# Now that the Norks are \*really\* going to nuke us, I have one question: what's up with their lids? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 29, 2013, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-the-norks-are-really-going-to-nuke-us-i-have-one-question-whats-up-with-their-lids/654271 "2013-03-29T16:31:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-the-norks-are-really-going-to-nuke-us-i-have-one-question-whats-up-with-their-lids/654271/21 "2013-03-29T20:18:29Z")
I guess we need to retaliate by issuing updated world maps including the island of Korea, including the new Seoul deepwater port. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-the-norks-are-really-going-to-nuke-us-i-have-one-question-whats-up-with-their-lids/654271/22 "2013-03-29T20:19:39Z")
Apparently that diplomatic visit by Dennis Rodman and the Harlem Globetrotters didn’t go as well as had been hoped. One wonders if the North Koreans found [this book](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_mouse_that_roared), and didn’t realize it wasn’t a history book. ---
**Author:** ![PoorYorick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecccb3/32.png) [@PoorYorick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PoorYorick)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-the-norks-are-really-going-to-nuke-us-i-have-one-question-whats-up-with-their-lids/654271/23 "2013-03-29T20:27:22Z")
I love how the top brass are shown listening intently to the Dear Leader’s (or whatever the this one’s sobriquet is) wise words, a couple even taking notes. Obviously not a staged photograph. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-the-norks-are-really-going-to-nuke-us-i-have-one-question-whats-up-with-their-lids/654271/24 "2013-03-29T21:03:01Z")
> [@Reply](#): > > Am I the only one who finds it odd that the [Great Leader uses a run-of-the-mill iMac](http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02522/north-korea-jong-m_2522857c.jpg) while signing the Armageddon papers? I wonder how much money the “Genius Bar” guys make at the Pyongyang Apple store? ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-the-norks-are-really-going-to-nuke-us-i-have-one-question-whats-up-with-their-lids/654271/25 "2013-03-29T21:19:42Z")
Great Leader: Kim il-Sung; Eternal Leader now, from Heaven Dear Leader: Kim Jong-il (he so ronry) Supreme or Outstanding Leader: Kim Jong-un, this twerp [Cite](http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/explainer/2011/12/kim_jong_il_s_successor_who_decides_on_kim_jong_un_s_nickname_.html) (and follow internal cite on history). ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2013, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-the-norks-are-really-going-to-nuke-us-i-have-one-question-whats-up-with-their-lids/654271/26 "2013-03-30T01:15:34Z")
> [@Reply](#): > > Am I the only one who finds it odd that the [Great Leader uses a run-of-the-mill iMac](http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02522/north-korea-jong-m_2522857c.jpg) while signing the Armageddon papers? Is that an unplugged yellow Ethernet cable below the iMac? ---
**Author:** ![toofs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@toofs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toofs)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2013, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-the-norks-are-really-going-to-nuke-us-i-have-one-question-whats-up-with-their-lids/654271/27 "2013-03-30T01:27:41Z")
I also noticed the iMac. “Death to America,” but we sure like the stuff you imperialist pigs design. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2013, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-the-norks-are-really-going-to-nuke-us-i-have-one-question-whats-up-with-their-lids/654271/28 "2013-03-30T01:50:02Z")
Make a “K”…bent thing…make an “I”…easy, just a line…“M” couple of mountains… ---
**Author:** ![JBDivmstr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b4bc9f/32.png) [@JBDivmstr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JBDivmstr)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2013, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-the-norks-are-really-going-to-nuke-us-i-have-one-question-whats-up-with-their-lids/654271/29 "2013-03-30T01:54:15Z")
Am I the only one that parsed the OP’s question to mean “What’s up with their _eye_ lids?” 😕😛 ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2013, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-the-norks-are-really-going-to-nuke-us-i-have-one-question-whats-up-with-their-lids/654271/30 "2013-03-30T02:41:39Z")
Will North Korea be a harbor or a parking lot? There are some geological questions here. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2013, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-the-norks-are-really-going-to-nuke-us-i-have-one-question-whats-up-with-their-lids/654271/31 "2013-03-30T03:15:40Z")
