Category: Uncategorized

Just when you’d think a prudent South Korean government would be preparing for a quick and orderly restoration of law and order up North, they’re dismantling the political structure needed to do exactly that. What’s more, they’re doing it to appease a government which hasn’t exactly extended them the same courtesy. If reunification is as tough economically and even militarily as I expect it to be, this move will impose severe costs on South Korean taxpayers, and in all likelihood,...

What happens to repatriated North Korean refugees? Our best information, such as it is, points to a grim fate. North Korea could dispel our “misconceptions” by showing live, healthy bodies. Yet, strangely, it doesn’t. Seoul isn’t asking questions like these before slamming the door in their faces.

Japan is still mulling over sanctions against North Korea, but its own debate appears to be moving in a more productive direction: human rights legislation. As I previously explained here, this would represent a major shift in Japanese politics and in international momentum against North Korea. South Korea, for its part, is allowing North Korea’s latest round of atrocious behavior to damage its relations with Japan. Meanwhile, the Korea Herald is clucking its tongue over saving the six-party talks and...

Those who believe in schemes to turn North Korea’s slave labor into the next gold mine for global capital’s deviant moral fringe should take note of this TimeAsia report: Doing business in Burma has often cost American companies p.r. points: Pepsi, Apple Computer and Levi Strauss are just a few of the U.S. firms that pulled out of the military-ruled state after being pressured by human-rights groups. Now, however, doing business with regimes like the one in Rangoon may cost...

Just when you’d think a prudent South Korean government would be preparing for a quick and orderly restoration of law and order up North, they’re dismantling the political structure needed to do exactly that. What’s more, they’re doing it to appease a government which hasn’t exactly extended them the same courtesy. If reunification is as tough economically and even militarily as I expect it to be, this move will impose severe costs on South Korean taxpayers, and in all likelihood,...

What happens to repatriated North Korean refugees? Our best information, such as it is, points to a grim fate. North Korea could dispel our “misconceptions” by showing live, healthy bodies. Yet, strangely, it doesn’t. Seoul isn’t asking questions like these before slamming the door in their faces.

Japan is still mulling over sanctions against North Korea, but its own debate appears to be moving in a more productive direction: human rights legislation. As I previously explained here, this would represent a major shift in Japanese politics and in international momentum against North Korea. South Korea, for its part, is allowing North Korea’s latest round of atrocious behavior to damage its relations with Japan. Meanwhile, the Korea Herald is clucking its tongue over saving the six-party talks and...

Japan is still mulling over sanctions against North Korea, but its own debate appears to be moving in a more productive direction: human rights legislation. As I previously explained here, this would represent a major shift in Japanese politics and in international momentum against North Korea. South Korea, for its part, is allowing North Korea’s latest round of atrocious behavior to damage its relations with Japan. Meanwhile, the Korea Herald is clucking its tongue over saving the six-party talks and...

Those who believe in schemes to turn North Korea’s slave labor into the next gold mine for global capital’s deviant moral fringe should take note of this TimeAsia report: Doing business in Burma has often cost American companies p.r. points: Pepsi, Apple Computer and Levi Strauss are just a few of the U.S. firms that pulled out of the military-ruled state after being pressured by human-rights groups. Now, however, doing business with regimes like the one in Rangoon may cost...

They’re actually contemplating ways to deny North Koreans refuge in the South, while denying South Koreans who assist the refugees travel papers to leave the country. Have they the slightest concern for the shame with which they will be remembered? I’d also add that Norbert Vollertsen called this one a month ago. This isn’t the first time he’s had the goods before they were printed anywhere else. He obviously has good sources. This inclines me to post his leaks, since...

I had much to blog this weekend, but the flu had other plans for me. This was no ordinary flu. This was a tossing, sweating, clogged-up assault on every nerve ending in the body, the kind that makes you feel as if your pillow is bruising your face. I’m somewhat better today, although this bug seems to specialize in false recoveries. Thanks in advance for any good wishes. I will leave you with just a few thoughts before I lay...

They’re actually contemplating ways to deny North Koreans refuge in the South, while denying South Koreans who assist the refugees travel papers to leave the country. Have they the slightest concern for the shame with which they will be remembered? I’d also add that Norbert Vollertsen called this one a month ago. This isn’t the first time he’s had the goods before they were printed anywhere else. He obviously has good sources. This inclines me to post his leaks, since...

I had much to blog this weekend, but the flu had other plans for me. This was no ordinary flu. This was a tossing, sweating, clogged-up assault on every nerve ending in the body, the kind that makes you feel as if your pillow is bruising your face. I’m somewhat better today, although this bug seems to specialize in false recoveries. Thanks in advance for any good wishes. I will leave you with just a few thoughts before I lay...

I had much to blog this weekend, but the flu had other plans for me. This was no ordinary flu. This was a tossing, sweating, clogged-up assault on every nerve ending in the body, the kind that makes you feel as if your pillow is bruising your face. I’m somewhat better today, although this bug seems to specialize in false recoveries. Thanks in advance for any good wishes. I will leave you with just a few thoughts before I lay...

Meanwhile, South Korea shows its complete unseriousness about getting back its abducted citizens, human rights, or nukes by cutting ribbons and issuing letters of credit. One can’t be bothered with trivial matters when there’s money to be made. The South Korean position, of course, is that it cares about these people, wants to bring them home, but will get them back when trade has liberalized the North. This is a transparent lie. South Koreans are apparently willing to accept that...

South Korea has charged a South Korean man for conspiring to help North Korean agents kidnap Kim Dong-Shik in China, where he was helping North Korean refugees. The essential facts have been known for years, but the evidence recently and inexplicably became impossible to ignore. It may be perfectly true, as this article suggests, that a North Korean spy caught posing as a defector led to the big break in the case. Could Korea’s inferiority complex about Japan also be...

Meanwhile, South Korea shows its complete unseriousness about getting back its abducted citizens, human rights, or nukes by cutting ribbons and issuing letters of credit. One can’t be bothered with trivial matters when there’s money to be made. The South Korean position, of course, is that it cares about these people, wants to bring them home, but will get them back when trade has liberalized the North. This is a transparent lie. South Koreans are apparently willing to accept that...

South Korea has charged a South Korean man for conspiring to help North Korean agents kidnap Kim Dong-Shik in China, where he was helping North Korean refugees. The essential facts have been known for years, but the evidence recently and inexplicably became impossible to ignore. It may be perfectly true, as this article suggests, that a North Korean spy caught posing as a defector led to the big break in the case. Could Korea’s inferiority complex about Japan also be...