I confess to a deep fascination with North Korea. It seems horrible beyond imagination, starving its people while building nuclear weapons and ICBMs. The very idea of society so totally regimented is almost incoprehensible. Yet there it is, still somehow functioning. In the 1950s and 60s, arguably it outperformed the South, and accomplished much, including a fully electrified rail system — which today only partially operates due to a shortage of electricity.

A new (to me) travel diary, written by Australian Ari Sharp, covering his recent visit to Pyongyang, is up on the web. It is far from a professional job, but it contains valuable snippets on life in the world's strangest country.

Hat tip: NKZone

Thomas Lifson  3 2 05