Don't be a relative of Uncle...

[Blind groper]

I have had this idea for a little while, although no one will even listen.

Some of you may be familiar with the Iridium network. That is a bunch of satellites in low Earth orbit, which act to transfer cell phone calls on that network. The big thing is that they are accessible anywhere on Earth and cannot be blocked. The problem is that the Iridium company charges megabucks for the service.

The USA, with its vast resources, would have no trouble launching a similar network of tiny and cheap satellites to act as internet carriers. In essence you would have a Wifi network covering the entire planet. A suitable radio modem to connect would not be difficult for the big brains to design, and mass produce cheaply.

Then smuggle about a million micro laptops into NK, preprogrammed for Korean on the internet. It would be obvious to the meanest intellect that the internet was not propaganda, since it is so eclectic.

The North Koreans with the internet would soon realise that their government has been scamming them. The overthrow thereafter would be just a matter of time. And not an allied bullet fired.

Not only that, but a universal Wifi network would be enormously valuable to everyone else.

[JacksSmirkingRevenge]

For a start, people would be too shit-scared to use them in the first place.
What would stop the 'authorities' from detecting these radio modems, rounding everyone up in the immediate vicinity and slaughtering them? Even if this were impossible to carry out, the very threat of detection or being snitched on would be a powerful deterrent.
Bad idea, methinks.

[MiM]

Yeah, wouldn't it be great if China, or anybody, would take care of the DPRK problem. But that is just not gonna happen. Nobody wants to get a few millions of brainwashed undereducated people on their hands.

[Blind groper]

To JSR

You cannot 'detect' radio modems. These would be devices designed to connect with a satellite in direct line of sight overhead. The energy of transmission is minimal, and a detector van would have to be very lucky to find them. No doubt, a few would be found, but that would not stop the tidal wave of education happening.

Nor should you deride the courage of the North Korean citizens. A hell of a lot of them will be prepared to take risks to learn what is really happening in the world.

[FBM]

NK has the equipment to detect signals from cell phones when their citizens are using them, so how would these imaginary "micro laptops" be any different?

[JimC]

Yeah, BG, I think your suggestion has landed in fantasy land for a number of reasons...

Which is not to say that the underlying principle that regime change would be easier if NK citizens were able to take part in global communication is wrong. The problem is that the regime itself is fully aware of this, and seems to have the social and technological ability to prevent it indefinitely...

[JacksSmirkingRevenge]

Point is that enough most people would not take the risk of detection. All the authorities have to do is threaten detection...Hell, it worked to a good extent over here with the BBC and their infamous TV detector vans and that was over a mere fine. Imagine if your life and those of your family were at stake.

Tidal wave of education

? Lol...

A hell of a lot of them will be prepared to take risks to learn what is really happening in the world.

...And "a hell of a lot of people" would just disappear.

We're talking about someone who just openly executed a member of his own family and not too long ago dropped a mortar round on an official for getting drunk (or whatever the real reason was). I doubt he'd even pause before ordering the decimation the population in order to maintain control.

But hey, if you feel like smuggling in a million or so laptops and modems hidden up your arse then be my guest.

[mistermack]

Just don't throw the babies out with the bathwater.

[pErvinalia]

I think I might invade North Korea. I've got nothing else to do.

I should be freed up by the weekend. Need a backup? Or somebody to photograph it?

Sure, man. I think we should be able to knock it over in a weekend.

[FBM]

I think I might invade North Korea. I've got nothing else to do.

I should be freed up by the weekend. Need a backup? Or somebody to photograph it?

Sure, man. I think we should be able to knock it over in a weekend.

Cool, cuz I gotta be back by Monday afternoon to teach a class.

[pErvinalia]

To JSR

You cannot 'detect' radio modems. These would be devices designed to connect with a satellite in direct line of sight overhead. The energy of transmission is minimal, and a detector van would have to be very lucky to find them. No doubt, a few would be found, but that would not stop the tidal wave of education happening.

