WTF? Michael Jackson Wanted to Ask Kim Jong Il to Free Laura Ling and Euna Lee?

If this doesn’t win “WTF of the Decade,” it’s an honorable mention:

The last time I spoke to my friend Michael Jackson was about a month ago, 3 weeks before his shocking death. He had called me late one night to ask about another of my close friends who he had read about in the news. Laura Ling, a former colleague and friend, was detained originally by North Korean border guards along with her colleague Euna Lee on March 17th. [….]

Michael had read some of the details regarding Laura and Euna’s predicament. As was often the case with him and global events he read about ““ from famine in Africa to victims of natural disasters in far off countries, to orphans created by wars ““ he felt a deep sense of empathy for Laura and Euna. When I shared with him that Euna had a four-year-old daughter, he was even more anguished.

He asked me whether I had had any contact with Laura. I told him I had written her a few letters and had been assured they were getting through. Outside of that, her own family had only heard from her twice ““ brief monitored phone calls ““ in the over three months they had been imprisoned. When I told him that, Michael paused.

“Do you think,” he said hesitantly, “that the leader of North Korea could be a fan of mine?”   [Gotham Chopra, Herald de Paris]

Someone please pipe up and tell me this is a parody.

I didn’t really know how to respond. Not much is known about the reclusive Kim Jong Il or “Dear leader” as he is called in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Over the years it’s been alleged he has a thing for Hollywood, certain NBA stars, Elvis, and specific liqueurs. Still, I’d never heard about any connection between Michael Jackson and Kim Jong Il.

Michael said he had seen some pictures on the internet of the Dear Leader. “You know, he wears jackets like mine.

Well, now I’ve seen everything.  I don’t know if I actually believe this, but don’t count Michael Jackson out as a Special Envoy to Kim Jong Il just because he’s deceased.  He’s still more charismatic than Al Gore, looks more alive than John Kerry, has a better ethical record than Bill Richardson, is less of an embarrassment than Joe Biden, and has more influence with President Obama than Hillary Clinton.

Update:   A reader reminds me that, by a happy coincidence, the Eternal President of North Korea also happens to be a dead guy.  Wow.  That could be the most lively conversation since Ban Ki Moon met Warren Christopher.  And at the rate things seem to be going, Kim Jong Il and Michael Jackson will be together soon enough for everyone but the people in these places.