Strange: Mickey Mouse & Winnie the Pooh Dance Onstage in North Korea for Kim Jong Un’s Entertainment
- Posted on July 8, 2012 at 2:24pm by
Madeleine Morgenstern
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In this image made off North Korea's KRT video footage, North Korea's new Moranbong band and performers dressed as America's cartoon characters perform in Pyongyang, North Korea, Friday, July 6, 2012. Mickey Mouse and Winnie the Pooh took the stage for new leader Kim Jong Un, in an unusual performance featuring Disney characters in North Korea. (AP Photo/KRT)
PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) — Mickey Mouse and Winnie the Pooh took the stage in North Korea during a concert for new leader Kim Jong Un, in an unusual performance featuring Disney characters.
Performers dressed as Minnie Mouse, Tigger and others danced and pranced as footage from “Snow White,“ ”Dumbo,“ ”Beauty and the Beast” and other Disney movies played on a massive backdrop, according to still photos shown on state TV.
The inclusion of characters popular in the West – particularly from the United States, North Korea’s wartime enemy – is a notable change in direction for performances in Pyongyang. Actors and actresses also showed off new wardrobes, including strapless gowns and little black dresses.
In recent years, performances such as the “Arirang” mass games featured performers dressed as panda bears in homage to North Korean ally China.
In this image made off North Korea's KRT video footage, North Korea's new Moranbong band and performers dressed as America's cartoon characters perform in Pyongyang, North Korea, Friday, July 6, 2012. (AP Photo/KRT)
This appears to be the first time Disney characters have been included in a major performance, though Winnie the Pooh and Mickey Mouse have been popular among children for several years. Backpacks, pencil cases and pajamas imported from China often feature Disney characters, and stories such as “Dumbo” have been translated into Korean for North Korean schoolchildren. However, it is unusual to make such images a central part of a North Korean performance and to publicize it on state TV.
It was unclear whether the Disney characters were officially licensed. U.S. sanctions prohibit the import of North Korean goods to the United States, but do not ban the sales of American consumer products in North Korea unless they involve officials or companies on the U.S. Treasury Department’s sanctions blacklist.
The performance was staged Friday by the Moranbong band, which was making its debut after being assembled by Kim himself, the state-run Korean Central News Agency said.
In this image made off North Korea's KRT video footage, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, second from right, watches performances by North Korea's new Moranbong band in Pyongyang, North Korea, Friday, July 6, 2012. (AP Photo/KRT)
Kim, who took power after his father, longtime leader Kim Jong Il, died in December, has a “grandiose plan to bring about a dramatic turn in the field of literature and arts this year,” KCNA said.
The dispatch made no mention of Disney characters, but said the concert included the traditional folk tune “Arirang” as well as a number of upbeat foreign songs.
Featuring Disney characters signals that Kim may be seeking to carve out a different image than his father and grandfather by easing restrictions on Western culture, said Koh Yu-hwan, a North Korean studies professor based in Seoul, South Korea.
Kim, who is in his late 20s, has sought to project an image of youth, vitality and modernity.
Early Sunday, he led top officials in paying their respects to his grandfather, North Korea founder Kim Il Sung, at the mausoleum where he lies in state. Kim died 18 years ago Sunday.
Earlier in the year, a quintet of accordionists became a YouTube sensation for their arrangement of “Take on Me,” a pop song by the Norwegian band a-ha.
North Korea and the United States remain in a technical state of war because they signed a truce, not a peace treaty, after three years of fighting in 1953. The foes do not have diplomatic relations.
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Comments (50)
DasAmerican
Posted on July 8, 2012 at 11:08pmSo …..The next Korean war will be fought with Interpol?
Report Post »FrankSpeak
Posted on July 8, 2012 at 9:53pmMaybe they’re reaching out to America?
Report Post »Puddle Duck
Posted on July 9, 2012 at 7:40amAn America that no longer reflects the era that the cartoons, which this collection of weirdos love so much, were made.
