Anju Links for 16 Feb 08

MAY IT BE HIS LAST: It’s Kim Jong Il’s birthday:

The North’s main Rodong Sinmun newspaper ran a lengthy editorial full of praise for Kim for making the communist nation an “undefeatable strong country” by strengthening its “political and military force.”

“We have to unite and unite again around the leadership, upholding the slogan ‘Let’s safeguard the revolutionary leadership led by Comrade Kim Jong Il with our lives!'” the paper said, according to the North’s Korean Central News Agency.

It also vowed to build a stronger military under Kim’s “songun” or “military-first” policy, and to rebuild the economy. [AP]

Some guys can’t stop talking about how butch they are, and some governments can’t stop talking about how loyal their people are. In both cases, people tend to draw inferences to the contrary. Most North Koreans love Kim Jong Il about as much as Tom Cruise loves sneaking away to look at naked pictures of Jessica Alba. Sooner or later — recently I’ve moved in the “sooner” direction — Kim Jong Il’s falsehoods will unravel at the end of a rope.

MORE NORTH KOREAN DEFECTORS are planning to run in South Korean elections.

WHAT WERE 22 NORTH KOREANS DOING in “two motorless boats” if “they did not have any intention to defect?” This seems suspicious to me. I’m sure the North Koreans will agree.

FOR OLD TIME’S SAKE: North Korea has made an ass of Roh Moo Hyun one last time.

BARACK OBAMA is against the U.S.-Korea FTA.

THE ARMY WOULD JUST STEAL HER ANYWAY: The United States denies rumors that it will send Rice to North Korea.