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    XrdsAlumMelissa Cronin
    5/15/16 2:28pm

    The North Koreans must be so proud. They’ve skipped over the early stage of capitalism and jumped straight to the dysfunctional and corrupt late stage, and now they can brag that the U.S. is trying to emulate them.

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      Bolivia Newton JohnXrdsAlum
      5/15/16 3:05pm

      Lets be honest, capitalism’s late stage symphonies were more challenging, but ultimately more rewarding.

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      Sonic Reducer 151Bolivia Newton John
      5/15/16 3:06pm

      I really hope everyone else enjoys this comment as much as I did

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    Jerry-NetherlandMelissa Cronin
    5/15/16 3:02pm

    “Their father, a high-ranking North Korean official based in China, was tasked with earning foreign currency for the regime. But they traveled back and forth to Pyongyang”

    Many countries don’t have diplomatic relations with North Korea, but in those that do have DPRK embassies and consulates, they are fairly well known as the go-to places for drugs (smuggled freely in diplomatic pouches). This is the primary way they’ve accumulated tremendous amounts of foreign currency - and, evidently, it’s paying off at home. It’s not like they have any other consumer (or military) goods anyone would buy.

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      MidsummerNightMoonCakesJerry-Netherland
      5/15/16 5:02pm

      I suspect the seaweed I buy comes from North Korea. I eat it everyday. I’m a little worried about radioactivity, or other toxicity (assuming North Korea isn’t careful about that), but I still do it. It only costs about 65¢ per day, though; not as big-ticket as drugs.

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      Jerry-NetherlandMidsummerNightMoonCakes
      5/15/16 5:42pm

      What would lead you to suspect that your seaweed comes from DPRK, of all places?

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    Jerry Callo, Esq., Trump U. School of Law '89Melissa Cronin
    5/15/16 2:29pm

    “A number of North Korean caAndrei Lankovalists I’ve talked to say that they’ve never had it so good,”

    For those confused, here’s what the article actually said:

    “Kim Jong Un is very ­pro-market. His policy has essentially been benign neglect,” said Andrei Lankov, a Russian historian specializing in Korea who once studied in Pyongyang. “A number of North Korean capitalists I’ve talked to say that they’ve never had it so good.”

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      Sparky McGruffJerry Callo, Esq., Trump U. School of Law '89
      5/15/16 2:38pm

      #icanhazeditor ?

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      Jerry-NetherlandSparky McGruff
      5/15/16 3:08pm

      Unfortunately, “proofreader” has gone the way of “travel agent” and “bookseller”; there are a very few left, but mostly lost to (and in) technology.

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    Doofenschmirtz, Inc.Melissa Cronin
    5/15/16 2:57pm

    A number of North Korean caAndrei Lankovalists

    A number of what now?

    If you’re just going to copy/paste stuff from the NYT, the least you can do is edit, man.

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      Sid and FinancyDoofenschmirtz, Inc.
      5/15/16 3:15pm

      I was into caAndrei Lankovalists before they went all mainstream on the third album.

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      Doofenschmirtz, Inc.Sid and Financy
      5/15/16 3:35pm

      Everything sucks after the 4th iteration : tv shows after their 4th season, bands after their 4th album, movies after their 4th sequel, ipods after their 4th generation....

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    FiveAliverMelissa Cronin
    5/15/16 2:22pm

    I’m not sure that the divide between rich and poor in NKorea is that much more stark than it is in the United States.

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      TRUMP DELENDUS EST (fka Chatham Harrison)FiveAliver
      5/15/16 2:37pm

      In America, conservative media disparages poor people for daring to complain about inequality while they enjoy such “luxuries” as dishwashers, air conditioning and color television. In North Korea, conservative media disparages poor people for daring to complain about the lack of food. A quibble to us, perhaps, but I think it is rather significant to North Koreans.

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      Doofenschmirtz, Inc.TRUMP DELENDUS EST (fka Chatham Harrison)
      5/15/16 3:00pm

      To be fair, plenty of people bitch about what people on food stamps are allowed to buy.

      And some other more sane people also complain about food deserts, because they think poor people deserve to eat real vegetables, fruit and legumes.

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    CakewalkinDaddyMelissa Cronin
    5/15/16 3:24pm

    I wish to register a complaint about this article.

    My cousin Eugene and I (and many other people as well) are members of the US branch of the ‘caAndrei Lankovalist Society’, a fraternal organization devoted to the appreciation of North Korean culture and the celebration of the contribution Kim Jong-un has made to the betterment of the planet (Earth).

    We roundly condemn the parasites that comprise the so-called Pyongyang ‘high society’ and demand that Gawker refrain from encouraging and approving their antics.

    Note: This summer the Princeton NJ chapter of caALS will be putting on free open air performances of the classic madang: Chunhyangga. Please visit our website for performance times and locations. Bring the kids, it’ll be fun for all. You wont be pan-sorry if you come, I guarantee it.

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      Aw shucksMelissa Cronin
      5/15/16 2:24pm

      I can't pin it one on thing, but something makes me not trust that Pyonghattan exists.

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        Armageddon T. ThunderbirdMelissa Cronin
        5/15/16 2:23pm

        All you need to know about Pyongyang’s Charlotte, Carrie, Samantha and Miranda is that they were cut apart by close range anti-aircraft fire to entertain North Korea’s “Mr. Big.”

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