4 ms·

I'm sorry, but is this a joke? Or were they seriously offered server space in North Korea as some sort of political/PR thing?

Aco- 14y ago
It's not April 1st yet... so, I guess not?
danielweber 14y ago
I can only hope the comments on that article are also part of the joke.
RyanZAG 14y ago
Nothing seems to indicate a joke - North Korea does seem interested in strange PR stunts, so this could very well be real. I'm unsure as to how hosting would possibly work there though - I don't believe they have free internet access in/out of North Korea for these servers to run on - perhaps satellite connections could be used.
- kintamanimatt 14y ago
  I doubt the country even has the bandwidth to host such a site. thepiratebay.se resolves to a German IP for me. I call BS and shenanigans. This just appears to be a publicity stunt.
johndoeee 14y ago
The route goes to NK traceroute thepiratebay.se output: 12 INTELSAT-IN.car1.NewYork1.Level3.net (64.156.82.14) 127.129 ms 121.898 ms 121.857 ms 13 209.159.170.215 (209.159.170.215) 214.763 ms 196.291 ms 210.602 ms 14 202.72.96.6 (202.72.96.6) 697.258 ms 711.336 ms 693.061 ms 15 175.45.177.217 (175.45.177.217) 696.368 ms 699.046 ms 702.013 ms 175.45.177.217 Seems to be an actual IP in NK[0] [0] http://bgp.he.net/AS131279 http://bgp.he.net/AS131279
- kintamanimatt 14y ago
  I get a German IP, 194.71.107.15 and the tracepath results take the route nowhere near Asia.
  - cynwoody 14y ago
    From a Verizon FiOS connection in Massachusetts, I get: $ traceroute thepiratebay.se traceroute to thepiratebay.se (194.71.107.15), 64 hops max, 52 byte packets ... snip ... 3 ae0-0.bos-bb-rtr2.verizon-gni.net (130.81.209.94) 4.940 ms 3.924 ms 4.962 ms 4 0.xe-8-0-0.br3.nyc4.alter.net (152.63.23.241) 13.551 ms 15.600 ms 14.553 ms 5 204.255.169.234 (204.255.169.234) 14.996 ms 13.661 ms 15.424 ms 6 ae-2.r23.nycmny01.us.bb.gin.ntt.net (129.250.4.148) 14.953 ms 16.048 ms 14.726 ms 7 ae-6.r21.frnkge03.de.bb.gin.ntt.net (129.250.3.181) 109.988 ms 106.394 ms 107.488 ms 8 ae-1.r02.frnkge03.de.bb.gin.ntt.net (129.250.4.163) 105.110 ms 108.378 ms 104.977 ms 9 xe-3-2.r00.dsdfge02.de.bb.gin.ntt.net (129.250.5.61) 129.906 ms 141.522 ms 141.731 ms 10 213.198.77.122 (213.198.77.122) 105.035 ms 104.582 ms 105.151 ms 11 * * * 12 * xe-0-1-0-3.r02.frnkge03.de.bb.gin.ntt.net (129.250.5.62) 143.231 ms * 13 xe-0.level3.frnkge03.de.bb.gin.ntt.net (129.250.8.202) 161.436 ms 125.598 ms 159.774 ms 14 * vlan90.csw4.frankfurt1.level3.net (4.69.154.254) 262.171 ms 270.225 ms 15 ae-82-82.ebr2.frankfurt1.level3.net (4.69.140.25) 197.361 ms 214.021 ms 272.423 ms 16 ae-61-61.csw1.newyork1.level3.net (4.69.134.66) 219.914 ms 244.709 ms 214.996 ms 17 ae-21-70.car1.newyork1.level3.net (4.69.155.67) 232.323 ms * 203.640 ms 18 intelsat-in.car1.newyork1.level3.net (64.156.82.14) 319.879 ms * 219.131 ms 19 rvs-rt0003_fe-0-0 .intelsatone.net (209.159.170.215) 289.920 ms 357.010 ms 332.387 ms 20 202.72.96.6 (202.72.96.6) 832.528 ms 844.070 ms * 21 175.45.177.217 (175.45.177.217) 797.110 ms 839.233 ms 859.813 ms ... snip ... 40 * *^C $ whois 175.45.177.217 ... snip ... inetnum: 175.45.176.0 - 175.45.179.255 netname: STAR-KP descr: Ryugyong-dong descr: Potong-gang District country: KP admin-c: SJVC1-AP tech-c: SJVC1-AP status: ALLOCATED PORTABLE mnt-by: APNIC-HM mnt-lower: MAINT-STAR-KP mnt-routes: MAINT-STAR-KP remarks: -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-++-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ remarks: This object can only be updated by APNIC hostmasters. remarks: To update this object, please contact APNIC remarks: hostmasters and include your organisation's account remarks: name in the subject line. remarks: -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-++-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ changed: hm-changed@apnic.net 20091221 source: APNIC role: STAR JOINT VENTURE CO LTD - network administrat address: Ryugyong-dong Potong-gang District country: KP phone: +66 81 208 7602 fax-no: +66 2 240 3180 e-mail: sahayod@loxley.co.th admin-c: SJVC1-AP tech-c: SJVC1-AP nic-hdl: SJVC1-AP mnt-by: MAINT-STAR-KP changed: hm-changed@apnic.net 20091214 source: APNIC $ KP is North Korea. And their IP, 194.71.107.15, is indeed German. And telephone country code 66 is Thailand. Edit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_in_North_Korea http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_in_North_Korea
ibejoeb 14y ago
Eric Schmidt brought us maps. Dennis Rodman brought us TPB. This is fine diplomacy. I know DPRK has bigger problems, but the exposure isn't bad. TPB isn't in a position to free the people, so I can't concur with those who claim this is somehow ignorant of those issues. Times are changing there. Channels are opening up. These guys may serve a greater purpose, even if it's not today.

