The Volcano that is left out of history

We live within sight of an extinct volcano, and not too far from Mt Pinatubo.

Like earthquakes, typhoons, floods, landslides, and Dengue fever outbreaks, it is something we live with and cope.

Right now Taal is threatening to erupt, but hey, that is south of Manila so no problem.

But volcanoes can do more than hurt locals: They can change the climate.

 Tambora, ok. Mt Pinatubo. Fine. Yellowstone? Nah. Probably not. The Siberian traps? Nah... too long ago.

Ah but what about Mt Paektu?

Ah, unless you are a KPop fan, you probably never heard of Mt Paektu, which in legend was the origin of the Korean race.

Here is a discussion of this volcano, which lies between North Korea and China. So why is it there when the ring of fire techtonic plates are hundreds of miles away? Big geology puzzle (outside my area of expertise).

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a new eruption could decimate northern Japan, affect the world's climate, and even harm a lot of folks nearby with it's ash cloud as it did in the 946 eruption.

,,,,The mountain is the legendary birthplace of the Korean people, a myth that still echoes today: especially in North Korea:

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..and hey: the south Korean K Pop groups aren't the only ones who can sing.

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you can find a link to download it on the Slovenian rock group Laiback's album Party Songs. NYTimes article on when they visited NoKorea LINK

and shrugged off criticism of the tour with the usual moral equivalence: 

 “Of course it’s a totalitarian country,” Novak said, with a shrug. “But which country is not totalitarian nowadays?”

Sigh. 

And although it won't replace the K Pop phenomenum, it won't be for lack of trying. Not only did they find a communist rock group to sing their praises, but they have this version out to attract Frankie Yankovic fans:

 

Hmm....reminds one of this classic cartoon: