October 4, 2010

L.A. Times on Litigation Against North Korea

At the L.A. Times, John M. Glionna discusses litigation against North Korea and the efforts of the plaintiffs’ attorneys to find, fix, and seize North Korean assets. Here’s a teaser: “Nobody pays attention unless these nations are held accountable,” said Han Kim, the son of the Chicago minister abducted by North Korea. Meanwhile, plaintiffs’ lawyers continue their hunt for North Korean assets. “I don’t know whether we’ll ever be successful. That’s the sad part,” said Streeter. He said he charged...

Categories Terrorism (NK)/U.S. Law
September 20, 2010

This is how we seize defeat from the jaws of victory: Anxiety is rising on both sides of the Pacific that tightened sanctions and joint military exercises – what U.S. officials have called “strategic patience” – could, if continued indefinitely, embolden hard-line factions in the North to strike out against South Korea or to redouble efforts to proliferate weapons of mass destruction. [WaPo, John Pomfret] It’s not the talking that worries me. It’s what always follows the talking. __________________________ Had...

Categories Anju Links
September 12, 2010

Over to You

As I mentioned previously, there isn’t going to be much blogging time this month, given the convergence of some personal and professional projects. Some of you have been sending me links in the meantime. That’s great, and I appreciate it, but don’t expect much in the way of reaction. Unfortunately, it will probably be old news before I even find the time to read it. Instead, why not share them with everyone else in the comments here? Give us a...

Categories Anju Links
September 10, 2010

Ban Ki Moon, In One Quote

The Telegraph reports on the case of a Chinese diplomat working as Ban’s Undersecretary General for Economic and Social Affairs, who recently staggered into the glow of Diogenes’s lamp while on a retreat for U.N. commissars in Austria, with Ban Ki Moon in attendance. “I know you never liked me Mr. Secretary-General ““ well, I never liked you, either,” said Mr Sha as Mr Ban looked on, smiling and nodding awkwardly during the 15-minute toast attended by the UN’s top...

Categories China/WTF?
September 9, 2010

Hard Times for North Korean Restaurants in Asia

Via The Diplomat, the restaurants’ setbacks defy their limitless supply of morally retarded clientele: The Pyongyang eateries are known for being friendly but a little pricey and it’s unclear where exactly any profits go. Still, the ultimate destination of the cash spent in the restaurants hasn’t put customers off visiting. “˜I didn’t object to paying (what I did) for my meal, or feel that I was supporting a tyrant,’ says Don Douglas, an American NGO worker who recently ate at...

Categories Money Laundering
September 8, 2010

Light Blogging for a While

This month, a few professional and personal projects are converging, and I won’t have much time for anything else. Here are some links of interest (to me) in the meantime. __________________________ Evan Ramstad of the Wall Street Journal talks to North Koreans in China about their morale. __________________________ The Heritage Foundation criticizes U.N. programs in North Korea. __________________________ The Christian Science Monitor thinks that sanctions against North Korea are also aimed at China. __________________________ And finally, for those who haven’t...

Categories Anju Links
September 4, 2010

Funny, Donald Gregg is probably the last person I’d have asked for advice like this …

I can’t decide whether I’m more embarrassed for myself for having clicked this link, or for Gregg for being quoted right between the bartender and the shrink with the radio talk show, giving his advice on how to pick up chicks. Donald P. Gregg, former ambassador to South Korea “I think showing you have a sense of humor is a real door-opener. A willingness to be self-deprecating is often helpful. And remember that sometimes it’s a question of not saying...

Categories WTF?
September 4, 2010

Pueblo Plaintiffs Hunt for North Korean Assets in Treasury’s Files

When the survivors of the U.S.S. Pueblo, joined by the widow of their captain, sued North Korea for the horrific torture they endured in 1968, the real question wasn’t whether they were entitled to compensation, it was whether they could ever collect any. North Korea, as it has done with all of the other suits against it in U.S. federal courts, refused to respond to the suit after being duly served at its U.N. mission. Consequently, the court entered a...

