(Newswire.net — April 24, 2013) Jackson, WY — In a courageous effort to open communications between North and South, South Koreans pay a few daring young men handsomely to carry their cell phones across the Yalu River that divides China and the North. The problem of entry is not China but North Korea where if caught, possession of a cell phone is punishable by death, not to mention smuggling, and entry without a visa. These young men of the North have made it their business to swim the river at night at special locations avoiding detection by heavily armed military guards. Apparently there are very specific times when and where to swim while not making much noise in the water and holding a handful of mobile phones above water so they will still work once delivered.
These phones come pre loaded to talk within range of the river to make a 15 to 20 minute time-limited phone call to let loved ones know how the callers are faring. These young entrepreneurs seemed not to worry about the dangers although death could be waiting at the shore for them at the least expected moment.
They told their customers that there were no guarantees whether the phone is lost by violence or water damage. According to this report there was more business than the young men could float. Business routes consisted of different river locations letting the river’s natural flow assist in transportation. Business seemed to carry on much like a late night taxi ride with Robert Deniro.
When asked what Paul, president of VestPac, Inc. who manufactures the waterproof iPhone case thought of this story, his response was, “It is a tragedy that some people have to go to such lengths to speak with their loved ones. In an age where most of us can communicate instantly with a stranger halfway around the world, it is appalling that families must risk death to talk to one another. I cannot imagine the pain of being separated from my wife. Knowing that she could be less than a mile away, yet completely unreachable. I couldn’t bear the thought that a single splash of water could destroy the phone I sent across the river, and along with it, our only chance of talking to each other. I can only wonder what we would say in those 20 minutes. For some of us, a 20 minute phone call can seem like an eternity. In their case, is it long enough to say ‘I love you?’”
For part 2 of this story please click here. Paul Cherry with VestPac, Inc. can be reached at (307) 733-5881 ext. 4, http://vestpac.com.
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VestPac, Inc.
1055 Gregory Lane | Box 3393
Jackson, WY, 83001-3393
Media Contact: Paul Cherry
Email: paul@vestpac.com
Phone: (307) 733-5881 ext. 4
Website: http://vestpac.com
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