Washington seems to believe that North Korea will return to the six party talks and stop its belligerent behavior if its sources of overseas funding are cut off.

If that’s what “Washington” actually does believe, I think it’s wrong about that, but I do think that sanctions will do several other very useful things, like destabilize the power structure during the succession process, slow North Korea’s progress at proliferation, and break up the financial and logistical infrastructure of its proliferation networks.

In the resolution filed with the House Committee on Foreign Affairs Tuesday, Rep. Charles Djou (R-HI) “condemns North Korea for the detainment of the Daesung 55 and hostile activity towards the Republic of Korea” and demands North Korea “release the 7-member crew of the Daesung 55.” [Yonhap]

Djou is one of Congress’s newest members; he was elected after the Democrats failed to agree on a single candidate and split their vote in a district they’d otherwise have won. Djou — neither he nor his wife is of Korean descent — may be Congress’s newest major player on Asia policy. He is also a strong supporter of the U.S.-Korea Free-Trade Agreement, of which I’m a more qualified supporter.

War Is Peace, Freedom Is Slavery: North Korea sinks South Korean warship, shells maritime border, threatens a “real war,” … and then calls on South Korea to create a “peaceful atmosphere.” I eagerly await Christine Ahn’s call for an end to these provocations.

“Experts Predict Power Struggle When Kim Jong-il Dies“

I suppose it’s worth a footnote to wish Chris Hill a fond buh-bye on his departure from Baghdad. The New York Times just can’t grasp how Hill’s tenure in Iraq could have been so controversial and ultimately unsuccessful when he’d obviously done such a great job negotiating with the North Korea. As to the latter, you’d think that the results speak for themselves, but the Times’s narrative seems not to have made room for a careful examination of the facts.

The new Cold War in Asia brings America closer to Vietnam. It’s not surprising that China’s neighbors are increasingly alarmed about its claims on the international waters near its coast, and it’s shrewd of the Obama Administration to capitalize on this.

Japan finally delivers the apology I’ve waited decades for (hat tip to a friend).