Anju Links for 25 Jan 08

HEY, MEND THIS FENCE:   President-Elect Lee  Myung Bak has sent Chung Mong-Joon  to the United States to “mend fences” which implies the obvious — relations between the United States and South Korea have deteriorated.  The Hanky runs down how it went.  While I’m sure Dick Lugar and Chuck Hagel won’t be a tough audience, if Lee wants to  repair some of South  Korea’s well-deserved reputation for anti-Americanism,  he can start with his own damn side of the fence. 

HOSTILE POLICY:   I missed the 40th anniversary of the Pueblo Incident, but Richardson and GI Korea didn’t forget how a U.S. Navy ship became  a  must-see (literally, as in “or else”)  stop for visitors to Pyongyang.  Maybe  when they’re not feeling so hostile,  they can  gas it up  with some of that heavy fuel oil and sail it to Incheon.

WHEN YOU HEAR “COUNTRY OF ORIGIN” in the South Korean context, always assume the South Koreans are trying to smuggle Kaesong products into an FTA with some country.  It worked with us.

THIS SEEMS LIKE A GOOD IDEA:  A proposal to offer more constructive overseas employment to North Korean nuclear scientists.

THE PENCIL BOMB:   One of the better  new North Korea blogs, along with the excellent DPRK Forum, is the North Korea Monitor, which dares to ask, “What are they showing the kiddies  in Pyongyang?”  Nothing, of course, if the electricity isn’t working, but when it is, they’re teaching them to hate us.