and CV of each panelist is required. ****Congress homepage will be accessible starting Monday, March 8, 2010. orean Studies Junior Scholar Paper Prize We cordially invite students in Korean studies to apply for the Junior Scholar Paper Prize. To apply, please tick on your application form for ‘KOREAN STUDIES JUNIOR SCHOLAR PAPER PRIZE APPLICANT’. The committee will screen your paper and select the best thesis. Awardees will be acknowledged for their achievements. Master and doctorate students are eligible to apply for the prize. Contact Secretariat: Academy of Korean Studies - Questions: Contact Sue-min Kwak to congress@aks.ac.kr - Web: www.aks.ac.kr/congress - E-mail: congress@aks.ac.kr - TEL: +82-31-709-9843 - FAX: +82-31-809-9945 Go to its homepage (only browse-able using Internet Explorer) or alternatively go to AKS' site for more detailed information and also to download the application and submission form. Praying hard for this!!! (Perhaps this is the final opportunity this year!)

List of Bookstores in Seoul, Korea

I have been searching high and low for bookstores (online and off-line) and Kyobo's in-Korean-only website and service pissed me off. And currently the largest and main branch of Kyobo at Gwanghwamun which is within walking distance from our residence is shut down for renovation (kill me!!!). Being unable to buy books is a nightmare for book lovers and especially social sciences and humanities research students T_T

Luckily I've come across with Planet ESL's list of bookstores in English language. I personally recommend What the Book? It has the best priced books around so far and they provide the friendliest service if you don't know how to make online payment in Korean (and with Internet Explorer) like me: order from them online, receive an email from them and go pick up the book(s) yourself at their bookstore in Itaewon :)

Pyongyang women's joke

A joke making the rounds in Pyongyang goes: “What do a husband and a pet dog have in common?” 


Answer: “Neither works nor earns money, but both are cute, stay at home and can scare away burglars.”


Taken from this Wall Street Journal online article.


This article written by Andrei Lankov is illustrating how North Koreans become so jobless that now the North Korean women become the bread winner of the family by working as market vendor.

Enthusiasm

Mini Spring Flowers, Yeouido (여의도/汝矣島)

"Enthusiasm is the greatest asset in the 

world. It beats money and power and 

influence. It is no more or less

than faith in action." 

- Henry Chester 

North Korea stages military exercises

News: April 15 is the birthday of NK's founder, Kim Il Sung. Hence the state is staging the military exercises amid tension on the Peninsula.

And also, may be SK may piss US so much that the calls from the (former) US army to leave SK is so strong and affirmative.

So many things to read

T_T
Will post my thoughts later. May be.

Thanks to Joshua Stanton for compiling these reads from noted Think Thanks. This is filed under "Washington Views".

- Criminal Sovereignty: Understanding North Korea’s Illicit International Activities, by Dr. Paul Rexton Kan, Dr. Bruce E. Bechtol Jr., Mr. Robert M. Collins.

- China, Iran, and North Korea: A Triangular Strategic Alliance, by Christina Y. Lin

- Audio of Hwang Jang Yop at the Center for Strategic and International Studies

- North Korea Currency Reform: What Happened and What Will Happen To Its Economy?!, by Scott Snyder, Director, Center for U.S.-Korea Policy, The Asia Foundation

- Commander’s Welcome, Renaissance Seoul Hotel, April 5th, 2010, General Walter L. Sharp

- Rajin-Sonbong: A Strategic Choice for China in Its Relations with Pyongyang, by Scott Snyder.

So much for the efforts

Mt. Kumgang, North Korea. From githaiga22 of Flickr dot com.

North Korea just announced that they will freeze South Korea's property at Mount Kumgang, and there is a very good post about the author's thought on this issue.

After reading it, I believe it is obvious and adequate to say that Kim Jong Il is a very intelligent person. He wins. After all the money flowing from the U.S. and the ROK.

And also, Hillary Clinton has pushed for denulearization on the Peninsula and believe that the Six Party Talks will resume. Mmmhmmm.

Erm

I am thinking of compiling online news while I'm at it. Like what other prominent bloggers do.

Nice read at http://dprkforum.com/2010/03/27/raging-tiger-update-and-sinking-of-rok-ship/ and http://www.freekorea.us/2010/04/06/south-koreas-bungling-feeds-cheonan-conspiracy-theories-and-frustrates-national-unity/

Preparations are under way in waters near Baengnyeong Island in the Yellow Sea to salvage the stern of the sunken naval ship, the Cheonan. A 2,200-ton floating crane has been fixed to the sea bed for the salvaging operations. (Yonhap News) (via ROK DROP)