Someone was conspicuously absent from his own party, at least judging by press reports so far. Yes, for some time now, we’ve been wondering who would appear on the reviewing stand to wave stolidly at the missile trucks. So here’s one theory we can’t quite put to rest just yet. Oh, and in addition to spending millions on nuclear weapons, the world’s fifth-largest army, and a lavish celebration for a guy who might not even be in charge any more,...

After all this, where exactly has the Please Don’t Hurt Me, Just Take My Wallet Sunshine Policy gotten South Korea? As Dave at No Illusions has noticed, South Korea still can’t even claim to have a direct channel of communication with Pyongyang. It must be hard to get the lean, hungry barbarians to the North to take you seriously when you’re a decadent, soft-eyed milquetoast with ‘nads of Nerf and a loose wallet. What else has appeasement not accomplished? Disarmament....

After all this, where exactly has the Please Don’t Hurt Me, Just Take My Wallet Sunshine Policy gotten South Korea? As Dave at No Illusions has noticed, South Korea still can’t even claim to have a direct channel of communication with Pyongyang. It must be hard to get the lean, hungry barbarians to the North to take you seriously when you’re a decadent, soft-eyed milquetoast with ‘nads of Nerf and a loose wallet. What else has appeasement not accomplished? Disarmament....

The Joongang Ilbo reports that Congressmen Tom Lantos and Frank Wolf are working on a new bill that will “End Dictatorship and Assist Democracy.” From where I sit in Northwest, I can see eyes rolling all the way from Georgetown to Foggy Bottom. I will try to get you some details. I don’t yet know whether the bill will be merely symbolic or will have real consequences for the targeted dictatorships, but I have come to believe that in the...

The Joongang Ilbo reports that Congressmen Tom Lantos and Frank Wolf are working on a new bill that will “End Dictatorship and Assist Democracy.” From where I sit in Northwest, I can see eyes rolling all the way from Georgetown to Foggy Bottom. I will try to get you some details. I don’t yet know whether the bill will be merely symbolic or will have real consequences for the targeted dictatorships, but I have come to believe that in the...

NYT story here. Ban Ki-Moon is telling Condi Rice that North Korea might be bluffing about its nukes. Sure, they might be–I personally don’t believe most of what North Korea says–but given the North’s chosen absence of transparency, at some point we have to make assumptions for strategic purposes. Ban wants us to assume the best, notwithstanding the fact that the evidence points in the other direction. Bits and pieces of evidence that help us make that assumption include a...

A Fresh New Idea from Seoul: I know! Let’s give them more money! If only I’d thought of that . . . .

This certainly doesn’t look very encouraging: – Will your criminal record for tax evasion hinder your diplomatic activity? “That is a tough question. I’ve never heard anything from the United States. It is a relief to me that I was appointed ambassador by the [progressive] Roh administration, the successor to the Kim Dae-jung administration [which indicted him]. It means that my punishment for tax evasion in 1999 could be viewed from another perspective.” Note that this guy wants to be...

NYT story here. Ban Ki-Moon is telling Condi Rice that North Korea might be bluffing about its nukes. Sure, they might be–I personally don’t believe most of what North Korea says–but given the North’s chosen absence of transparency, at some point we have to make assumptions for strategic purposes. Ban wants us to assume the best, notwithstanding the fact that the evidence points in the other direction. Bits and pieces of evidence that help us make that assumption include a...

A Fresh New Idea from Seoul: I know! Let’s give them more money! If only I’d thought of that . . . .

This certainly doesn’t look very encouraging: – Will your criminal record for tax evasion hinder your diplomatic activity? “That is a tough question. I’ve never heard anything from the United States. It is a relief to me that I was appointed ambassador by the [progressive] Roh administration, the successor to the Kim Dae-jung administration [which indicted him]. It means that my punishment for tax evasion in 1999 could be viewed from another perspective.” Note that this guy wants to be...

Manning the Post: My roundup of the emerging economic strategy against North Korea is here, on The Command Post. The essential facts have been blogged on NKZone, so I’m not sure whether I’ll post it there, too.

Manning the Post: My roundup of the emerging economic strategy against North Korea is here, on The Command Post. The essential facts have been blogged on NKZone, so I’m not sure whether I’ll post it there, too.

North Korea Issues Even More Demands! . . . Kim Jong-Il, today announced that unless the United States meets his demands he would turn his own country into a “lake of fire” using those weapons. The demands include a non-aggression treaty with the United States, an end to economic sanctions and a massive influx of tobacco, alcohol and DVDs of newly-released Hollywood movies. U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said, “the Security Council will seriously consider the DPRK’s grievances and vote soon...

North Korea Issues Even More Demands! . . . Kim Jong-Il, today announced that unless the United States meets his demands he would turn his own country into a “lake of fire” using those weapons. The demands include a non-aggression treaty with the United States, an end to economic sanctions and a massive influx of tobacco, alcohol and DVDs of newly-released Hollywood movies. U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said, “the Security Council will seriously consider the DPRK’s grievances and vote soon...

Guess Who’s Unilateral Now?

Unsolicited Advice for Roh Moo-Hyun: For the love of G-d, shut up before you squander your last thimblefull of credibility.

In the wake of the recent news that Japan has imposed economic sanctions in the disguise of a new insurance requirement for incoming ships, the United States is also looking for ways to amplify the shock. The New York Times reports: In the months before North Korea announced that it possessed nuclear weapons, the Bush administration began developing new strategies to choke off its few remaining sources of income, based on techniques in use against Al Qaeda, intelligence officials and...