Even at the risk of their lives, still they come. Thirteen North Koreans sought refuge in a Korean school in Qingdao, China on Thursday and are asking South Korea for asylum. On Oct. 11, eight North Korean refugees entered the same school and were safely handed over to the South Korean consulate. A Foreign Ministry official said 13 defectors — nine women and four men — entered the Qingdao Ewha International School at around 11:30 a.m. saying they wanted to...

Realignment of U.S. Forces in Japan Proceeds in Relative Calm: The United States and Japan agreed on a plan today to relocate a major American air base on the southern island of Okinawa, removing the biggest obstacle to talks on the redeployment of American troops across the country. According to the plan, the Futenma Marine Corps air base, located in the city of Ginowan, will move to an existing United States base, Camp Schwab, in a less-populated area of the...

Japan to Host U.S. Nuclear Carrier: The United States will base a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier in Japan for the first time starting in 2008, the United States Navy said Thursday, after Japan, the only country ever hit with atomic bombs, dropped long-standing resistance to the move.

First, I strongly recommend Andy Jackson’s district-by-district rundown of this week’s bi-elections at The Marmot’s Hole, although I could summarize by saying that, the Uri and DLP lost everywhere they should have won, and also lost everywhere else. Here’s a breakdown of the composition of the new National Assembly: 144 Uri Party (leftist) 127 Grand National Party (conservative) 11 Democratic Party (fmr. Millenium Democratic Party, center-left) 9 Democratic Labor Party (stark-raving pinkos) 3 United Liberal Democrats 5 Independents ———————————————————————- 150...

If this happened, it will cost people their lives. If it was intentional, the person did it should be shot: The personal information of thousands of North Korean defectors living in South Korea has been revealed, hurting their remaining family members in the North, according to a petition filed at the National Human Rights Commission of South Korea. The commission announced on October 27 that Han Chang Gwon (44), the executive director of the Gyorye Missionary Society (a North Korean...

Donga Ilbo on the American Backlash: You’ve read it all here before, but just in case you’re wondering if anyone in Korea has noticed, here is your answer: There are signs of anti-Korean sentiment among Washington D.C. intellectuals. Unprecedented mockery and criticism against Korea has appeared, and anti-Korean sentiment, usually seen among Republicans, is showing signs of spreading to Democrats as well. Even pro-Korean people do not deny the recent spread of anti-Korean sentiment in Washington. I see Hillary Clinton...

As Carlos Mencia would ask, “Why the F*ck Is this News?” Perhaps because this ranks as one of the most significant measurable accomplishments of eight years of appeasing North Korea: WASHINGTON, Oct. 27 (Yonhap) — A group of South and North Korean diplomats had a rare meeting at a restaurant in Washington on Thursday, according to sources. . . . . The diplomats from the two Koreas agreed to make joint efforts for the peaceful solution to the nuclear crisis,...

Hu Jintao is in North Korea, along with his Foreign Minister.

This interview was conducted entirely by e-mail because Norbert moves around so much. I believe he’s been in Pakistan helping earthquake victims there, or had at least been planning to do so with the Korean Medical Assocation, as he did after the Tsunami in January. Unfortunately, my e-mail truncated my last few questions, including the ones where I asked what was about to go down during the Arirang Festival up in the Emerald City. I’ve asked that question, and a...

First, I strongly recommend Andy Jackson’s district-by-district rundown of this week’s bi-elections at The Marmot’s Hole, although I could summarize by saying that, the Uri and DLP lost everywhere they should have won, and also lost everywhere else. Here’s a breakdown of the composition of the new National Assembly: 144 Uri Party (leftist) 127 Grand National Party (conservative) 11 Democratic Party (fmr. Millenium Democratic Party, center-left) 9 Democratic Labor Party (stark-raving pinkos) 3 United Liberal Democrats 5 Independents ———————————————————————- 150...

If this happened, it will cost people their lives. If it was intentional, the person did it should be shot: The personal information of thousands of North Korean defectors living in South Korea has been revealed, hurting their remaining family members in the North, according to a petition filed at the National Human Rights Commission of South Korea. The commission announced on October 27 that Han Chang Gwon (44), the executive director of the Gyorye Missionary Society (a North Korean...

Donga Ilbo on the American Backlash: You’ve read it all here before, but just in case you’re wondering if anyone in Korea has noticed, here is your answer: There are signs of anti-Korean sentiment among Washington D.C. intellectuals. Unprecedented mockery and criticism against Korea has appeared, and anti-Korean sentiment, usually seen among Republicans, is showing signs of spreading to Democrats as well. Even pro-Korean people do not deny the recent spread of anti-Korean sentiment in Washington. I see Hillary Clinton...

As Carlos Mencia would ask, “Why the F*ck Is this News?” Perhaps because this ranks as one of the most significant measurable accomplishments of eight years of appeasing North Korea: WASHINGTON, Oct. 27 (Yonhap) — A group of South and North Korean diplomats had a rare meeting at a restaurant in Washington on Thursday, according to sources. . . . . The diplomats from the two Koreas agreed to make joint efforts for the peaceful solution to the nuclear crisis,...

Hu Jintao is in North Korea, along with his Foreign Minister.

This interview was conducted entirely by e-mail because Norbert moves around so much. I believe he’s been in Pakistan helping earthquake victims there, or had at least been planning to do so with the Korean Medical Assocation, as he did after the Tsunami in January. Unfortunately, my e-mail truncated my last few questions, including the ones where I asked what was about to go down during the Arirang Festival up in the Emerald City. I’ve asked that question, and a...

It Was a Busy Day Today. But you’ll get your money’s worth yet. Check back tomorrow and I’ll have an interview with Norbert Vollertsen up. What he calls his “Germanenglish” needs some edits.

The proper rejoinder to the plaintive whine, “Why do they hate us?” is “Are they nuts?” The Chosun Ilbo is the latest publication to beg the question after attending the international propaganda fiasco known as “Arirang.” In this case, the answer probably has a lot to do with the participants’ sheer terror of making the slightest mistake. The show aims to convince the audience that ruler Kim Jong Il and his late father, Kim Il Sung, have brought peace and...