11 January 2010: Will Obama Open U.S. Embassies to N. Koreans at Last?

OBAMA TO OPEN EMBASSIES TO N. KOREAN REFUGEES? That would be huge, and I’ll have much more to say about that later. Also, Robert King says human rights will be on the six-party agenda.

NORTH KOREA’S H1NI OUTBREAK has reached Camp 16. Meanwhile, the South Korean government continues to provide aid to the North despite its doubts about the data the North is reporting.

TODAY’S “WE ARE ONE” MOMENT is brought to you by the Joongang Ilbo, and features North Korean defector “Ji Eun,” describing her warm welcome in South Korea:

“Why did you come to Korea, you beggar?” one person asked her. “Were you hungry?” “Go back to your country because there’s nothing we can give you,” said another.

Lovely. Foreigners who complain about South Korea’s nasty xenophobia might be more understanding if they only knew what assholes Koreans can be to other Koreans.

ROUNDING UP THE USUAL SUSPECTS: This time, it’s money changers.

WHAT KIM JONG-IL’S “MEAT SOUP” CONCESSION MEANS: The Daily NK speculates: “To speak so clearly about the situation, experts suggest Kim Jong Il must have judged that people’s complaints about his rule have grown almost uncontrollable.”

JUST DAYS AFTER BANNING AIR KORYO, the European Union sanctions top North Korean officials. These particular sanctions seem unlikely to have much of an effect, but they’re a step in the right direction.

AH, THE GENTLE WINDS OF CHANGE: Fascist China sentences Tibetan filmmaker to six years in prison.