North Korea airs first beer commercial

In an article published by the Los Angeles Times today, apparently North Korea has aired its first beer commercial.

True to the North Korean government mentality that everything must be bigger than everyone else's version of the same thing (ie. how their arch of triumph in Pyongyang has to be slightly taller than the one in Paris), this beer commercial has to be longer than normal -- the ad lasts for about 3 minutes (comapared to the normal 30 seconds for North American commercials).



According to the ad, "beer relieves stress and improves health and longevity." Don't tell that to people with liver poisoning.

Also in the article, a South Korean Unification Ministry official, "who has been monitoring the North's television for more than two decades, told The Associated Press that it was the first time he had seen any sort of advertisement for food, much less beer." Maybe they're just hoping their people can drink their hunger away.

There is also a mention of Kim Jong Il's love for beer.

I guess if it makes sense for him to test fire missiles wildly if he's drunk. Hopefully he'll remember what happened in the morning.