Cairo and Pyongyang

Here’s another chapter in the bizarre relationship between North Korea and Egypt. I understand it all begun when North Korea effectively ran Egypt’s air force (at least in Upper Egypt) around 1970, later sold scud missiles and related services, in 1989 built a war panorama, but also furnished Cairo with some of its best foreign cuisine restaurants.

Now, there’s business, too. Maybe inspired by Orascom Construction Industries investments in the North-Korean cement industry, Orascom Telecom undertakes to build up North Korea’s mobile phone network.

From afp:

It was unclear how widely the Orascom Telecom service would be available to the public. Spokespersons were not immediately available for comment.

North Korea began a mobile phone service in November 2002. But 18 months later, it banned ordinary citizens from using the service and began recalling unauthorised handsets.

There is still thought to be a mobile network in Pyongyang which is open for government officials. Most foreigners are not allowed to use mobile phones inside the country.

Comments

[amre el-abyad]

North Korea never ran Egypt's air force. That a totally false and unfounded claim. According to the diaries of the humilator of Ariel Sharon- Saad El-Shazly North korea had two fighting squadroons in Egypt in 1973 working on defensive missions, Yet they never actiually engaged the enemy

[Frederik]

Maybe. I admit I'm not an expert in Egypt's military history.

[arabist]

Like Amre I very much doubt that the NKs "ran" Egypt's air force.

But actually, while some may think Naguib Sawiris is being rather venal dealing with a homicidal madman with a bad haircut like Kim Jong Il, in the long run I would guess this is good for the NK people. At least it should help reduce the isolation from the rest of the world they have been in for decades.