It’s probably too late to save these people. Just remember them when China talks about its interest in the “stability of the region” and the sanctity of its territory. China has forfeited its moral case for those interests by consigning the North Korean people to a brutal fate. Perhaps they’ll realize this when some North Koreans turn to violence against the Chinese authorities, a result that’s probably inevitable now. China has brought that result on itself by depriving these refugees...

Barry Briggs has a fascinating post up at NKZone, quoting a reprint of a Der Spiegel article in the New York Times. I’ve long believed that the solution to the North Korean nuclear and humanitarian crises must come in the form of North Koreans themselves terminating the Kim dynasty, whether through a coup, a protracted guerrilla campain, or a combination of both with U.S. support. This article is a tantalizing new piece of evidence to support the fragmentary reports of...

[Update, 5/06: Having the benefit of somewhat more knowledge now, I can no longer deny that some of Norbert’s rhetoric and the tactics he seems to advocate go over the line, could endanger unjustifiably endanger people, and could ultimately prove to be counterproductive to the greater cause of helping the North Korean people. I believe Norbert’s heart is in the right place, and hope he will see that many of those he helped inspire — myself included — are prevailing...

She might just have a tazer. Given all of the abuse these women undoubtedly put up with, it’s yet another reason not to let go of your Hegelian vision of a just world tomorrow. If that won’t depress trans-Pacific soju sales, I don’t know what will.

NORTH KOREAN HOLOCAUST EXHIBITION NATIONAL ASSEMBLY BUILDING, YOIDO, SEOUL NOVEMBER 8, 9, & 10, 9 a.m. ““ 6 p.m. The North Korean Holocaust Exhibition will include a special Panel Presentations and discussions with North Korean refugees, politicians and human rights activists. The U.S. Defense Forum Foundation, Citizens Alliance for North Korean Human Rights, the Democracy Network Against the North Korean Gulag, and Helping Hands Korea, will Sponsor and moderate panels as part of the North Korea Holocaust Exhibit. Many other...

The Marmot has a post that’s quite critical of Norbert Vollertsen and some of his fiery calls to action against Roh Moo-Hyun. Since it’s been a long time since I had to defend a difficult client, I will instead take on the difficult task of defending a man who is trying to do good in a world where apathy enables evil to operate unmolested. You may disagree with Norbert’s methods, but you can’t deny that he’s such a man. The...

Chris at freenorthkorea.net has announced that he’s ending his blog. He cites some perfectly good personal reasons for doing this–his job search and family priorities–but he also cites nasty comments and the sheer time consumption as another part of the reason. I understand bloggers’ fatigue, which also took away The Rathbone Press, another favorite. I have considered limiting my efforts to my writings at NKZone, too, but always had too many opinions that we just not appropriate for that site....

She might just have a tazer. Given all of the abuse these women undoubtedly put up with, it’s yet another reason not to let go of your Hegelian vision of a just world tomorrow. If that won’t depress trans-Pacific soju sales, I don’t know what will.

NORTH KOREAN HOLOCAUST EXHIBITION NATIONAL ASSEMBLY BUILDING, YOIDO, SEOUL NOVEMBER 8, 9, & 10, 9 a.m. ““ 6 p.m. The North Korean Holocaust Exhibition will include a special Panel Presentations and discussions with North Korean refugees, politicians and human rights activists. The U.S. Defense Forum Foundation, Citizens Alliance for North Korean Human Rights, the Democracy Network Against the North Korean Gulag, and Helping Hands Korea, will Sponsor and moderate panels as part of the North Korea Holocaust Exhibit. Many other...

Chris at freenorthkorea.net has announced that he’s ending his blog. He cites some perfectly good personal reasons for doing this–his job search and family priorities–but he also cites nasty comments and the sheer time consumption as another part of the reason. I understand bloggers’ fatigue, which also took away The Rathbone Press, another favorite. I have considered limiting my efforts to my writings at NKZone, too, but always had too many opinions that we just not appropriate for that site....

Remember 1994, when Newt Gingrich became so intoxicated with victory that he went on CNN to give a long Castro-ratory harangue, promising to put the Internet in every home and all the unwashed urchins in orphanages? True, an orphanage is probably better than a meth lab, but the details of Newt’s plan got lost in the reporting, and there was enough of a backlash to cost Republicans the Senate. Americans get scared when people start promising to “expend political capital”...

Remember 1994, when Newt Gingrich became so intoxicated with victory that he went on CNN to give a long Castro-ratory harangue, promising to put the Internet in every home and all the unwashed urchins in orphanages? True, an orphanage is probably better than a meth lab, but the details of Newt’s plan got lost in the reporting, and there was enough of a backlash to cost Republicans the Senate. Americans get scared when people start promising to “expend political capital”...

Is America catching on to what it didn’t last year: that the establishment of order is the key to waging a successful political struggle? Right behind the forces about to retake Fallujah are a shadow government, police to protect them, and loads of reconstruction money. One wonders why we didn’t do this in Baghdad. Rumsfeld had trained thousands of Iraqi paramilitaries, but they were led by Ahmad Chalabi, whom the CIA and State Department despised. There was no excuse for...

Agony in Paris, Toronto, Ramallah, Berlin, and a lot of other places full of people who don’t actually live in America (thus explaining their lack of urgency about protecting it). Agony that we have failed to fulfill their fondest wishes by destroying ourselves. Then they have the gall to pretend they are our allies and friends. Friends who are always there when they need you. France hasn’t been America’s friend since . . . the last time it needed us....

What I wouldn’t give right now for closed-circuit video of Michael Moore on the ledge, with Al Franken trying to lure him back inside with some Boston Market takeout. Hey Michael–you’ll make a smaller crater if you pick a lower floor! Ok, that was a little harsh. . . . Or not. Take a look at this. I’ve never seen a more revolting exploitation of dead heroes for a cause those heroes would undoubtedly have despised.

Here’s The Guardian’s lament for a country it pretends not to have always hated. Those outside America, in the chanceries of Europe and beyond, who hoped that this would be a passing phase, like a Florida hurricane that wreaks havoc only to blow over, will instead have to adjust to a different reality. Don’t you just hate how arrogant those Yanks are? Would it be possible to load more Euro-sneer into a single sentence? We all know how funny hurricanes...

Is America catching on to what it didn’t last year: that the establishment of order is the key to waging a successful political struggle? Right behind the forces about to retake Fallujah are a shadow government, police to protect them, and loads of reconstruction money. One wonders why we didn’t do this in Baghdad. Rumsfeld had trained thousands of Iraqi paramilitaries, but they were led by Ahmad Chalabi, whom the CIA and State Department despised. There was no excuse for...

Agony in Paris, Toronto, Ramallah, Berlin, and a lot of other places full of people who don’t actually live in America (thus explaining their lack of urgency about protecting it). Agony that we have failed to fulfill their fondest wishes by destroying ourselves. Then they have the gall to pretend they are our allies and friends. Friends who are always there when they need you. France hasn’t been America’s friend since . . . the last time it needed us....