North Korea. Biglorryblog has Vladimir to thank for some great photos of the 'JaJu' heav truck range.

Biglorryblog's man in the East, Vladimir Chekhuta has introduced me to the hitherto unknown world of North Korean commercial vehicles. he has e-mailed me to say; "Hello Brian. What do you know about N.Korean trucks? Maybe BLB readers know something about them? As you know most of Korea’s poor people eat grass like animals---but use heavy trucks like all other nations.

The first Korean heavy truck was built in 1962 (and that's it above in a musuem). It was called the was Jaju-64---'Jaju' (built at the Tokchkhon plant) translates into English as 'Independence'."

Vladimir goes on to tell me: "The original Jaju – 64 was based on design of Russian truck KRAZ-222 (1959). Then, in 1982 Korean truck engineers discarded third axe and got the Jaju-82 (a 4x2) with a 10 ton payload (That's one pictured above). About 10,000 Jaju trucks have been built"

If I understand Vladimir correctly the name Jaju has been changed to Synry and the later ranges share a number features as seen on S.Korean, Chinese and Japanese truck brands. However, he also tells me: "The North Korean comrades are trying to start assembley of a new range of heavy trucks working with the Ukrainian's KRAZ plant."

Now click through here for more pictures and a picture that will lift the spirits of all stamp collectors...!