I try to keep this blog at a higher level than I would if I reacted to some of the stories we have seen from South Korea over the last few days, but today may mark one of those days when South Korean society has shown us such a historical example of itself at its worst that it cannot, umm, pass without my comment. I have lived for somewhere between thirty and forty years, and for most of them, I...

Uri Loses a Seat in the Assembly. They’re now down to a razor-thin majory of 149 out of 297. The most interesting thing about this article, however, is the groovy pie chart that shows the Assembly’s breakdown by party. Most of the smaller parties are left-of-center, which means that Uri will continue to win the tough votes unless its members stray. A word of caution–South Korean politics are extremely unstable. Parliamentarians often defect, and parties constantly split, reform, and change...

Distasteful Timing: South Korea’s anti-Unification Minister will mark the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz by trying to persuade the leaders of Europe to help him preserve the rule of a megalomanic, over-armed tyrant who runs the world’s most intensive system of concentration camps–and reportedly, gas chambers. Another one for the public relations hall of fame. Put his picture between Marge Schott and Leona Helmsley.

You mean to tell me they still haven’t buried this poor guy? Beijing’s ossified oligarchy of octagenarians has finally decided when to hold the funeral for Zhao Ziyang. By dithering around this long, they’ve actually increased the amount of attention paid to the story and given would-be demonstrators time to organize. Unreal.

Blogwatch: Until I read this, I thought I was the last Rumsfeld die-hard. As it turns out, I’m not even the only one in this panicky town, and it’s relieving to see that someone as faddishly popular (and on occasion, as wise) as Thomas Barnett also gets it. Dan’s entire blog is worth reading, particularly his insightful comments on Iraq. Guerrilla warfare is emphatically not won by military force alone, but primarily by the patient and careful building of intelligence...

Uri Loses a Seat in the Assembly. They’re now down to a razor-thin majory of 149 out of 297. The most interesting thing about this article, however, is the groovy pie chart that shows the Assembly’s breakdown by party. Most of the smaller parties are left-of-center, which means that Uri will continue to win the tough votes unless its members stray. A word of caution–South Korean politics are extremely unstable. Parliamentarians often defect, and parties constantly split, reform, and change...

Well, I’ve seen Beijing do a lot of hideous, thuggish, and arrogant things over the last year, but this one has got to be the most confounding on so many levels. China has sent a 72 year-old South Korean prisoner of war back to North Korea after he escaped his fifty-year captivity. And South Korea’s reaction? It has “expressed regret.” I’m apoplectic. This guy was held in North Korea in direct violation of the peace treaty for all those years...

Distasteful Timing: South Korea’s anti-Unification Minister will mark the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz by trying to persuade the leaders of Europe to help him preserve the rule of a megalomanic, over-armed tyrant who runs the world’s most intensive system of concentration camps–and reportedly, gas chambers. Another one for the public relations hall of fame. Put his picture between Marge Schott and Leona Helmsley.

You mean to tell me they still haven’t buried this poor guy? Beijing’s ossified oligarchy of octagenarians has finally decided when to hold the funeral for Zhao Ziyang. By dithering around this long, they’ve actually increased the amount of attention paid to the story and given would-be demonstrators time to organize. Unreal.

Blogwatch: Until I read this, I thought I was the last Rumsfeld die-hard. As it turns out, I’m not even the only one in this panicky town, and it’s relieving to see that someone as faddishly popular (and on occasion, as wise) as Thomas Barnett also gets it. Dan’s entire blog is worth reading, particularly his insightful comments on Iraq. Guerrilla warfare is emphatically not won by military force alone, but primarily by the patient and careful building of intelligence...

Well, I’ve seen Beijing do a lot of hideous, thuggish, and arrogant things over the last year, but this one has got to be the most confounding on so many levels. China has sent a 72 year-old South Korean prisoner of war back to North Korea after he escaped his fifty-year captivity. And South Korea’s reaction? It has “expressed regret.” I’m apoplectic. This guy was held in North Korea in direct violation of the peace treaty for all those years...

According to this report (from a defecting NK soldier, via DailyNK), 681 North Korean soldiers in Hoeryong received dishonorable discharges for taking bribes from smugglers and illegal border-crossers. One could assume that their next stop will be a very bad place. The hot contraband? American, South Korean, and Chinese music, and VCRs. Hoeryong was also the location for the North Korean dissenters’ video from last week. Sounds like someone in Pyongyang decided to send an inspection team up there. Factor...

According to this report (from a defecting NK soldier, via DailyNK), 681 North Korean soldiers in Hoeryong received dishonorable discharges for taking bribes from smugglers and illegal border-crossers. One could assume that their next stop will be a very bad place. The hot contraband? American, South Korean, and Chinese music, and VCRs. Hoeryong was also the location for the North Korean dissenters’ video from last week. Sounds like someone in Pyongyang decided to send an inspection team up there. Factor...

It might well be a new low for his approval rating, but I wouldn’t be so quick to read this optimistically. First, polls are one thing, but election turnout is another. If most of the other 71% don’t show up (and why should they?) Roh still wins. Second, this is merely a continuation of a long-term decline, dating back to just before the (opposition) GNP’s impeachment attempt fiasco last spring, now that residual sympathy for Roh has faded. Most importantly,...

You know you’re off your meds when even Khaddafy is part of the intervention.

More cognitive dissonance in the Korean papers today; this time the subject is the future of President Bush’s North Korea policy: Korea Times: US Impatient Over Stalled Nuclear Talks Joongang Ilbo: U.S. analyst: Bush will focus diplomacy on North They’re not quite mutually exclusive, and the Joongang‘s headline reflects that it’s one person’s opinion, in this case, a think-tanker from the left-realist (formerly right-realist) Council on Foreign Relations, which probably isn’t especially ingratiated in the Bush Admin today. I’d advise...

It might well be a new low for his approval rating, but I wouldn’t be so quick to read this optimistically. First, polls are one thing, but election turnout is another. If most of the other 71% don’t show up (and why should they?) Roh still wins. Second, this is merely a continuation of a long-term decline, dating back to just before the (opposition) GNP’s impeachment attempt fiasco last spring, now that residual sympathy for Roh has faded. Most importantly,...

You know you’re off your meds when even Khaddafy is part of the intervention.