News Byte

North Korea Tries Viral Video Marketing; Old Spice Guy Unfazed

North Korea is apparently stepping up its Internet propaganda game by posting videos on YouTube. According to AFP, 11 clips were found today under a YouTube account with the username uriminzokkiri. The clips praise the communist state and call its leader, Kim Jong Il, a “general sent from the heaven.” They also further the country’s propaganda offensive during a multinational investigation into its alleged March sinking of a South Korean warship.

News Byte

Justin Bieber and Li'l Kim?

Hard to say who loves mop-top teen singer Justin Bieber more–squealing little girls or the prank-playing practitioners of cultural anarchy on the Web. Over the weekend, hackers took advantage of a YouTube vulnerability (since fixed) to redirect Bieber-page visitors to porn sites or pop up a message suggesting the lad had expired. Now the Web wags are in the process of stuffing the ballot box in a vote on where Beiber should bring his world tour. Israel was leading the contest until the viral assault; now, if the voters have their way, Bieber will take the stage in front of a baffled audience in North Korea. Justin Bieber and Kim Jong Il–now there’s a photo op.