Japan is still mulling over sanctions against North Korea, but its own debate appears to be moving in a more productive direction: human rights legislation. As I previously explained here, this would represent a major shift in Japanese politics and in international momentum against North Korea. South Korea, for its part, is allowing North Korea’s latest round of atrocious behavior to damage its relations with Japan. Meanwhile, the Korea Herald is clucking its tongue over saving the six-party talks and...

Japan is still mulling over sanctions against North Korea, but its own debate appears to be moving in a more productive direction: human rights legislation. As I previously explained here, this would represent a major shift in Japanese politics and in international momentum against North Korea. South Korea, for its part, is allowing North Korea’s latest round of atrocious behavior to damage its relations with Japan. Meanwhile, the Korea Herald is clucking its tongue over saving the six-party talks and...

Those who believe in schemes to turn North Korea’s slave labor into the next gold mine for global capital’s deviant moral fringe should take note of this TimeAsia report: Doing business in Burma has often cost American companies p.r. points: Pepsi, Apple Computer and Levi Strauss are just a few of the U.S. firms that pulled out of the military-ruled state after being pressured by human-rights groups. Now, however, doing business with regimes like the one in Rangoon may cost...

They’re actually contemplating ways to deny North Koreans refuge in the South, while denying South Koreans who assist the refugees travel papers to leave the country. Have they the slightest concern for the shame with which they will be remembered? I’d also add that Norbert Vollertsen called this one a month ago. This isn’t the first time he’s had the goods before they were printed anywhere else. He obviously has good sources. This inclines me to post his leaks, since...

I had much to blog this weekend, but the flu had other plans for me. This was no ordinary flu. This was a tossing, sweating, clogged-up assault on every nerve ending in the body, the kind that makes you feel as if your pillow is bruising your face. I’m somewhat better today, although this bug seems to specialize in false recoveries. Thanks in advance for any good wishes. I will leave you with just a few thoughts before I lay...

They’re actually contemplating ways to deny North Koreans refuge in the South, while denying South Koreans who assist the refugees travel papers to leave the country. Have they the slightest concern for the shame with which they will be remembered? I’d also add that Norbert Vollertsen called this one a month ago. This isn’t the first time he’s had the goods before they were printed anywhere else. He obviously has good sources. This inclines me to post his leaks, since...

I had much to blog this weekend, but the flu had other plans for me. This was no ordinary flu. This was a tossing, sweating, clogged-up assault on every nerve ending in the body, the kind that makes you feel as if your pillow is bruising your face. I’m somewhat better today, although this bug seems to specialize in false recoveries. Thanks in advance for any good wishes. I will leave you with just a few thoughts before I lay...

I had much to blog this weekend, but the flu had other plans for me. This was no ordinary flu. This was a tossing, sweating, clogged-up assault on every nerve ending in the body, the kind that makes you feel as if your pillow is bruising your face. I’m somewhat better today, although this bug seems to specialize in false recoveries. Thanks in advance for any good wishes. I will leave you with just a few thoughts before I lay...

Meanwhile, South Korea shows its complete unseriousness about getting back its abducted citizens, human rights, or nukes by cutting ribbons and issuing letters of credit. One can’t be bothered with trivial matters when there’s money to be made. The South Korean position, of course, is that it cares about these people, wants to bring them home, but will get them back when trade has liberalized the North. This is a transparent lie. South Koreans are apparently willing to accept that...

South Korea has charged a South Korean man for conspiring to help North Korean agents kidnap Kim Dong-Shik in China, where he was helping North Korean refugees. The essential facts have been known for years, but the evidence recently and inexplicably became impossible to ignore. It may be perfectly true, as this article suggests, that a North Korean spy caught posing as a defector led to the big break in the case. Could Korea’s inferiority complex about Japan also be...

Meanwhile, South Korea shows its complete unseriousness about getting back its abducted citizens, human rights, or nukes by cutting ribbons and issuing letters of credit. One can’t be bothered with trivial matters when there’s money to be made. The South Korean position, of course, is that it cares about these people, wants to bring them home, but will get them back when trade has liberalized the North. This is a transparent lie. South Koreans are apparently willing to accept that...

South Korea has charged a South Korean man for conspiring to help North Korean agents kidnap Kim Dong-Shik in China, where he was helping North Korean refugees. The essential facts have been known for years, but the evidence recently and inexplicably became impossible to ignore. It may be perfectly true, as this article suggests, that a North Korean spy caught posing as a defector led to the big break in the case. Could Korea’s inferiority complex about Japan also be...

South Korea has charged a South Korean man for conspiring to help North Korean agents kidnap Kim Dong-Shik in China, where he was helping North Korean refugees. The essential facts have been known for years, but the evidence recently and inexplicably became impossible to ignore. It may be perfectly true, as this article suggests, that a North Korean spy caught posing as a defector led to the big break in the case. Could Korea’s inferiority complex about Japan also be...

That much was a given after the events of last week. It’s astonishing that the issue of sanctions is still an issue at all. UPDATE: Here’s your “hostile policy” update. Cry “wolf,” and eventually the world will disbelieve you. Cry “war,” and they open their checkbooks. The North Koreans are clearly on to something.

China was also considerate enough to soften the blow from the Eberstadt interview by behaving in a way the Chosun called “hegemonic.” They’ve certainly been giving the members of the Assembly a lot of warnings lately. As if they expect to be in a position to take retribution.

It’s all a CIA smear campaign–as John Lovitz used to say, that’s the ticket! Much more here. How unfortunate for them that the Chinese appear to be in on it, too.

That much was a given after the events of last week. It’s astonishing that the issue of sanctions is still an issue at all. UPDATE: Here’s your “hostile policy” update. Cry “wolf,” and eventually the world will disbelieve you. Cry “war,” and they open their checkbooks. The North Koreans are clearly on to something.

China was also considerate enough to soften the blow from the Eberstadt interview by behaving in a way the Chosun called “hegemonic.” They’ve certainly been giving the members of the Assembly a lot of warnings lately. As if they expect to be in a position to take retribution.