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DPRK Textbooks

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Re: DPRK Textbooks

#2
I think some of these aren't North Korean-authored, but international textbooks in unofficial translation. For example, Google matches code samples from "CTBooks1/ANSI_C++.pdf" to this textbook from 1999 (and the front-cover graphic is identical),

https://books.google.com/books/about/Object_oriented_Softwar...

I think the version they're translating is a UK print edition, because the currency unit in the code is "£".

But the series about Red Star OS [0] are very certainly DPRK-authored.

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Star_OS

The music textbooks are worth noticing (they're very obviously North Korean -- e.g. "Lesson 1. Song of Kim Il-sung"). It's all in Western notation. References both Western and Korean instruments. There's bow markings on the score of "Song of Kim Il-sung", so I infer that violins are at least somewhat common in secondary schools (or why else are they there?)

Re: DPRK Textbooks

#3
If you want to hear English short wave radio broadcasts from North Korea, it is quite entertaining. Here's what to do:

1. Choose the time you want to listen and note the "target area" at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voice_of_Korea#English

2. Choose a WebSDR in the "target area" from this list: http://kiwisdr.com/public/

3. Tune the WebSDR to the correct frequency and listen. You might try a 2 or 3 different WebSDRs in the "target area" in order to get the best reception

The broadcasts are much shorter than an hour, contrary to what Wikipedia says. The format is usually:

1. National anthem (very imposing and sounds like a Soviet military anthem in my opinion)

2. News / headlines. This lasts maybe 3-5 minutes and then is repeated several times

3. Music

Sometimes the music is before the news. Last time I listened, it was the 73rd anniversary of North Korea's indepedennce and so the news was about all of the congratulations from other nations -- the list of which was quite amusing (Cuba, Syria, Iran, Uzbekistan, China, Russia others I don't recall).

Re: DPRK Textbooks

#4

If you want to hear English short wave radio broadcasts from North Korea, it is quite entertaining. Here's what to do: 1. Choose the time you want to listen and note the "target area" at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voice_of_Korea#English 2. Choose a WebSDR in the "target area" from this list: http://kiwisdr.com/public/ 3. Tune the WebSDR to the correct frequency and listen. You might try a 2 or 3 different WebSDRs…

Lol, they even have a Youtube channel...

Re: DPRK Textbooks

#5

I think some of these aren't North Korean-authored, but international textbooks in unofficial translation. For example, Google matches code samples from "CTBooks1/ANSI_C++.pdf" to this textbook from 1999 (and the front-cover graphic is identical), https://books.google.com/books/about/Object_oriented_Softwar... I think the version they're translating is a UK print edition, because the currency unit in the code is "£".…

I would assume they copy Chinese textbooks as it's the only border.

I wonder if, when discussing ANSI C++, they admit what ANSI means.

Re: DPRK Textbooks

#6
post #4

If you want to hear English short wave radio broadcasts from North Korea, it is quite entertaining. Here's what to do: 1. Choose the time you want to listen and note the "target area" at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voice_of_Korea#English 2. Choose a WebSDR in the "target area" from this list: http://kiwisdr.com/public/ 3. Tune the WebSDR to the correct frequency and listen. You might try a 2 or 3 different WebSDRs…

Lol, they even have a Youtube channel...

Surely I can postpone my next commit to check this out.. spare a link?

Re: DPRK Textbooks

#7

I think some of these aren't North Korean-authored, but international textbooks in unofficial translation. For example, Google matches code samples from "CTBooks1/ANSI_C++.pdf" to this textbook from 1999 (and the front-cover graphic is identical), https://books.google.com/books/about/Object_oriented_Softwar... I think the version they're translating is a UK print edition, because the currency unit in the code is "£".…

I would assume they copy Chinese textbooks as it's the only border. I wonder if, when discussing ANSI C++, they admit what ANSI means.

Yes. There is a huge difference between normal population and party or military members. The elites have access to education.

Re: DPRK Textbooks

#8

I think some of these aren't North Korean-authored, but international textbooks in unofficial translation. For example, Google matches code samples from "CTBooks1/ANSI_C++.pdf" to this textbook from 1999 (and the front-cover graphic is identical), https://books.google.com/books/about/Object_oriented_Softwar... I think the version they're translating is a UK print edition, because the currency unit in the code is "£".…

I would assume they copy Chinese textbooks as it's the only border. I wonder if, when discussing ANSI C++, they admit what ANSI means.

The 'A' is short for Juche

Re: DPRK Textbooks

#9
post #6
post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Lol, they even have a Youtube channel...

Surely I can postpone my next commit to check this out.. spare a link?

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtwhlnjc_XIsuAquW0SIgUQ/vid...

I suddenly remembered all those Norko tourists I seen in Vladivostok. These were very shy ones https://ibb.co/6BvNdFw . There used to be years when the city was squirming with them, then they suddenly all disappeared almost overnight.

Funny moments I remember. Two Korean tourists stood in line for an icecream stall, started chitchat. Then one in better dress turns to another, suddenly suspicious, sees Kim's pin on another guy's tshirt, and then he freezes, turning pale, and speechless.

Re: DPRK Textbooks

#10
That's awesome. Sometime I'd also love to see a file tree rundown of the USBs that were airdropped too. I'm curious about the contents but also how much was translated or even published directly for recipients.
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