Wilderness and wildlife refuge. (Well, in fact, the DMZ, because it is generally left alone, has become a sort of informal wildlife refuge. So the idea isn’t totally daft…) ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2013, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-the-norks-are-really-going-to-nuke-us-i-have-one-question-whats-up-with-their-lids/654271/32 "2013-03-30T03:53:57Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > Is that an unplugged yellow Ethernet cable below the iMac? That’s probably for his laptop. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2013, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-the-norks-are-really-going-to-nuke-us-i-have-one-question-whats-up-with-their-lids/654271/33 "2013-03-30T05:19:57Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > Wilderness and wildlife refuge. > > (Well, in fact, the DMZ, because it is generally left alone, has become a sort of informal wildlife refuge. So the idea isn’t totally daft…) The same thing happened in East Germany during the Cold War. The Soviets kept everyone out of the area within 5 km (I think) of the border with West Germany, so it reverted to wilderness of sorts. Don’t know if it’s still that way or not. The first thing I noticed in those pix was all the fruit salad on the gernerals’ uniforms. They’re too young to have been in the fighting during the Korean War, so North Korea must give out ribbons pretty freely. Even more freely than the US. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2013, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-the-norks-are-really-going-to-nuke-us-i-have-one-question-whats-up-with-their-lids/654271/34 "2013-03-30T12:20:51Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > The first thing I noticed in those pix was all the fruit salad on the gernerals’ uniforms. They’re too young to have been in the fighting during the Korean War, so North Korea must give out ribbons pretty freely. Even more freely than the US. “…and this one is for Fearless Leader Ass Kissing, Second Order…” ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2013, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-the-norks-are-really-going-to-nuke-us-i-have-one-question-whats-up-with-their-lids/654271/35 "2013-03-30T14:50:36Z")
> [@control-z](#): > > Yes, the lines should be curved. Nope. The map is curved. Duh. ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2013, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-the-norks-are-really-going-to-nuke-us-i-have-one-question-whats-up-with-their-lids/654271/36 "2013-03-30T15:39:37Z")
I just hope nothing interferes with Kim Jong Un’s follow up to his hit Gangnam Style: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/9bZkp7q19f0/maxresdefault.jpg "PSY - GANGNAM STYLE(강남스타일) M/V") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bZkp7q19f0) ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2013, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-the-norks-are-really-going-to-nuke-us-i-have-one-question-whats-up-with-their-lids/654271/37 "2013-03-30T15:55:29Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > The aritcle says that the charts show missile trajectories to US targets. The 3rd picture down, I believe, captures the chart they’re referring to. > > Now correct me if I’m wrong, but that chart shows absolutely straight lines. Wouldn’t a ballistic missile trajectory appear as a curve on a flat map? The missiles are fictional. They can fly in any curve they want. ---
**Author:** ![Jake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2013, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-the-norks-are-really-going-to-nuke-us-i-have-one-question-whats-up-with-their-lids/654271/38 "2013-03-30T16:01:56Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > So, isn’t there a North Korean rocket scientist _facepalming_ somewhere? I can’t believe the freaking GENERALS are that ignorant. Sure they are. They achieved their position by lying, stealing, and murdering. It doesn’t take much intelligence to do that. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2013, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-the-norks-are-really-going-to-nuke-us-i-have-one-question-whats-up-with-their-lids/654271/39 "2013-03-30T16:20:08Z")
Back to the headgear… [My dad](http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m305/llaaksonen/LTDad.jpg) wore [one of these](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fc/US_Navy_Hat_Lieutenant_Commander_No_Scrambled_Eggs.jpg), so that is where I came to my idea of the proper proportions for military covers. I seem to notice them; from the police kind with the points to the ones worn by various military officers. For example, I’ve noticed that the British use(d) hats with narrow brims; which was a little jarring in the fictional movie _Memphis Belle_, where USAAF officers’ hats were in the British pattern. ISTM that Eastern Bloc countries used hats with very broad brims, for example [Russian](http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4071/4710879883_9ac0abbebe_z.jpg) [officers’](http://www.ljplus.ru/img/p/h/photer/gen.jpg) [hats](http://image.shutterstock.com/display_pic_with_logo/365671/365671,1266532438,1/stock-photo-russian-police-officer-cap-46964893.jpg). Since NorKo were so closely tied to the Soviet Union, I suspect their officers’ caps were pattern after their ally’s ones. The pill box hats/kepis? I don’t know. ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2013, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-the-norks-are-really-going-to-nuke-us-i-have-one-question-whats-up-with-their-lids/654271/40 "2013-03-30T16:46:31Z")
Heard a guy on CBC radio yesterday, comparing North Korea and its threats to Freedonia. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-the-norks-are-really-going-to-nuke-us-i-have-one-question-whats-up-with-their-lids/654271.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-the-norks-are-really-going-to-nuke-us-i-have-one-question-whats-up-with-their-lids/654271.md?page=3)