The real news from the Roh-Bush meeting is starting to surface, after both administrations’ admirable job of slathering over all of the actual news with diplospeak. For the most part, this story seems to have gotten it right: Roh gets one more chance to convince KJI to come back to the table and negotiate in good faith. There may have been some ancillary agreements, too. Thus far, neither side is engaging in leaky angst to try to sabotage whatever deal...

I’ve never considered myself a great fan of Brookings or Michael O’Hanlon, but I may need to reassess my thinking. His comment in today’s Washington Times is one of the more insightful things I’ve seen in the last five years. Has O’Hanlon migrated as much as I suspect? We should test North Korea’s willingness to reform economically and even politically, Vietnam-style. If Pyongyang proved willing to do so, the United States and its allies could help — for instance, aiding...

Has it really been five years? Ask anyone who’s gotten married, had two kids, changed jobs, changed continents, cars (twice), and homes (four times) during the same period and that person may agree that it can seem like both an instant and an eternity. But it’s a very long time for such a bold and dramatic diplomatic initiative to have accomplished so little. I’ll let those neocons at the BBC summarize: But the BBC’s Charles Scanlon in Seoul says much...

I’ve never considered myself a great fan of Brookings or Michael O’Hanlon, but I may need to reassess my thinking. His comment in today’s Washington Times is one of the more insightful things I’ve seen in the last five years. Has O’Hanlon migrated as much as I suspect? We should test North Korea’s willingness to reform economically and even politically, Vietnam-style. If Pyongyang proved willing to do so, the United States and its allies could help — for instance, aiding...

I’ve never considered myself a great fan of Brookings or Michael O’Hanlon, but I may need to reassess my thinking. His comment in today’s Washington Times is one of the more insightful things I’ve seen in the last five years. Has O’Hanlon migrated as much as I suspect? We should test North Korea’s willingness to reform economically and even politically, Vietnam-style. If Pyongyang proved willing to do so, the United States and its allies could help — for instance, aiding...

Has it really been five years? Ask anyone who’s gotten married, had two kids, changed jobs, changed continents, cars (twice), and homes (four times) during the same period and that person may agree that it can seem like both an instant and an eternity. But it’s a very long time for such a bold and dramatic diplomatic initiative to have accomplished so little. I’ll let those neocons at the BBC summarize: But the BBC’s Charles Scanlon in Seoul says much...

China Update. Roger L. Simon is accusing Microsoft of helping China to suppress dissent on-line, even helping it to filter out any discussion of “democracy.” I’d like to know what Bill Gates has to say about this. Mark Steyn thinks all of China’s control-freakery will prevent it from becoming the next great world power.

Regime Change Iran has more here, with pictures here and here. This is certainly a more encouraging development than bombings. Iran has such a well developed dissident movement that a concerted protest seemingly has the potential to topple the government Romania / Ukraine style. Violence not only seems unnecessary, it could only play into the hands of mullahs who want excuses to crack down and intimidate the opposition in advance of its next round of rigged elections. Those elections could...

China Update. Roger L. Simon is accusing Microsoft of helping China to suppress dissent on-line, even helping it to filter out any discussion of “democracy.” I’d like to know what Bill Gates has to say about this. Mark Steyn thinks all of China’s control-freakery will prevent it from becoming the next great world power.

Regime Change Iran has more here, with pictures here and here. This is certainly a more encouraging development than bombings. Iran has such a well developed dissident movement that a concerted protest seemingly has the potential to topple the government Romania / Ukraine style. Violence not only seems unnecessary, it could only play into the hands of mullahs who want excuses to crack down and intimidate the opposition in advance of its next round of rigged elections. Those elections could...

A more detailed read of the coverage of the Bush-Roh meet confirms my original impression: nothing of much interest was reported at the time. In the coming days, we may learn more. I pity the journalists who had to try to find comment among the bromides and pablum that presidents and their staffs emit during press conferences, so take my cynicism for what it is–cheap and easy. Easiest Story to Have Written Last Week: The Associated Press, via Fox. You...

Welcome new readers from the Dean Esmay and R.J. Rummel blogs. Thanks to both Dean and R.J. for the links.

“It will be fascinating for us and for our audiences to see what life is like there and try to get a snapshot of everyday existence inside North Korea,” [ABC News president] David Westin said. ABC News has now aired its series of reports from inside North Korea, and I waited until I’d seen them before I made up my mind. Having fought my way through the wretched, insufferable, life-sucking crap-tangle known as Real Networks to see the reports, I...

Welcome new readers from the Dean Esmay and R.J. Rummel blogs. Thanks to both Dean and R.J. for the links.

More criticism for South Korean central planning, which has not yet done the wonders that North Korean central planning has done. The Economist is on a tear against the government’s “outdated” economic policies. The Chosun Ilbo sounds miffed, like a vain actress reading a bad review.

“It will be fascinating for us and for our audiences to see what life is like there and try to get a snapshot of everyday existence inside North Korea,” [ABC News president] David Westin said. ABC News has now aired its series of reports from inside North Korea, and I waited until I’d seen them before I made up my mind. Having fought my way through the wretched, insufferable, life-sucking crap-tangle known as Real Networks to see the reports, I...

“It will be fascinating for us and for our audiences to see what life is like there and try to get a snapshot of everyday existence inside North Korea,” [ABC News president] David Westin said. ABC News has now aired its series of reports from inside North Korea, and I waited until I’d seen them before I made up my mind. Having fought my way through the wretched, insufferable, life-sucking crap-tangle known as Real Networks to see the reports, I...

Today is petting zoo day (no, not this petting zoo), so blogging time is constrained for now. I was going through all of the relevant coverage of the Bush-Roh meet, was reading through Bush’s brief welcoming statement, and what do I see? It’s my honor to welcome the President of our very close ally to the Oval Office. I’ll have a statement; the President will have a statement. Then I’ll answer two questions from the American press. I first want...