N.K. to Display ‘Captured’ Unmanned Sub?

We may soon see and hear more more details about the alleged U.S. unmanned sub North Korea claims to have captured, suggests Yonhap:

North Korea has captured an unmanned U.S. submersible and showcased it in front of the already captured USS Pueblo, a pro-Pyongyang newspaper reported Monday.

The Choson Sinbo, the organ of the pro-Pyongyang General Association of Korean Residents in Japan, said it was seized in waters off North Korea’s eastern city of Hamhung and that North Korean leader Kim Jong-il gave orders to put it on display in September last year.

There are several fairly obvious unknowns here: (1) we still haven’t those pictures; (2) authenticity would seem difficult to establish, given that North Korea has a history of counterfeiting just about everything; and (3) even if this is an authentic unmanned sub, the source will come into question. I doubt this thing would bear Rummy’s autograph or distinctive markings, unless it wandered off course during an exercise. That would create doubts about (4) intent. If the CIA had anything to do with this, it would probably resemble something made in a garage.

In other words, this allegation exists in the simultaneous presence of plausible deniability, plausible fabrication, and plausible truth. Pictures would answer some questions, but not the big ones. In the unlikely event that questions 1 through 4 could be answered in a manner to fit the official North Korean version, it could signal a meaningful (but very late) shift in U.S. policy in the right direction (ie., I actually hope it’s true). But don’t, umm, hold your breath waiting for evidence of that.

And of course, North Korea has absolutely no basis whatsoever to complain about the violation of its sovereign coasts or waters. Ditto infiltration and subversion of a neighoring society. If we’re not doing what North Korea accuses us of doing, the real question is, “Why on earth not?” It’s time we stopped letting North Korea unileratally dictate the meaning of the term, “hostile policy.”