Aco- 14y ago

It's not April 1st yet... so, I guess not?

danielweber 14y ago

I can only hope the comments on that article are also part of the joke.

RyanZAG 14y ago

Nothing seems to indicate a joke - North Korea does seem interested in strange PR stunts, so this could very well be real. I'm unsure as to how hosting would possibly work there though - I don't believe they have free internet access in/out of North Korea for these servers to run on - perhaps satellite connections could be used.

kintamanimatt 14y ago
I doubt the country even has the bandwidth to host such a site. thepiratebay.se resolves to a German IP for me. I call BS and shenanigans. This just appears to be a publicity stunt.

johndoeee 14y ago

The route goes to NK traceroute thepiratebay.se output: 12 INTELSAT-IN.car1.NewYork1.Level3.net (64.156.82.14) 127.129 ms 121.898 ms 121.857 ms 13 209.159.170.215 (209.159.170.215) 214.763 ms 196.291 ms 210.602 ms 14 202.72.96.6 (202.72.96.6) 697.258 ms 711.336 ms 693.061 ms 15 175.45.177.217 (175.45.177.217) 696.368 ms 699.046 ms 702.013 ms 175.45.177.217 Seems to be an actual IP in NK[0] [0] http://bgp.he.net/AS131279 http://bgp.he.net/AS131279