Nor should you deride the courage of the North Korean citizens. A hell of a lot of them will be prepared to take risks to learn what is really happening in the world.

I imagine the NK gov would shoot down any overhead satellites.

The US does have form in this regard, though. I've forgotten what it was called, but years ago the CIA developed an anonymous proxy system (it wasn't TOR, even though the US developed that too) that the Chinese could use to defeat the great firewall of China. I assume the idea was the same, open up the citizenry to the outside world and let change naturally flow forth from that.

[pErvinalia]

I think I might invade North Korea. I've got nothing else to do.

I should be freed up by the weekend. Need a backup? Or somebody to photograph it?

Sure, man. I think we should be able to knock it over in a weekend.

Cool, cuz I gotta be back by Monday afternoon to teach a class.

I reckon all of Korea will have a day off on Monday because of the defeat of NK. And you'll be a national hero too. You won't ever have to work again!

[FBM]

The chicks in that class are gobsmackingly hawt, tho...

[pErvinalia]

You can have them all after you kick Kim's butt!

[FBM]

Don't have a damn thing to do with Uncle...

http://english.chosun.com/site/data/htm ... 00702.html

N.Korean Purge Continues Quietly

The North Korean regime continues to purge associates of former eminence grise Jang Song-taek, who was executed in early December, but now they are being purged quietly in the provinces while Pyongyang puts on a show of solemn unity marking two years since former leader Kim Jong-il's death.

The celebrations got underway in mid-December, and since then the propaganda tone has shifted from hysterical denunciations of Jang and his clique to trumpeting current leader Kim Jong-un's purported achievements.

◆ Quiet Execution

"Kim Jong-un is quietly sending Jang's cronies to the provinces and executing them there," claimed Ahn Chan-il of the World Institute for North Korea Studies. "Railroad stations in Pyongyang are teeming as the military herds people associated with Jang onto trains to provincial regions" like Hwasong, North Hamgyong Province.

Ahn said the regime is evidently going about the purge more clandestinely after Jang's trial by kangaroo court and brutal execution drew condemnation worldwide and created a climate of fear and uncertainty at home.

He speculated that the regime is trying to finish the purge by April, when the Supreme People's Assembly convenes, replacing Jang's associates in the party, the military and the Cabinet with a new set of officials who are likely to define the Kim Jong-un era.

The purge targets a broad range of people associated with Jang, from anyone who had their picture taken with him to officials who owed him their promotions. Jang's hometown and power base in the Hamgyong provinces is coming in for a particularly thorough sweep.

A source said a senior official in South Hamgyong Province was purged last Thursday because he owed his position to family ties with Jang.

Several administrative chiefs in North Hamgyong Province and in the Rajin-Sonbong special economic zone were summoned to Pyongyang early December and a handful of them have already been purged, some of them reportedly being put through a rigorous course of self-criticism.

Among other crimes the military tribunal accused Jang of was running the zone like his own fiefdom and selling a 50-year concession there "to another country," most likely China.

Jang's cronies in Ryanggang Province and Sinuiju in North Pyongan Province have also been arrested and purged.

Free North Korea Radio quoted a source in Ryanggang Province as saying, "Senior officials in Ryanggang Province were arrested last Wednesday but not told why."

In the border town of Sinuiju, security forces are under orders to report anybody suspected of preparing an escape to China, where Jang's associates are likely to be headed.

◆ Sole Leadership

Kim Jong-un in a meeting with senior party, government and military officials on June 19 reportedly demanded a "unitary" leadership for party and military.

He highlighted the party's 10 founding principles, which were revised for the first time in 39 years this year to cement the rule of the Kim dynasty, and called for a struggle against factionalism, double-dealing, and treachery, another source said.

Reports say officials loyal to Jang habitually privileged Jang's orders over Kim's, sometimes to the young leader's face. The Yomiuri Shimbun speculated the purge was triggered about a month ago, when two senior officials close to Jang did not follow Kim's order immediately but instead told him they would have to check it with his uncle.

englishnews@chosun.com / Dec. 23, 2013 09:45 KST