North Korea roads now mapped in Google Maps

[Alps]

But I still think all of the roads are just for show...
http://goo.gl/maps/jyqez

[corco]

I'm pretty sure somebody just traced an aerial- wherever the road alignment gets questionable on an aerial, they stop mapping.

[The High Plains Traveler]

How long until we see GSV?

Also, love the comments on locations like Pyongyang Indoor Stadium: "Got to see Phish play here during the Winter 2000 Tour. Killer show — I scored some heady shrooms from a military dude out in the parking lot. Cost me like 30 cents or something. Exchange rate is amazin".

[NE2]

In after OSM.

[kphoger]

How long until we see GSV?

Not until they rig up a walking cam.  But I bet they could find willing walkers for pennies on the dollar.

[formulanone]

Double to triple-digit AADT's at best.

[empirestate]

I think the common border of North Korea, China and Russia would be a pretty fascinating place to visit: http://goo.gl/maps/dGkSt

I also enjoy that you can view Russian topo maps of the area on http://transport.marshruty.ru/Transport/Place/86466-Khasan%20/

[vdeane]

How long until we see GSV?

I doubt North Korea's government would ever allow anything like street view.  It's worth noting that North Korea's data is 100% map maker, so it's not from actually going to North Korea to find out the conditions.  Interestingly, North Korea uses US/Canada style cartography, while South Korea has its own system.

I think the common border of North Korea, China and Russia would be a pretty fascinating place to visit: http://goo.gl/maps/dGkSt

I also enjoy that you can view Russian topo maps of the area on http://transport.marshruty.ru/Transport/Place/86466-Khasan%20/

I wonder how that road transmorgifies into a rail line...

[agentsteel53]

I wonder how that road transmorgifies into a rail line...

http://vienna-pyongyang.blogspot.com/2008/09/khabarovsk-khasan-border-russiadprk.html

there is a rail crossing between Russia and North Korea.  the road merely leads up to it.

[vdeane]

I wonder how that road transmorgifies into a rail line...

http://vienna-pyongyang.blogspot.com/2008/09/khabarovsk-khasan-border-russiadprk.html

there is a rail crossing between Russia and North Korea.  the road merely leads up to it.

That's not what is shown of Google Maps... 

[agentsteel53]

where is there a magical transmogrification?

http://goo.gl/maps/eQKLb

there is a road that ends half in the middle of the water...

[kphoger]

where is there a magical transmogrification?

http://goo.gl/maps/eQKLb

there is a road that ends half in the middle of the water...

Yes, zoom in a few levels and it becomes more obvious.

[Alps]

I think the common border of North Korea, China and Russia would be a pretty fascinating place to visit: http://goo.gl/maps/dGkSt

I also enjoy that you can view Russian topo maps of the area on http://transport.marshruty.ru/Transport/Place/86466-Khasan%20/

I wonder how that road transmorgifies into a rail line...

Based on satellite view, the North Koreans have no issue running a road straight into a rail line, because no one uses the roads anyway.

[Zmapper]

Is Google updated enough to give forced marching directions?

[mc78andrew]

What a bizarre place.

[vdeane]

where is there a magical transmogrification?

http://goo.gl/maps/eQKLb

there is a road that ends half in the middle of the water...

Yes, zoom in a few levels and it becomes more obvious.

I did, but by that point I had switched to satellite view, forgetting that map data and where stuff appears in the imagery does not  always match up in Asia; under the satellite view, the road is on the railroad bridge, and railroads do not appear in the satellite map data layer, so it appears as if the road becomes the rail line.

[KEK Inc.]

You can watch documentaries of people going into North Korea.  Most of the roads are just wide barren expanses of unmarked tarmac with occasional trucks.

[kphoger]

Am I the only one here who didn't know the roads hadn't been mapped in North Korea?

[NE2]

Am I the only one here who didn't know the roads hadn't been mapped in North Korea?

Nope.

[agentsteel53]

so have these maps been verified independently?  or am I going to stumble upon a twelve-lane freeway on the map, corresponding to random vegetation on the aerial image?

[Alps]

so have these maps been verified independently?  or am I going to stumble upon a twelve-lane freeway on the map, corresponding to random vegetation on the aerial image?

Shh, that's the secret underground nuclear missile test bunker No such thing.

[kphoger]

so have these maps been verified independently?  or am I going to stumble upon a twelve-lane freeway on the map, corresponding to random vegetation on the aerial image?

Shh, that's the secret underground nuclear missile test bunker No such thing.

Never trust a North Korean cabbage patch!

[SteveG1988]

The road is where people go to get liberated from their country, free floating across the river with a handy push from an officer and a bit of metal.

[Desert Man]

North Korea is a secretive place, a real life "Hermit's Kingdom" by leaders trying to keep in itself from the outside world. Not only a void in Google maps until recently, at night from a satellite: it took pictures of North Korea without lights! You can easily tell the country by a lack of outdoor lighting, in contrast to highly-electrified South Korea, China and even Japan.

[SteveG1988]

North Korea is a secretive place, a real life "Hermit's Kingdom" by leaders trying to keep in itself from the outside world. Not only a void in Google maps until recently, at night from a satellite: it took pictures of North Korea without lights! You can easily tell the country by a lack of outdoor lighting, in contrast to highly-electrified South Korea, China and even Japan.

Someone noticed that there are pricks of light in the countryside...that line up with known prison camps.