kintamanimatt 14y ago
I get a German IP, 194.71.107.15 and the tracepath results take the route nowhere near Asia.
- cynwoody 14y ago
  From a Verizon FiOS connection in Massachusetts, I get: $ traceroute thepiratebay.se traceroute to thepiratebay.se (194.71.107.15), 64 hops max, 52 byte packets ... snip ... 3 ae0-0.bos-bb-rtr2.verizon-gni.net (130.81.209.94) 4.940 ms 3.924 ms 4.962 ms 4 0.xe-8-0-0.br3.nyc4.alter.net (152.63.23.241) 13.551 ms 15.600 ms 14.553 ms 5 204.255.169.234 (204.255.169.234) 14.996 ms 13.661 ms 15.424 ms 6 ae-2.r23.nycmny01.us.bb.gin.ntt.net (129.250.4.148) 14.953 ms 16.048 ms 14.726 ms 7 ae-6.r21.frnkge03.de.bb.gin.ntt.net (129.250.3.181) 109.988 ms 106.394 ms 107.488 ms 8 ae-1.r02.frnkge03.de.bb.gin.ntt.net (129.250.4.163) 105.110 ms 108.378 ms 104.977 ms 9 xe-3-2.r00.dsdfge02.de.bb.gin.ntt.net (129.250.5.61) 129.906 ms 141.522 ms 141.731 ms 10 213.198.77.122 (213.198.77.122) 105.035 ms 104.582 ms 105.151 ms 11 * * * 12 * xe-0-1-0-3.r02.frnkge03.de.bb.gin.ntt.net (129.250.5.62) 143.231 ms * 13 xe-0.level3.frnkge03.de.bb.gin.ntt.net (129.250.8.202) 161.436 ms 125.598 ms 159.774 ms 14 * vlan90.csw4.frankfurt1.level3.net (4.69.154.254) 262.171 ms 270.225 ms 15 ae-82-82.ebr2.frankfurt1.level3.net (4.69.140.25) 197.361 ms 214.021 ms 272.423 ms 16 ae-61-61.csw1.newyork1.level3.net (4.69.134.66) 219.914 ms 244.709 ms 214.996 ms 17 ae-21-70.car1.newyork1.level3.net (4.69.155.67) 232.323 ms * 203.640 ms 18 intelsat-in.car1.newyork1.level3.net (64.156.82.14) 319.879 ms * 219.131 ms 19 rvs-rt0003_fe-0-0 .intelsatone.net (209.159.170.215) 289.920 ms 357.010 ms 332.387 ms 20 202.72.96.6 (202.72.96.6) 832.528 ms 844.070 ms * 21 175.45.177.217 (175.45.177.217) 797.110 ms 839.233 ms 859.813 ms ... snip ... 40 * *^C $ whois 175.45.177.217 ... snip ... inetnum: 175.45.176.0 - 175.45.179.255 netname: STAR-KP descr: Ryugyong-dong descr: Potong-gang District country: KP admin-c: SJVC1-AP tech-c: SJVC1-AP status: ALLOCATED PORTABLE mnt-by: APNIC-HM mnt-lower: MAINT-STAR-KP mnt-routes: MAINT-STAR-KP remarks: -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-++-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ remarks: This object can only be updated by APNIC hostmasters. remarks: To update this object, please contact APNIC remarks: hostmasters and include your organisation's account remarks: name in the subject line. remarks: -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-++-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ changed: hm-changed@apnic.net 20091221 source: APNIC role: STAR JOINT VENTURE CO LTD - network administrat address: Ryugyong-dong Potong-gang District country: KP phone: +66 81 208 7602 fax-no: +66 2 240 3180 e-mail: sahayod@loxley.co.th admin-c: SJVC1-AP tech-c: SJVC1-AP nic-hdl: SJVC1-AP mnt-by: MAINT-STAR-KP changed: hm-changed@apnic.net 20091214 source: APNIC $ KP is North Korea. And their IP, 194.71.107.15, is indeed German. And telephone country code 66 is Thailand. Edit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_in_North_Korea http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_in_North_Korea

ibejoeb 14y ago

Eric Schmidt brought us maps. Dennis Rodman brought us TPB. This is fine diplomacy. I know DPRK has bigger problems, but the exposure isn't bad. TPB isn't in a position to free the people, so I can't concur with those who claim this is somehow ignorant of those issues. Times are changing there. Channels are opening up. These guys may serve a greater purpose, even if it's not today.