Word: pyongyang
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Dates: during 1990-1999
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...Pyongyang's decision to join the U.N. is a glaring admission that its isolationist policy has been checkmated by Seoul's smooth cultivation of North Korea's main patrons, Moscow and Beijing. Anxious to extend burgeoning economic ties with capitalist -- and prosperous -- South Korea, neither the Soviet Union nor China is eager to oppose South Korea's application for U.N. membership, leaving North Korea little choice but to seek a seat as well...
Despite such reflexive gestures, however, and ritual references to "((South Korean President)) Roh Tae Woo and his cutthroats," Pyongyang takes pains to absolve its southern brothers of most blame. The history books allude only to the "war between America and North Korea," and the North Koreans constantly repeat that theirs is a "homogeneous nation," though nothing could be further from the raucous vivacity of Seoul than Pyongyang's unearthly quiet. Just three years ago, North Korean saboteurs bombed a Korean Air Lines plane in the hope of sabotaging the Seoul Olympics and killed 115 people; now, having seen unification come...
Meanwhile, an additional 50,000 apartments are being completed for Kim Il Sung's 80th birthday in 1992. Many Korea watchers believe in that year, when Kim Jong Il turns 50, the father may hand power over to the son. Though citizens in Pyongyang still seem eager to attest to their devotion to their leaders, some of their enthusiasm may be quickened by the fact that theirs is one of the most militarized countries in the world (with nearly 900,000 troops among its 21 million people). According to the human-rights group Asia Watch, as many...
...moment, though, the long-xenophobic country prefers to stress its openness. In Beijing, ads in the China Daily have been singing, "You are welcome to visit Pyongyang." Since April, charter flights have been scheduled to bring in tourists from Hong Kong. "Tell your friends," a guide urges, "British, American, Japanese, that they are welcome to visit! Many Western enemies say our country is 'closed,' but anyone who is genuinely interested in Korea is welcome." Maybe North Korea should tell the world of its new policy? "We tell," he says, a little plaintively, "but they say, 'Propaganda...
Anyone who doubts that the hospitable intentions exist, at least on paper, need look no further than the tallest building in the skyline of Pyongyang, a 105-story pyramid under construction. The 1,000-ft. tower is apparently to house the Ryugyong Hotel, whose 3,000 rooms will be able to accommodate 5,000 tourists. That seems more than enough for the one tourist who comes flying in each...