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GNP Finding Its Voice? A hopeful sign here. It’s at least possible for the GNP to agree on pushing human rights issues with the North Koreans and Chinese.

For the past several years, these conferences has been held in other places, mainly Europe, which says much about the woeful Korean apathy about these issues. Here’s Claudia Rosett’s of last year’s conference, which took place near enough to Auschwitz to evoke an emotionally powerful comparison, something that should be required reading for all South Koreans who, in years hence, will try to say that they, too, did not know. This year’s conference is next Monday to Wednesday. Full details,...

GNP Finding Its Voice? A hopeful sign here. It’s at least possible for the GNP to agree on pushing human rights issues with the North Koreans and Chinese.

On behalf of hard-liners everywhere, I would like to thank Kim Jong Il for making this day possible, for this is the day George W. Bush will make the decisions that will send Kim Jong Il off to the ash heap of history. Today, we get this double-whammy from Porky, starting in order of greatest significance: North Korea on Thursday announced for the first time that it has nuclear arms . . . saying it needs the weapons as protection...

That’s the claim about the letter I print below, via Suzanne Scholte (scroll down) of the Defense Forum Foundation. It requires no explanation, only the obvious caveats that (1) there’s simply no way to verify the source, (2) that this could very easily be something other than what it purports to be, and (3) the contents of the letter clearly serve the interests of those (like myself) who seek to destroy the North Korean one-party regime through increased economic pressure...

And to think that just over an hour ago, Andy Jackson, a/k/a the Flying Yangban, and I were discussing (over fried bean curd and beef noodle soup) what a slow news week it’s been regarding North Korea (thanks to Andy for his intelligent, engaging presence over lunch; I hope the Lady Yangban didn’t get too hungry). * * * * * In the wake of reports that Libya was found in possession of what U.S. officials believe to be North...

The indispensable Claudia Rosett is one of the few big media voices–maybe the only big media voice–giving the North Korean human rights issue the attention it warrants. Ms. Rosett, for those who don’t read her bi-weekly column in the Wall Street Journal, was probably more responsible than any other journalist for digging up the facts of the oil-for-food scandal. Here are just two excerpts from her column today: Short of war to remove the Kim regime, probably the best way...

Japan 2, North Korea 1. I wouldn’t want to be one of the North Korean players today.

That’s the claim about the letter I print below, via Suzanne Scholte (scroll down) of the Defense Forum Foundation. It requires no explanation, only the obvious caveats that (1) there’s simply no way to verify the source, (2) that this could very easily be something other than what it purports to be, and (3) the contents of the letter clearly serve the interests of those (like myself) who seek to destroy the North Korean one-party regime through increased economic pressure...

And to think that just over an hour ago, Andy Jackson, a/k/a the Flying Yangban, and I were discussing (over fried bean curd and beef noodle soup) what a slow news week it’s been regarding North Korea (thanks to Andy for his intelligent, engaging presence over lunch; I hope the Lady Yangban didn’t get too hungry). * * * * * In the wake of reports that Libya was found in possession of what U.S. officials believe to be North...

The indispensable Claudia Rosett is one of the few big media voices–maybe the only big media voice–giving the North Korean human rights issue the attention it warrants. Ms. Rosett, for those who don’t read her bi-weekly column in the Wall Street Journal, was probably more responsible than any other journalist for digging up the facts of the oil-for-food scandal. Here are just two excerpts from her column today: Short of war to remove the Kim regime, probably the best way...

Japan 2, North Korea 1. I wouldn’t want to be one of the North Korean players today.

If you can explain that one, I’d be much obliged. Still, I suppose it’s good that the GNP has cloistered itself somewhere to discuss its fuure. Maybe the politicos can feel each other for signs of a spine. From this report, it doesn’t seem to rise above the level of squabbling about cosmetic changes (another name change? puhleeeeaze), which is a lot like the Dems’ sudden and clumsy attempts to pander to religious voters ever since their three-point loss here...

As if You Didn’t Have Enough to Worry About: Your four-year old might be out playing Grand Theft Auto in the family truckster while you’re fast asleep in your bed. And to think I once wanted four kids . . . .

Your first answer: yes, it could be even worse than Roh. Chung Dong-Young is running. The Korea Herald has a decent rundown on the candidates (or at least, most of them) but it’s woefully short on the candidates’ positions on specific issues. I’ll see what else I can find out.

While I don’t see anything here that justifies the description of a “smoking gun” for Kofi Annan–yet–the mysterious death of Benon Sevan’s aunt certainly suggests the need for further inquiry. Sheesh. The broader questions remains: what exactly unites these nations?

North Korea has asked the Czech Republic to ban “Team America,” a movie I have yet to see because of my little screamy ones. The Marmot has the goods. It’s actually quite funny to anyone who has been to Czech recently. The Czechs are about the happiest, friendliest, most free-spirited people in Europe–a happy island kingdom in a dour, grey, relativist sea. They seem to have democracy in their DNA. Czech dissidents once protested Communist rule by sneaking into a...

If you can explain that one, I’d be much obliged. Still, I suppose it’s good that the GNP has cloistered itself somewhere to discuss its fuure. Maybe the politicos can feel each other for signs of a spine. From this report, it doesn’t seem to rise above the level of squabbling about cosmetic changes (another name change? puhleeeeaze), which is a lot like the Dems’ sudden and clumsy attempts to pander to religious voters ever since their three-point loss here...