Anju, May 11, 2012

NORTH KOREA’S BROADSIDE AGAINST CHUNG MONG-JONG, the centrist South Korean third-party candidate and Hyundai heir, is significant in two ways, given that Chung’s family has long been associated with economic aid to, and “engagement” with, North Korea. First, it’s significant that Chung has tacked away from North Korea since he last ran for the presidency in 2002, when he allied himself with arch-appeaser Roh Moo Hyun.  Second, it’s significant that North Korea seems to feel no residual affection for Chung, or perceive potential profit in cultivating him.

TO APPEASE NORTH KOREA, we continue to offer no support to the families of Japanese and other citizens abducted by North Korea, thereby alienating our closest ally in the region, one of our largest trading partners, and one of the world’s most influential countries.  Are there any “realists” out there who care to object to the subordination of our cold, hard interests to the emotional attachment of some of our diplomats to North Korea’s con job?

ARE YOU LISTENING, AP?  Washington Post alum Blaine Harden writes about how to cover North Korea, despite the regime’s information blockade.

I WISH THEY LET ME KEEP MINE:  “Police say an 84-year-old western Pennsylvania man wounded a home invasion suspect with the gun he carried in the Korean War.”

CHEN GUANGCHENG ALLEGES REPRISALS against his family and friends.