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?
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
$ 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
$
Huh.
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.