Pyongyang propaganda

As I looked at some pictures of Pyongyang the other day, I came across one of an apartment complex with large Hangul lettering across the top. I asked my roommate, Mark, who was born and raised in South Korea, to translate it for me.

"It reads 'We will follow our father [Kim Il Sung] for 1000 years,'" he said.

That photo has since been taken down, but I went on a Flickr search for other bits of North Korean propaganda. I found a very similar apartment complex with the photographer's own translation: "Devotedly defending the Great Leader."

Most of the other photos I found were in Korean only, so I again conscripted Mark to help me translate them. He says the translations aren't perfect, but the general message should be pretty clear.

By following the laws of our party, we move forward together towards the new victory!

Live or die, we stand for the red flag! (or more literally: "Live. Die. Red.")

Socialism in our way. Always victorious, never failing.

With the unified power of our nation, let us destroy the US's nuclear war provocation scheme!

February 16th celebration. For the greatest glory! (Feb. 16th is Kim Jong Il's birthday and, along with his father's birthday, one of the most celebrated holidays in the DPRK.)