17 April 2009

U.S., JAPAN MOVE TO ENFORCE SANCTIONS:

Japan and the US have submitted to the UN the names of North Korean companies they believe to be associated with the country’s weapons programme.  The list of companies has been sent to the UN’s Security Council’s sanctions committee for consideration.

The move to enforce sanctions against North Korea follows the country’s long-range rocket launch on 5 April.  Diplomats say China, which has a lot of trade with North Korea, will want to study the list before agreeing to it.

The Council is starting the process of tightening the existing sanctions against North Korea. [BBC]

In that light, I wonder how smart it was of the North Koreans to announce this.

THE LAST U.S. EXPERTS involved in “disabling” the Yongbyon reactor have left North Korea.

BUT LET NONE CALL IT TERRORISM:  When you offer to release people you’re illegally holding captive in exchange for money, it’s called “ransom.”  North Korea has made similar offers to Japan for the release of its abductees, though it characterized the payments as “reparations.”

WHO IS JANG SONG THAEK?  The L.A. Times has an interesting profile of the man who may be North Korea’s Number Two.

ROH MOO HYUN SCANDAL UPDATES:  The Chosun Ilbo has two new reports on large payments received by his son and cousin, allegedly in exchange for “favors.”  It’s not clear from the article that those favors were (mis)uses of Roh’s presidential authority.

SOUTH KOREA’S population of North Korean defectors is now growing at the rate of five a day, but South Korea still isn’t a friendly place for them.