Too Much Time on Their Hands. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. The South Korean Human Rights Commission is a gathering of busybodies who have too much time on their hands because they’re doing squat to help North Koreans. They’ve taken on the Defense Ministry over Iraq, the Justice Ministry over the death penalty, the Labor Ministry over contract workers, and even the Education Ministry over teachers reading kids’ diaries (which is often how parents and teachers...

“Defector” Update: Some of the S. Korean military guys are in trouble for failing to stop the boat. I honestly have no idea who someone could possibly stop a determined drunk from full-throttling a fishing boat over the NLL. I’m somewhat suspicious (just me talking here) that the government is more upset that the military fired shots and attracted press to the story. When it comes to unauthorized border crossings, the message seems to be, “hold your fire and don’t...

So much for South Korea’s war on prostitution. Things already seem to be unraveling.

LiNK is bringing its message about the suffering of the North Korean people to South Korean universities. The next locale is Ewha Womens’ University, which is only a few blocks from Yonsei University, which has seen more than its share of violence toward the police and anyone opposing the views of those on the radical, pro-North left: University student groups have often been associated with pro-North Korean activity, and observers noted it is unique that a student government is sponsoring...

It’s starting to look like it will be a long, hot summer in rural China. And the tinder is already very dry. A Chinese village has become a tourist attraction after residents fought a pitched battle with police, who retreated after dozens were injured. Local residents say the riots started after police manhandled a group of elderly women protesting at pollution caused by local chemical plants. The unrest is one of a series of recent outbursts of frustration and anger...

Self-explanatory.

The Korea Herald prints this reassuring quotation from an international media mogul: North Korea is just using this (nuclear ambition) as a tactic to get (attention). I don’t think this is something serious . . . . Let’s suppose Iran or any country own one hundred atomic bombs. Can North Korea use it? Can India or Pakistan use it? No. . . . There is no question that these nuclear weapons have become obsolete [because of the likelihood of retaliation]....

The Korea Herald prints this reassuring quotation from an international media mogul: North Korea is just using this (nuclear ambition) as a tactic to get (attention). I don’t think this is something serious . . . . Let’s suppose Iran or any country own one hundred atomic bombs. Can North Korea use it? Can India or Pakistan use it? No. . . . There is no question that these nuclear weapons have become obsolete [because of the likelihood of retaliation]....

The idea behind the PSI was to interdict North Korea’s trade in weapons and dope, but few would doubt that another purpose is to crimp the regime’s foreign exchange receipts. Yet even while the Bush administration has yet to go full-tilt on PSI enforcement, North Korea seems to be doing a fine job of crimping its own foreign trade by losing ships at an alarming rate. They’ve already lost two in the last week alone. First, from off the Chinese...

The idea behind the PSI was to interdict North Korea’s trade in weapons and dope, but few would doubt that another purpose is to crimp the regime’s foreign exchange receipts. Yet even while the Bush administration has yet to go full-tilt on PSI enforcement, North Korea seems to be doing a fine job of crimping its own foreign trade by losing ships at an alarming rate. They’ve already lost two in the last week alone. First, from off the Chinese...

Growing Unrest in China: Publius has the goods. That may explain why they’re suddenly talking about human rights (while continuing their repression). Or why they’re pulling tired stunts like this. UPDATE: The anti-government rioting near Shanghai appears to have gotten much worse, revealing the depths of popular hatred of the government. The New York Times reports: There were conflicting reports about injuries, and Mr. Lu said two elderly women among the protesters had been gravely injured after being run over...

UPDATE: Looks like I was wrong. It appears to be the act of a lone drunk who opted for the Workers’ Paradise. That’s going to be some hangover. ORIGINAL POST: The Chosun Ilbo calls it a defection, but without knowing more than what’s in the article, I’d say a more likely theory is that some North Korean infiltrators were on their way home. South Korean coastal border guards fired some 20 warning shots from a 60 mm mortar, 106 mm...

Growing Unrest in China: Publius has the goods. That may explain why they’re suddenly talking about human rights (while continuing their repression). Or why they’re pulling tired stunts like this. UPDATE: The anti-government rioting near Shanghai appears to have gotten much worse, revealing the depths of popular hatred of the government. The New York Times reports: There were conflicting reports about injuries, and Mr. Lu said two elderly women among the protesters had been gravely injured after being run over...

UPDATE: Looks like I was wrong. It appears to be the act of a lone drunk who opted for the Workers’ Paradise. That’s going to be some hangover. ORIGINAL POST: The Chosun Ilbo calls it a defection, but without knowing more than what’s in the article, I’d say a more likely theory is that some North Korean infiltrators were on their way home. South Korean coastal border guards fired some 20 warning shots from a 60 mm mortar, 106 mm...

All I can really say is, uhhhhhhh: Korea and the U.S. have decided to divide the future security environment on the Korean Peninsula into three or four levels including full unification and use them to draw up a new blueprint for their military alliance. The Defense Ministry said Monday the two nations agreed to the plan in principle. Pending confirmation, the levels include “reconciliation and cooperation”, “peace and coexistence” and “unification.” The new-look military alliance will be unveiled by the...

Human Rights Legislation Update: A slender hope for a watered-down human rights law in South Korea. I suppose the perfect is the enemy of the good. Momentum certainly isn’t going North Korea’s way right now.

Remember this? Well, guess who’s stinking up the place now. Either we’ll soon see environmentalist demonstrators in front of the Blue House, or another transparent excuse for America hatred is revealed for what it is.

All I can really say is, uhhhhhhh: Korea and the U.S. have decided to divide the future security environment on the Korean Peninsula into three or four levels including full unification and use them to draw up a new blueprint for their military alliance. The Defense Ministry said Monday the two nations agreed to the plan in principle. Pending confirmation, the levels include “reconciliation and cooperation”, “peace and coexistence” and “unification.” The new-look military alliance will be unveiled by the...