Report Post »JamesTeaPartyMac
Posted on July 8, 2012 at 9:18pmyou do noy know God at all
Report Post »Hrothgar
Posted on July 8, 2012 at 7:31pmNot surprised, as much as the North Korean rhetoric is “We hate America!” the leaders have always indulged in western activities. Daffy Duck was Kim Jong Il’s favorite cartoon character. They can isolate the masses but they will always treat themselves to the world buffet. This is nature of totalitarian governing coupled with the communist economic system.
Report Post »WINNEBAGOMAN
Posted on July 8, 2012 at 10:32pmYou nailed it!
Report Post »Puddle Duck
Posted on July 9, 2012 at 7:37amThe elite have a ready supply of Dr Ho’s back belts and magic heat packs.
Report Post »Hrothgar
Posted on July 9, 2012 at 9:47amThis is something that also isn’t uncommon in other governments globally. The ruling class always find a way to snuff those underneath them by ways of hiding money, products, services, information and things of that nature. The corrupt in the governing bodies find that using media to “entertain” the masses keeps them from asking the questions about “Why? What? How? Where?” North Korean citizens don’t really know any better because there is nothing else for them to know, except what the state wants. They don’t look behind the curtain and the great and powerful Oz will always pull on their marionette strings to get what he wants out of them.
Report Post »This is what has been happening in America since the early 1900′s and countless other countries around the globe. It becomes easy to control people when you control what they know, the power of information control will always make them subservient to the wretched leaders. Maybe I’m reading into this too much.
Kilmerfan
Posted on July 8, 2012 at 7:10pmThe sad part is it is probley more entertaining than the last couple of Academy Awards shows…..
Report Post »TelepromoterNChief
Posted on July 8, 2012 at 6:46pmThough they might not of been able to get the Disney stuff from America, there is the Everland Resort in South Korea that might of been able to help out.
Report Post »For all we know, young fat Kimmight of built another of of his tunnels from North to South Korea just so he could play on the Resort rides.
Little fat boy dictator might be a complete imbecile in a suit.
blackyb
Posted on July 8, 2012 at 6:24pmIf Kim was not a communist I would like him better than Obama, of Course if Obama is a stealth Muslim/Marxist/Socialist/ then Kim is a better man. At least he is in office legitimately. I hope Kim gets saved and turns into a Christian. Wouldn’t that be something?
Report Post »TelepromoterNChief
Posted on July 8, 2012 at 6:48pmObama would try to have a beer with Micky Mouse.
Report Post »Michele would eat Micky w fries.
Romney would have him over for family home evening.
blackyb
Posted on July 8, 2012 at 6:21pmThat mouse may be comrade mousKas now. I sort of feel sorry for children who never have a childhood. Let Kim play while he will.
Report Post »blackyb
Posted on July 8, 2012 at 6:17pmKim never had much of a childhood. He needs to play now for yet awhile. Playing makes a better and more rounded dictator.
Report Post »garbagecanlogic
Posted on July 8, 2012 at 5:51pmWhy not? The pudgy little runt looks like one of them.
Praise Be To Obama. Psalm 109:8
The U.S. Out Of The U.N.
Report Post »The U.N. Out Of The U.S.
wordweaver
Posted on July 8, 2012 at 5:34pmThe Disney characters were part of a package deal with the computer technology the United Nations just sent over to North Korea.
Report Post »Anacreon
Posted on July 8, 2012 at 4:42pmI am sure the part of Goofy was played by Kim Jong Un.
Report Post »Puddle Duck
Posted on July 9, 2012 at 7:42amLooks like Weiner found a new job.
Report Post »mdepuy
Posted on July 8, 2012 at 4:14pmThat’s a little creepy to me. Like, bring all the little children to me by showing them cartoons, creepy.
