The Mount Paektu is the highest summit of the Korean peninsula, and is believed to be the mythological birthplace of the entire Korean nation. The recording shows a scene from the video Morten Traavik made for Laibach. Foto: YouTube
The Mount Paektu is the highest summit of the Korean peninsula, and is believed to be the mythological birthplace of the entire Korean nation. The recording shows a scene from the video Morten Traavik made for Laibach. Foto: YouTube

Morten Traavik directed the video, as well as the Laibach video The Whistleblowers. Traavik is the key actor of the approaching North Korean venture.

The Norwegian director made the arrangements for the two concerts of Laibach in Pyongyang. In the last five years he has already organized a number of music and cultural events, thus earning the approval of the authorities there, and the performance of the Laibach band in North Korea would not be possible without his connections and artistic leadership.

Conquering the highest summits
The Mount Paektu is the highest summit of the Korean peninsula, and is believed to be the mythological birthplace of the entire Korean nation. "North Korea is considered by the Western world as the most confined country in the world, but in fact it is much more open to the outside world than the prevailing media reports present it," Traavik said for BBC.

North Korean pop on hosts' request
The members of the band say that they have no wish to provoke the North Koreans, they would prefer to provoke those outside the country. They claim they intend to give their public support to unification of both Koreas. "The Korean nation and the Korean peninsula have been violently and dramatically divided, therefore their legitimate aspirations for unification should be supported."

Traavik added that North Korea needs Laibach just as Laibach needs South Korea, and that was the reason he organized the North Korean tour. Afterwards Laibach received an official invitation, and they intend to kindly respond to the invitation. The invitation included an appeal to adapt their programme to the audience, and the musicians intend to comply with this demand.

As Jani Novak said in the Summer scene, the arrangement of the song was made on their hosts' request, and the members of the Laibach band hope that in Pyongyang the members of the Moranbong group will join them on stage.

P. G.; translated by G. K.