By If these guys didn’t get punished for murdering 46 South Korean sailors do you think they have any qualms with illegally broadcasting World Cup games?:
Amid a security standoff, North Korea made another international headline Sunday, not for belligerent acts but for the sneak airing of a 2010 World Cup football game it was unauthorized to broadcast.
In the face of famine and deepening public anger after the failed currency reform last November, some North Korea watchers speculated that its leader might want to deflect the public attention from the ever-worsening economic reality and focus on the World Cup madness instead.
The North Korean Central Broadcast Service (NKCBS) aired the World Cup opener between South Africa and Mexico for one hour and 20 minutes Saturday. The game ended with a 1-1 draw.
Given South Korean television SBS has the exclusive rights to the World Cup for the entire Korean Peninsula, North Korea’s airing of the game is apparently illegal and is considered piracy. [Korea Times]
What is FIFA and SBS going to do, write them a naughty letter ala Hans Brix?
2:48 am on June 14th, 2010 1
Just incredible! This is probably the finest documentery on the heavy-handedness of North Korean leader Kim, Jeong-il ever captured on hidden camera!
9:15 am on June 14th, 2010 2
They open against Brazil today. Any bets they put out a torpedo hit on one of the Brazilian players?
Hey, Dr. Yu, in Brazil, who are you rooting for?
10:26 am on June 14th, 2010 3
I feel bad for the players. There's no way in hell they'll do well against Brazil.
12:39 pm on June 14th, 2010 4
South Korea is pissed at North Korea for pirating their program? Well, isn't that the pot calling the kettle black!!!
6:29 pm on June 14th, 2010 5
Maybe the ROK can grow Brass enough balls to broadcast into the DPRK without stealing, like the DPRK fiefdom beggars are use to. It is time that Koreans need to realize that, Koreans whom are anti-Kim Il Sung Dynasty, are rightfully the inherited of the entire Korean Peninsula.
6:41 pm on June 14th, 2010 6
I wouldn't mess with fifa.
they could boot the norks out of the cup. that would piss KJI off and broadcast heads would roll. literally.
7:34 pm on June 14th, 2010 7
I still don't understand some aspect of Korean nationalism. A question I have, at this time is, "is it considered patriotic or unpatriotic for South Koreans to root against the North Korean team.
I will be looking to see if South Korean fans show up in the stands and how they respond. If I didn't have to work tomorrow, I would go to a local Korean gathering where I live and see how Koreans respond.
An article in USA Today said the North Koreans cheered the South Korean win when they got to see it. Link But then, as far as they know, they have no real reason for animosity with the South right now.
I suspect many South Korean will be conflicted about this.
On a lighter note, I was tuned into TBS eFM during the midday, where the two Korean American female hosts
7:39 pm on June 14th, 2010 8
… posted before finished (continued)
On a lighter note, I was tuned into TBS eFM during the midday, where the two Korean American female hosts of a program called K Popular said they planned a ladies night out to see the North Korea-Brazil game, only because there is supposed to be a really attractive guy on the Brazil team. I hope no ardent Korean nationalists took offense to that.
10:07 pm on June 14th, 2010 9
"Given South Korean television SBS has the exclusive rights to the World Cup for the entire Korean Peninsula"
If they're not prepared to broadcast in North Korea then they deserve to lose those exclusive rights.
9:37 am on June 15th, 2010 10
Given this, SBS should make sure every 5-10 seconds there is a a sign stating and/or one of their talking heads announcing Kim Jong Il is a fat poopie head.