Categories Sanctions/U.S. Law
September 3, 2010

Lee Myung Bak, History, and Korea’s National Conversation

Nearly five years ago, before Lee Myung Bak was even a candidate for his country’s presidency, I expressed my reservations about his pushy style of governance and his history of gaffes. I do not share his love of grandiose and costly projects of questionable merit (something about water seems to unhinge him). But Lee has performed admirably at governing a nation that often seems ungovernable, and during some very difficult times. Competently. Lee’s first real test stuck shortly after his...

Categories Reconstruction
September 2, 2010

Jimmy Carter’s Trip to North Korea Was a Raging Success, and Here’s Why

First, Carter brought Aijalon Gomes home. Second, he apparently gave away nothing in exchange. Third, he felt so snubbed he hasn’t even been on the talk show / op-ed circuit (at least not yet, fingers crossed) telling everyone how prepared North Korea really is for dialogue. Fourth, Carter’s apparently intentional snubbing has demonstrated to most vaguely reasonable minds that North Korea is not ready for dialogue, and that not even Carter’s generous assistance to North Korea’s nuclear program has earned...

Categories Aijalon Gomes/Useful Idiocy
August 30, 2010

At Last, Plan B

This afternoon, the Treasury Department finally announced its long anticipated sanctions against North Korea, in the form of a sweeping new executive order. The order, pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, authorizes the blocking of assets of “any person” providing what Treasury calls “material support” for North Korea’s WMD proliferation, money laundering, counterfeiting, trade in luxury goods, bulk cash smuggling, and pretty much everything North Korea does that violates UNSCR 1718 or 1874, or the U.S. Criminal Code....

Categories Cheonan Incident/Counterfeiting/Money Laundering/Sanctions
August 30, 2010

A North Korean family of three on its way to South Korea has disappeared in China. The obvious suspicion is that they were arrested and are about to be repatriated to North Korea. Because one member of the family had already made it to South Korea, the family’s punishment is certain to be severe. In related news, North Korea is reporting giving longer prison camp terms to repatriated defectors in camps like Cheongo-Ri, where the odds of surviving a year...

Categories Anju Links
August 30, 2010

Plan B Watch

According to Yonhap, Treasury will roll out its new North Korea sanctions this week. I am giddy with anticipation. And on a related note, I hope the boys at Treasury are Daily NK readers (or better yet, sources): The No.39 Department, which is responsible for the management of Kim Jong Il’s private funds, holds the bank account with the British Virgin Islands branch of FirstCaribbean International Bank (FCIB), a prominent bank in the Caribbean region. According to an expert source...

Categories Counterfeiting/Money Laundering/Sanctions
August 30, 2010

Throw the Book at Him

So I will assume that Stephen Kim, the Korean-American State Department contractor who is now being prosecuted for leaking top secret / sensitive compartmentalized information was neither employed by, nor sympathetic to, North Korea given his choice of Fox News as a recipient for his leak of information that might have revealed U.S. intelligence sources in North Korea. And having said that, I really don’t care what Kim’s specific views were, I just want to know if any foreign government...

Categories U.S. & Korea/U.S. Law/Washington Views
August 30, 2010

North Korea and South Africa: A Study in Hypocrisy

After less than three weeks, FIFA has closed its investigation into allegations that players and coaches of North Korea’s losing soccer team were subjected to criticism sessions when they returned home. But when you go to FIFA’s web site, it’s apparent that FIFA’s “investigation” consisted of opening and reading a letter from the North Koreans denying it. I have no inside knowledge of whether the allegations are true, but I know that FIFA has no more idea of the truth...

Categories Activism/Human Rights/Racism/Sports
August 25, 2010

Being a Fascist Still Shouldn’t Be a Crime

Next time you see press coverage that characterizes the “Reverend” Han Song Ryol as a “liberal” or “peace activist,” his own words will add to your insight about just how tortured the words “liberal” and “peace” have been at the meaty hands of some correspondents. How does one apply such words to an avowed supporter of the world’s most belligerent and least liberal regime? “Our land and people in the North are armed with weaponry far more powerful than nuclear...

Categories The Fifth Column