The Asianist

South Korea and North Korea will cooperate on a joint TV production:

For the first time, public television networks from South Korea and North Korea are working together to produce a dramatic series covering events in their tumultuous past.

Seoul-based Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) has worked out a deal with Korean Central Television (KCTV), headquartered in Pyongyang, to produce the drama "Sayookshin."

The series describes the adventures of six loyal retainers who were killed in their struggle to restore to the throne King Danjong (1441-57, reigned 1452-55).

Fraternal cooperation and all that. Here are the interesting tidbits:

Casting was a tricky task for the South Koreans, said a KBS official.

"From which of the two countries should the actor who plays the king come? Even in a drama, the country whose actor plays the king might be seen as superior to the other," he said. "So we were afraid casting actors from both sides would cause a rift."

Now, now we wouldn't want the North Koreans to feel any less inferior than they already do, do we, what with continuing famines, de-industrialization and other man-made calamities?

The official also said it would be impossible for South Korean actors to stay in North Korea for long periods while shooting the scenes.

I guess the hotels in North Korea aren't posh enough for spoiled South Korean actors.

However, the South Korean government will not allow KBS to pay all the costs to KCTV in cash. So, part of the payment has been worked out in the form of broadcasting equipment, such as new Sony production cameras and lights.

Now, this is really interesting. Why wouldn't the South Korean government want KBS to pay North Koreans in cash?

It isn't because they might turn around and spend the money to finance their nuclear weapons program and/or other destructive endeavors, would it?