North Korean Potemkin Villages in Siberia?

[TLAM Strike]

Interesting little (appox 40 min) documentary about how the North Koreans have set up logging camps in Russia disguise as North Korean logging camps, where North Koreans are set for up to 10 years to work for little or no pay.

http://www.vice.com/vice-news/north-...ps-full-length

[CCIP]

True story! Doesn't surprise me in the slightest - absolutely indicative of life in Russia that the current Russian regime is keen not to show the outside world. Considering the lack of police or any authority besides the mafia in that area, is it really any surprise something like that is happening there? Of course, the FSB that nabbed them later is hardly distinguishable from that same mafia in the first place.

Don't know if you can call them 'Potemkin Villages' though since they're hardly a good display...

On the other hand, in defense of the Siberians: yes they can be real cranky, but I have to say that some of the most awesome, straightforward, ready-to-help people that I have met have been from Siberia. They're big-hearted, independent, tough-minded bunch. In many of them you can definitely see the influence of the land they live on.

Very much reminds me of this, another classic true story:

(caution: strong language)

:

[nikimcbee]

Originally Posted by CCIP

Very much reminds me of this, another classic true story:

(caution: strong language)

:

Hey I was in Russia during the mob years?

[CCIP]

Originally Posted by nikimcbee

Hey I was in Russia during the mob years?

Yup.

Those years have never really ended, either, just that the mob became even harder to tell apart from actual authorities

[Oberon]

Originally Posted by CCIP

Very much reminds me of this, another classic true story:

(caution: strong language)

:

Every time I think I've managed to get my head around Russia it throws me another curve ball...just abso-frikkin-lutely hilarious.
I really must go there some day.

[TLAM Strike]

Originally Posted by CCIP

Don't know if you can call them 'Potemkin Villages' though since they're hardly a good display...

For the average North Korea I would say those logging camps were par.

Very much reminds me of this, another classic true story:

(caution: strong language)

:

[VipertheSniper]

I absolutely love those stories on VICE.

[Reece]

I actually sat through it all, I do feel sorry for the brain washed people, but it seemed to me that even Kim Jong Il was more of a puppet to the military!!
Strange country, if they wanted reunification with the south I think they'd be rejected!

[Platapus]

I think the South Koreans, having watched Germany, are not all that eager for unification.

[Jimbuna]

Agreed...I can't think of any real benefit to them other than a few thousand families (if that) being reunited.

*Let the history lesson begin*

[TLAM Strike]

Originally Posted by jimbuna

Agreed...I can't think of any real benefit to them other than a few thousand families (if that) being reunited.

Well that and no longer living under the threat of invasion/bombing/nuking from the North.