North Korea Claims Archaeologists Have Found 'Unicorn Lair' In Pyongyang 182
eldavojohn writes "NPR pointed out a press release claiming that North Korean archaeologists have found a 'unicorn lair' in Pyongyang. The members of the History Institute of the DPRK Academy of Social Sciences have "reconfirmed" that this site was used for King Tongmyong's unicorn where the unicorn would concoct his unicorn schemes and do his unicorn things if anyone ventured too closely. The last line is, perhaps, the most important line of the article, 'The discovery of the unicorn lair, associated with legend about King Tongmyong, proves that Pyongyang was a capital city of Ancient Korea as well as Koguryo Kingdom.' Fear not that North Korea is surpassing the world in cryptozoology, Dr. Melba S. Ketchum of Nacogdoches, TX has claimed to have recently sequenced Bigfoot's DNA and he's part human."
May I be the first to say (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:May I be the first to say (Score:3, Insightful)
It's not news. It's not for nerds. It does not matter. I don't know why this would surprise you, it's not like anybody on /. reads the article, the summary, or even the title. Hell, you're lucky I even read your comment before responding.
Re:May I be the first to say (Score:4, Insightful)
There's clearly a competition happening for most idiotic posting. From plastic on mars, to a loop that isn't a loop, to this.
Re:May I be the first to say (Score:3, Insightful)
I got it in "entertainment"
Re:May I be the first to say (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:May I be the first to say (Score:5, Insightful)
I sorta got the impression that they were mocking the Caligula of the Far East who's doing the subjugating. The US gubmint isn't going to remove him, because he doesn't have any oil, so this is pretty much all we can do.
Oil has nothing to do with it, in this case: even if they had oil, it's unlikely that the west would liberate them. It's more about China wanting a land buffer between US troops and their mainland. The US military is smart enough to realize that China would almost certainly come in protecting NK if it ever did become a shooting war, and there's too much to lose. The cold war between Russia and the US may be over, but the one between the US and China is just getting started.
Re:May I be the first to say (Score:5, Insightful)
It is pitiable how the editor(s) feel the need to mock the ignorant propaganda of a thoroughly subjugated people.
I don't think there's anything wrong with mocking propaganda. Propaganda deserves to be mocked, it is often the best way of dealing with it (even in Western countries).
Yes, the situation in North Korea is terrible, but remember many Asian countries like to maintain "face" (a thoroughly ridiculous concept) and embarrassing dictatorships like this can be particularly effective.
Re:First Mickey Mouse, Now Unicorns? (Score:3, Insightful)
Well you have to consider that the leader was raised in a country where such propaganda is fairly standard. So he might not realize how ludicrous the claims are. And at the same time the population might also be fooled - not because they are stupid, but because they've been bombarded with such 'official statements' their entire lives.
It's kind of like religion - If you are raised in a culture where it's common to hear about virgin births and people rising from the dead then you won't be shocked when a person makes a claim that one of those things happened. So similar claims (like the before mentioned zombie appearing in a vision) will much more likely be accepted then in a culture without those 'background' myths.
Re:May I be the first to say (Score:4, Insightful)
Because you're always propping them up in the first place, while it suits your interests.
Not North Korea. If China hadn't gotten involved in North Korea's defense, North Korea would be a distant memory.
Re:First Mickey Mouse, Now Unicorns? (Score:3, Insightful)
And at the same time the population might also be fooled - not because they are stupid, but because they've been bombarded with such 'official statements' their entire lives.
Or because people who don't believe, tend to die badly.
Re:May I be the first to say (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:May I be the first to say (Score:0, Insightful)
After 10 years, I'm finally done with Slashdot. I can't take these ridiculous articles any more!
This isn't news and it doesn't matter.
Bye!