The Death of an Alliance, Part 27

You Heard It Here First:

The United States House of Representatives’ International Relations Committee is expected to hold a hearing on South Korea-U.S. relations, a source in Washington said yesterday. The source said the hearing will address calls for the removal of the statue of General Douglas McArthur from Incheon, reasons behind increasing anti-American sentiment and the lack of public diplomacy by Washington.

I have some fairly good guesses on who the source was . . . if it wasn’t this blog, that is. Just to add to the rich fodder already lain before the Congress, there’s a new sensation that’s got them in stitches all the way from the Yodok gulag to the future site of Kim Il Sung City: that irrascible North Korean sense of humor:

According to South Korean tourists who recently visited Pyongyang for the annual Arirang Festival, Jang Chol-gun, a 31-year-old tour guide, has become almost as famous as the tour itself.

Mr. Jang’s funny comments and comical expressions have won him quite a reputation. Give Mr. Jang a camera and rather than say “cheese!” or “kimchi!” he will say “Ban-mi!” which means “Anti-U.S.!” This is trendy among youngsters in Pyongyang these days, he explained in a joking manner.

Thanks for reminding us how funny that was. Is it any wonder the man can’t get himself laid?