Analysis
CNC big in Kim Jong Il’s January visits
Feb 1st
Alongside a call to reduced tensions with its southern neighbor, North Korea’s New Year joint editorial called for a significant effort to modernize and build up its light-industry sector this year. Central to this task will be the adoption of computer-controlled machinery, so-called CNC (computer numeric control) equipment.
So it comes as no surprise that factories and CNC technology featured big Kim Jong Il’s on-site guidance tours in January. His first visit of the year was to the Nampho Glass Bottle Factory, reported KCNA.
“He praised the workers of the factory and builders and their helpers for their feats performed in building such More >
Expansion at Pyongyang TV Tower
Jan 12th
There appears to have been a significant expansion of communications capability at Pyongyang TV tower over the last decade. Analysis of satellite imagery through Google Earth shows big expansion of a neighboring building and the addition of multiple satellite dishes. (See the bottom of this post for updates.)
Here’s what the building looked like on June 3, 2000, which is the earliest image available in Google Earth. To its west two satellite dishes are visible. The TV Tower is just to the east of this building and you can see the top of the tower on the right-hand side of the More >
