As a well-known political talk
radio host likes to say: Folks, I'm not making this stuff up. And
in my case, I'm really not making this stuff up. At least, not the
following press release, which I received on Sept 14:
" "
"
North
Korea follows South Korea's lead in golf
domination!!!
Recently, South
Korean land developer Unico won a contract to build a fantastic
golf course in North Korea. The golf course will have 36 holes in
Kaesong. It will cost $40 million to build. North Korea's interest
in promoting golf is increasing as the quality of their golf
courses flourish. There is a well-known golf course located on an
island in the middle of Pyongyang, North Korea. This golf course is
complete with bunkers, sand traps and water hazards. North Korea
has opened the country to allow international tourism and
visitation to its golf courses. Golf is another added benefit of
visiting the Korean peninsula. While golf has been a large pastime
in the U.S., it is losing its grip on becoming the Golf Mecca of
the World.
" " "
Sept. 15, 2006, in
the Palace of the Party Leadership, Pyongyang:
Kim Jong Il: Like
the Party itself, our golf courses should play a mobilizing role in
each stage of revolutionary struggle and tourism development.
Peoples Tourism
Minister: Yes, Dear Leader.
Kim Jong Il: Our
glorious revolutionary tradition, born as we threw off the yoke of
Japanese imperialist colonial rule, shall inspirethe operation of
the course in Kaesong.
Peoples Tourism
Minister: Of course, Dear Leader. Now, about the Japanese
...
Kim Jong Il: As my
father, Great Leader Kim Il-Sung, wrote in the immortal classic
"Sea of Blood," the struggle of the Righteous Volunteers Army
against the Japanese masterminds ...
Peoples Tourism
Minister: Excuse the interruption, Dear Leader, but the World
Travel and Tourism Council Blueprint for Sustainable Tourism in
North Korea reports that the Japanese will likely be our most
enthusiastic golf visitors.
Kim Jong Il: The
Japanese! Impossible! I forbid it! Surely there are other
golf-loving nations we can appeal to.
Peoples Tourism
Minister: Well, according to the U.N. World Tourism Organization's
North Korean Tourism Barometer, golf is the largest pastime for the
Americans. America is the Golf Mecca of the world, Dear Leader,
although UNWTO thinks we can loosen its grip.
Kim Jong Il:
Americans! Against whom we fought the Fatherland Liberation War?
Never!
Peoples Tourism
Minister: We're running out of options, Dear Leader. Of course, the
European Tour Operators Association White Paper on Green Tourism in
North Korea feels the British may have some interest in playing
golf here.
Kim Jong Il: The
British! They are nothing but lapdogs to the running
dogs!
Peoples Tourism
Minister: I'm having difficultly with that imagery, Dear
Leader.
Kim Jong Il: Show
me the design of the course again.
Peoples Tourism
Minister: The water hazards are over here ...
Kim Jong Il:
Hazards?
Peoples Tourism
Minister: Yes, besides the sand traps.
Kim Jong Il:
Traps?
Peoples Tourism
Minister: Parallel to the bunkers here.
Kim Jong Il:
Bunkers?
Peoples Tourism
Minister: Dear Leader! There's that look in your eye
again!
Kim Jong Il: Forget
the golf course. What was the second recommendation of the Peoples
Committee on the Development of Tourism and Nuclear Energy? The one
marked "Plan B"?