<< Previous Next >>

Soldiers in mini-skirts


Soldiers in mini-skirts
Information sur la photo
Copyright: David Astley (banyanman) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1333 W: 114 N: 2592] (7490)
Genre: Gens
Média: Couleur
Date de prise de vue: 2005-09-14
Catégories: Evénement
Appareil photographique: Nikon D100, Nikkor AF-S 12-24mm 1:4G ED
Exposition: f/4, 1/60 secondes
Versions: version originale
Date de soumission: 2005-11-12 8:40
Vue: 8738
Points: 44
[Ligne directrice - Note] Note du photographe
The photograph that I posted a few weeks ago of the hundreds of soldiers with rifles and fixed bayonets marching in unison across the May Day stadium in Pyongyang, as part of the Arirang performance, attracted a lot of interest, so I thought I would post another picture of the military display – but this one a bit ‘softer’ and featuring the female soldiers.

The “don’t mess with us” message from the backdrop is still clear though, and in this shot you can see more clearly the flashcards that are being held up by the 20,000 schoolchildren seated on the other side of the stadium to form the backdrop. In this photograph, only the line of female soldiers at the front are carrying rifles with fixed bayonets, the rest are carrying and playing musical instruments, so I could just as well have titled this photograph – ‘The Biggest Band in the World’.

The Korean People's Army (KPA) is the ‘revolutionary armed wing’ of the Worker's Party and is the largest employer in North Korea with over a million full-time soldiers – both men and women – and about seven million reservists out of a total population of 22 million who train for 30-40 days a year.
The Global Security website says this about the KPA:
“North Korea continues to position forces into the area just north of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) — in a position to threaten Combined Forces Command (US and South Korean forces) and all of Seoul with little warning. Seventy percent of their active force, including approximately 700,000 troops, over 8,000 artillery systems, and 2,000 tanks, is postured within 90 miles of the DMZ. Most of this force in the forward area is protected in over 4,000 underground facilities, out of over 11,000 nationwide. From their current locations, these forces can attack with minimal preparations or warning. The protracted southward deployment follows a tactic of ‘creeping normalcy’ — a significant movement over a period of many years that would attract too much international attention if accomplished over weeks or months. North Korea's massive mechanized infantry and tank units, positioned in depth along the major routes of the attack line, are able to concentrate force on exploiting a breakthrough and enlarging the results of combat operations. The North Korean artillery units, protected in covered trenches and underground bases, can deliver deep fire support without exposure while their multiple rocket launchers are capable of concentrating fire support. North Korea's river-crossing engineering forces armed with more than 600 amphibious vehicles and over 2,300 S-type floating bridge sections can transport troops and equipment for speedy river-crossing operations.”

In this photograph you can see more clearly the ‘doves of peace’ that were flying across the stadium on wires during the Arirang performance. Somehow they looked a bit incongruous against backdrops of guns and scenes of the revolution.

PP: Cropped, slight adjustment to saturation, USM.
klyee75, AiresSantos, touristdidi, HOBO, capthaddock, AmiBe, kensimage, dom_inik_m, jbweasle, pamastro, fireflyz, everlasting, sarju, nickthegreek82, Polonaise, Dr_Nibbles, lotis, axiotea, ScottHale, rocketrouge, MLINES, sheepyak, dmitriy55, Serendipity, anitaj, Andre-H, Brian, matt_harris_42, Vasylis, munte trouve(nt) cette note utile
Only registered TrekEarth members may rate photo notes.
Ajouter Critique [Ligne directrice - Critique ] 
Seuls les membres de TrekEarth enregistrés peuvent rédiger des critiques.
Discussions
Aucune
Vous devez vous authentifier pour démarrer une discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

Scary to say the least...... typical display of dictators...

  • Great 
  • HOBO Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1069 W: 29 N: 1097] (5240)
  • [2005-11-12 10:25]

Hello David,
despite it's not a very cheerful happening here, I think it's really needed to look 'beyond' the horizon and to deal with it...
I really appreciate your perfect note.
Have a nice weekend!
Knut

Hi David - another fascinating look into a mindset stuck in a time warp, the image of the pistol pointed at the "doves of peace" speaks volumes, wow, what a bizarre place, it's hard to beleive it exists and it's not a Hollywood creation.

  • Great 
  • AmiBe Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2066 W: 370 N: 1681] (19514)
  • [2005-11-12 17:33]

Hi David,
another interesting picture (and note) of this unique country.
Strange atmosphere, it's unreal...
Thank's for sharing

It's like something from a Star Wars movie except that it's real.

I'd guess the majority of people there don't realize what a bizzare society they live in (then again, neither do we...) Thanks, David, for making the place more real for all of us!

Regards, Ken.