Report Post »rickc34
Posted on July 8, 2012 at 4:34pmWhat do you think another MJ
Report Post »Puddle Duck
Posted on July 9, 2012 at 7:45amMJ with a few nukes and a huge conventional army…….what a clown show that nation is.
Report Post »daxbrady
Posted on July 8, 2012 at 4:09pmMaybe a signal that he likes the West
Report Post »ephraimtheox
Posted on July 8, 2012 at 4:56pmUnfortunately the North Koreans believe THEY created Mickey and Winnie
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on July 8, 2012 at 4:02pmMaybe… a realization that capitalism works?
Nah…
Report Post »blanco5
Posted on July 8, 2012 at 3:57pmEver get the feeliing that somehow OUR tax money paid for disney to go over there?
Report Post »daxbrady
Posted on July 8, 2012 at 4:10pmjudging by those costumes this wasn’t licensed by Disney.
Report Post »LeadNotFollow
Posted on July 8, 2012 at 3:49pm…
Report Post »Kim Jong Un is not emotionally or psychologically mature enough to be the leader of any country.
Especially a country that is such a threat to America and South Korea.
Gonzo
Posted on July 8, 2012 at 3:35pmI never trusted that Pooh. That red shirt always looked a bit commie to me.
Report Post »The-Monk
Posted on July 8, 2012 at 3:53pmNice Gonzo. I just love your one-liners. LOL
Report Post »Puddle Duck
Posted on July 9, 2012 at 8:03amIt’s funny but how many folks here know the real story of the actual bear ? Here’s a major (pun intended) hint…. The Fort Gary Horse.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on July 8, 2012 at 3:30pmDisney Employees… will be able to Relate to… being held Captive by a Crazy Dictator!
Report Post »HKS
Posted on July 8, 2012 at 3:22pmLooks like a real Micky Mouse operation to me, on every front.
Report Post »hgaut
Posted on July 9, 2012 at 12:08pmUm, no. I see Disney characters everyday one on one. ( nuf said ) These are copies and not 100% either.
Report Post »Zurich
Posted on July 8, 2012 at 3:16pmMaybe Kim is catching up with a lost childhood…….
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on July 8, 2012 at 3:43pmMaybe… this is actually his Age Mentality!
Report Post »TelepromoterNChief
Posted on July 8, 2012 at 3:05pmMaybe:
Report Post »1. young Kim is into kids.
2. Micky and crew were executed after the show for not making young Kim smile.
3. Glenn Beck was right about Communist Micky he got from Epcot
4. young Kim is still just a fat….very fat child stuffed in a uniform to lead a nation in terror
5. Photo op to appear nice. Never mind the prison camps, slaughter or endless threats against his own people and the world. He’s just a regular FAT guy.
The-Monk
Posted on July 8, 2012 at 2:59pmIs that Calvin and Hobbs? First photo, right side.
People are starving and this is how they waste their time and money?
The facade continues, just like Obama.
Report Post »cjherin
Posted on July 8, 2012 at 3:34pmThe tiger is probably Tigger from “Winnie The Pooh”. The character to the left of Tigger looks like it might be one of the Seven Dwarfs.
Report Post »The-Monk
Posted on July 8, 2012 at 3:52pm@cjherin
Thanks. I hoped that Calvin and Hobbs had not turned Commie.
Report Post »JACKTHETOAD
Posted on July 8, 2012 at 7:08pmHobbes would’ve ripped Hu Flung Dung to shreds. (I love when he used to flip out.)
Report Post »RayOne
Posted on July 8, 2012 at 2:47pmDisney Entertainment International reports to the shareholders, Mickey works for them.
Report Post »rickc34
Posted on July 8, 2012 at 2:32pmI knew it , I never trusted that mouse and bear……
Report Post »hazmat_factor
Posted on July 8, 2012 at 3:11pmIt’s in the eyes, just look at those sneaky, honey stealing eyes….
It’s a bear, whadya spect?
Now a US president obummer, he want’s it all, not just the honey……
Report Post »