As difficult as it is to believe, North Korea’s penchant for secrecy can pay dividends once in a great while. After reporters from around the world were summoned to Pyongyang to witness a “big event” this week, speculation ran rampant. Was this a nuclear test?
https://twitter.com/PMCroninCNAS/status/852234847896702976
North Korea could test a nuke Saturday. What happens then? We've threatened China. Sent more Navy boats to the region. What's the plan?
— Tommy Vietor (@TVietor08) April 13, 2017
Reporters were told to leave their hotels prompty and board a bus to a mystery location.
We've been told to be ready to move out at 620am, but no idea why. Also, no cell phones allowed. #Pyongyang #Dprk pic.twitter.com/DO1yziIEMq
— Jeremy Koh (@JeremyKohCNA) April 12, 2017
Woken up before dawn and told to prepare for a 'big event.' Even our North Korean minders don't know where we're going or what we are seeing pic.twitter.com/3L8PeC47P6
— Will Ripley (@willripleyCNN) April 12, 2017
Journalists in Pyongyang (not me) told to prepare for a big event, are on the bus to somewhere right now. May be nothing, may be something
— Anna Fifield (@annafifield) April 12, 2017
The reporters were told they could not take lighters, cell phones or laptops, according to @nknewsorg
— Anna Fifield (@annafifield) April 12, 2017
People are asking if there's any update from Pyongyang. Short answer: no. Reporters had to leave their phones behind, so it may be some time
— Anna Fifield (@annafifield) April 13, 2017
But we have had no signs of a nuclear test (from seismic monitors) or missile (from SK/US militaries). So maybe they're at the ostrich farm
— Anna Fifield (@annafifield) April 13, 2017
And … drum roll … it’s a ribbon cutting ceremony.
https://twitter.com/pearswick/status/852374410400899072
A big one?
— Justin Rohrlich (@JustinRohrlich) April 13, 2017
https://twitter.com/pearswick/status/852375675524628480
Amazing.
— Justin Rohrlich (@JustinRohrlich) April 13, 2017
Kim Jong Un himself took hold of the scissors and cut the ribbon to announce the opening of a street lined with apartments.
After much secrecy, foreign reporters in #Pyongyang watch #KimJongUn preside over opening of the skyscraper-lined Ryomyong street pic.twitter.com/TjOWNvDcyN
— Jeremy Koh (@JeremyKohCNA) April 13, 2017
Reporting from Pyongyang, North Korea where we saw Kim Jong Un for the first time this trip unveiling a new skyscraper & other buildings pic.twitter.com/qf3sqgy3c5
— Will Ripley (@willripleyCNN) April 13, 2017
Our report from Pyongyang, North Korea where we saw Kim Jong Un today, as a potential nuclear crisis looms https://t.co/w7eRaihjp4 pic.twitter.com/gd240uP3RT
— Will Ripley (@willripleyCNN) April 13, 2017
This is actually well worth the couple of minutes it takes to watch just to get a (heavily controlled) glimpse inside North Korea.
CNN's @WillRipleyCNN was given a last-minute invitation to a secretive event in North Korea. Here's what he saw: https://t.co/hS6ivugs3r pic.twitter.com/NogYJaGmNn
— CNN (@CNN) April 13, 2017
This is how @willripleyCNN reports from #NorthKorea – woken before dawn, told to dress for "major event." https://t.co/xMxPoQXAyr pic.twitter.com/Q7uWGKmmnI
— Rachel Clarke (@CNNRachel) April 13, 2017
Other reporters seem more amazed that the journalists on the ground in North Korea were awakened before dawn than anything else.
The North Korean President is the master troll.
— Harald Glatt (@hachre) April 13, 2017
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