Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/2009/05/29/goole_nork/

Google nukes Norks

Peninsula cartographically cleansed of commies

By Lester Haines

Posted in Bootnotes, 29th May 2009 12:23 GMT

We're not quite sure what's going on down at Google Maps, but the search monolith's cartographical service has decided that the world would be a better place if North Korea were one big blank:

North Korea map on Google Maps

Satellite imagery is still available, and a search for Pyongyang works fine...

Sat image of Pyongyang

...but if you want a map detailing Nork's delights, then forget it.

No matter, because those of you with Google Earth can enjoy detailed analysis of the Communist state's infrastructure thanks to North Korean Economy Watch, which recently enjoyed some Wall Street Journal coverage for its "citizen spy" map of the country.

And pretty comprehensive it is too. Here's an overlay of the suspected location of North Korea's 2006 underground nuke test in Kilju province:

Suspected nuclear test site in Kilju province

Not much too see, but here's something more interesting: Kim Jong Il's private floating swimming pool:

Kim Jong Il's private ship

This vessel, moored in Wonsan, apparently boasts a 50-metre pool with two water slides. According to the Nork supremo's former chef, Kenji Fujimoto, it's close to the leader's favourite villa, where he enjoyed a diet of shark's fin soup four times a week, sushi once a week, and dog soup on Sundays. ®