Hello David, this is another great image from North Korea. The tiny soldiers in the foreground emphasise the scale of this performance. I find the flashcards to be awesome - I think it must need a country with total control and authority to get this to work. Thanks for your very informative note.

Hi David,
Another fantastic shot from this huge event. It's very well composed and good quality image.
As for the politics, the globa security also noted on a different page (news section): "The U.S. seeks to solve the nuclear issue by force of arms. This compels the DPRK to do its utmost to legitimately defend itself from the U.S. military threat. It is the best way of averting a war and defending the sovereignty and dignity of the country and the nation to cope with the U.S. military threat on its own initiative and by its own efforts."

Thanks for the post, David! Your DPRK series are one of my favorites on TE.
Best Regards,
Skye

Hello David, i thought your first photo along this line was fantastic and this also ranks along side. It is not just the photo its the concept behind. 20000 children with flash cards displined to turnt he around at the correct moment. I feel tempted to look closely to see if someone is out of sync.
I would like to see the orginal uncropped shot.

  • Great 
  • ALSOM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 646 W: 95 N: 597] (6616)
  • [2005-11-16 5:05]

I can only appreciate this one more time.
This is a tremendous shot. You ware so lucky to attend such events.
TFS, Al.

Hi David,
Very nice shot of the event.
Excellent composition with gorgeous colors.
The lay-out is perfect and the definition very good.

Have a nice weekend
Aires Santos

The tiny soldiers in the foreground emphasise the scale of this performance. Good composition

  • Great 
  • sarju Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1139 W: 52 N: 1278] (5300)
  • [2005-11-23 12:01]

another good photo accompanied by a very informative note.
thanks for all the notes about N Korea that you have provided on the TE .. I find them very informative
tfs .. cheers ... sarju

The condition there , brings me in mind Orwell's 1984 ...

Thanks for the photo , and the note. Thanks for the reminding that such things happen to our world , and we do not care at all ...

Nick

  • Great 
  • Stepan Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5263 W: 95 N: 4063] (27001)
  • [2005-12-12 18:02]

Your korean serie is fascinating ! I can't imagine that for real and I wish I could see it !
Impressive travel into the past and the old ideologies...
Stéphane

Another really interesting shot... Thanks for sharing all this information and pictures of North Korea with us, it's really rare, to see pictures like that (at least for me *g*)

  • Great 
  • lotis Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Silver Note Writer [C: 178 W: 33 N: 25] (132)
  • [2006-03-02 15:30]

This is great! I was always amazed by the military defilés. You're lucky to have had a chance to go to North Korea!
Cheers
Louis

Hello David,

having read a lot, your description seems to lack a little bit of historic background. At least it should be noted that the Korean militarism isn't acountable on itself only, but up to a big portion dependent on the behaviour of the international community -- namely the United States.

Concerning the photograph: it is well created, as with most of yours! Keep up the good work and thanks for teaching about foreign countries!

Greetings from Germany,
Maik

Hi David, I was curious to find some north korean photos when I discovered that one. Vow!
These soldiers doesn't look real but like lead miniature soldier...Impressive BG and a scary one..TFS...
All the best,
Marilyn

David,
Good photo, nice colors. North Korea is a very closed country. I am suprised they didn't put you in jail and execute you for taking pictures. I think North Korea is suffering from a "Hey, look at me, I'm somebody" lack of confidence. They are NOT a major industialized country and would probably not exist if not for the help of other countries. They are digging themselves a hole with the recent missle snafu. I know you didn't need to get an earful from me, I like your picture and I'm not holding anything against you but I consider you lucky to capture such an image.
Nice work, I like the wide format.
Scott

Back in time, back in space...
This wider shot is as impressive as the one I commented on some 9 or 10 months ago, David. Mammoth pixel-like graphics, a spectaculat set, an army of tiny silhouettes marching around right out of some hyperrealist computer war game... except that this is real! The fact that most of them carry musical instruments makes the scene quite ironic, but the present evolution of geopolitics makes it even more worrisome.
Armed power, obscurantist rhetoric, domino theory and hegemonic vision of the world are definitely "safe" values to rely on, I'm afraid...

  • Great 
  • MLINES Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2035 W: 174 N: 2084] (9315)
  • [2006-11-29 18:24]

Hi David, Ideal POV for this unusual scene. Good clarity and colours with excellent note. Good details both visual and written. TFS. Murray.

Another impressive shot (as many in your gallery). And, let me tell you that, ...I am also impressed by the number of countries you travelled to!

Ciao

Marzio

This is so absolutely unbelievable - cult of personality, truly interesting and deeply frightening the same time, must be the fascination of the evil that makes us all look at these pictures with such interest - and such feelings.
Great Shot!

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF