Posted on 07/08/2012 4:55:36 PM PDT by DogByte6RER
PYONGYANG, North Korea — 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.
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, ...
(Excerpt) Read more at nydailynews.com ...
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (2nd. from r.) watches performances by North Korea's new Moranbong band in Pyongyang.
“Moranbong”
Moron bong perhaps....
Korean Peninsula at night. South Korea is filled with lights and energy and vitality and a booming economy; North Korea is dark.
Are they coming to Charlotte for the Dem convention?
It’s a small world after all.
Figures, the White house has an obvious soft spot for the PRNK anyway.
I'm surprised he and the misses would take time off of the campaign trail however.
Yeah, Winnie the Pooh, Tiger, Mickey... Great literature, I tell you!
Given the diminutive stature of the Korean leaders, I do hope they won’t forget Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.
Should go over... uh... big.
Geez. This is more frightening than any of their threats.
Reason # 1,000,000,000 that North Korea needs to be bombed/blasted/smashed/kicked/stomped into oblivion ;)
Mickey Mao.
It’s a small world, after all...
Will the Disney Company raise a stink about this, like they do in the US when the Disney license is ignored?
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