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THE PHYSICAL LANDSCAPE of North Korea is slowly being unveiled to outsiders thanks to Google Maps.
Google Maps made an announcement this week, saying that a community of citizen cartographers used Google Map Maker to add road names and points of interest in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, resulting in a much more comprehensive map.
It is encouraging people to continue improving the maps in the country, which is one of 200 regions of the world featured on Google Map Maker.
Access to the internet is extremely limited in North Korea, contributing to the lack of information available on Google Maps.
Jayanth Mysore, Senior Product Manager of Google Map Maker, commented:
While many people around the globe are fascinated with North Korea, these maps are especially important for the citizens of South Korea who have ancestral connections or still have family living there.
A detail from the map. Pic: Google Maps
The map also shows the gulag – ‘re-education’ – camps that are in operation:
Pic: Google Maps
In early January, Google chairman Eric Schmidt journeyed to North Korea for a “private humanitarian mission” which was described as “ill-timed” by the US State Department due to a recent rocket launch.
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Google is one of Kim Jong-il’s greatest creations, you know.
Invented while hitting 18 hole-in-one’s during a round of Golf so I hear.
It was originally called Joogle, but the damn westerners changed it.
That’ll be handy for future air strikes.
Still disappointed in the lack of Streetview.
Maybe thats where they want us to think those places are? Crafty little Jong-Un…
Doubtful that the US use GMaps to plan airstrikes :)
You’re right, they use Apple maps. South Korea won’t know what hit them.
Greedy greedy apple and their North Korean Overlord!
@Whos yer man. Its not exactly the US military, but it’s certainly google maps. Check out #6
http://www.cracked.com/article_20160_the-6-most-embarrassing-war-stories-all-time.html
It’s a good reminder for us all to accept our many differences gladly. In some places like n k there is no place for any form of individuality or dissent and that is quite simply terrifying.
Hows life in north korea ….. Aw you know urself cant complain
Google boss visits NK. NK now on Google Maps. Some negotiation skills there!!
Or maybe it’s just misinformation?
Where’s Kim’s unicorn lair he founded? I dont see it on the map.
I don’t mean to sound ignorant… but why is a satelite not just used to get aerial photographs of the country?
That’s like poking an aggressive dog with a stick, at some stage they will bite
have your say