While North Korea is provoking the world by testing nuclear weapons and long-range missiles, the regime has signed the Svalbard Treaty on January 25 without much public attention. This treaty, which was signed in 1920 in Versailles and came into force in 1925, gave Norway sovereignty over the Spitsbergen archipelago (the original treaty document does not have the name Svalbard) while maintaining rights of signatory governments and their citizens to be economically and scientifically active without the need for a general permission. One of the consequences is that Spitsbergen is, in contrast to mainland Norway, not part of the Schengen Treaty area.
Svalbard is not unknown in the far east: especially in Thailand, people are quite aware of this unique job opportunity that does not require residence or work permits. The third-largest population group in Longyearbyen are Thai people, which have been forming an important part of the social and economic structure of the town for many years by now.
It is not known if the North Korean regime plans their admission to the treaty to be followed by any practical steps or any kind of presence. North Korea is also member state of the Antarctic Treaty (without voting rights). As far as known, the only North Korean activity in Antarctica was the participation of some scientists in a Soviet expedition in 1989/90.
What is Kim Jong Un doing in Svalbard? Creepy duo in Pyramiden (photo composition).
This and other publishing products of the Spitsbergen publishing house in the Spitsbergen-Shop.
Norwegens arktischer Norden (1): Spitzbergen
Photobook: Norway's arctic islands. The text in this book is German. [shop url="https://shop.spitzbergen.de/en/polar-books/70-norwegens-arktischer-norden-1-aerial-arctic-9783937903262.html"] ← Back
Lofoten, Jan Mayen and Spitsbergen from the air - Photobook: Norway's arctic islands. The text in this book is German, but there is very little text, so I am sure that you will enjoy it regardless which languages you read (or not).
The companion book for the Svalbardhytter poster. The poster visualises the diversity of Spitsbergen‘s huts and their stories in a range of Arctic landscapes. The book tells the stories of the huts in three languages.
Comprehensive guidebook about Spitsbergen. Background (wildlife, plants, geology, history etc.), practical information including travelling seasons, how to travel, description of settlements, routes and regions.
Join an exciting journey with dog, skis and tent through the wintery wastes of East Greenland! We were five guys and a dog when we started in Ittoqqortoormiit, the northernmost one of two settlements on Greenland’s east coast.
12 postcards which come in a beautifully designed tray. Beautiful images from South Georgia across Antarctica from the Antarctic Peninsula to the Ross Sea and up to Macquarie Island and Campbell Island.