Search Results for: border

Where could such a theory–“impenetrably dense” as it may be–have a better proving ground than a nation governed with all of the meritocratic efficiency of Maoism and the compassion of a Mandarin landlord. The Chinese people are awakening to the Communist Party’s transformation from jailer and executioner to jailer, executioner, and exploiter, with party bosses often ending up with controlling interests in the state-owned enterprises in their districts. Those bosses, without accountability to either voters or unions, are free to...

Where could such a theory–“impenetrably dense” as it may be–have a better proving ground than a nation governed with all of the meritocratic efficiency of Maoism and the compassion of a Mandarin landlord. The Chinese people are awakening to the Communist Party’s transformation from jailer and executioner to jailer, executioner, and exploiter, with party bosses often ending up with controlling interests in the state-owned enterprises in their districts. Those bosses, without accountability to either voters or unions, are free to...

Where could such a theory–“impenetrably dense” as it may be–have a better proving ground than a nation governed with all of the meritocratic efficiency of Maoism and the compassion of a Mandarin landlord. The Chinese people are awakening to the Communist Party’s transformation from jailer and executioner to jailer, executioner, and exploiter, with party bosses often ending up with controlling interests in the state-owned enterprises in their districts. Those bosses, without accountability to either voters or unions, are free to...

This week’s must-read is the Chosun‘s story about how cell phones are breaking the information blockade around North Korea. The regime’s crackdown on cell phones hasn’t overcome the strong family ties inherent in Korea’s culture, and it hasn’t stopped North and South Koreans from wanting to talk to their relatives across the DMZ: As Lee talked to his brother for the first time in 50 years over a crackling line, he couldn’t stem the flood of tears. Inter-Korean projects to...

Much news today on defectors. The Marmot’s (least-) favorite newspaper, the Sankei Shimbun, reports that North Korea is rounding up potential defectors in the future liberated zones border regions near China. Those who managed to get into foreign embassies and consulates last month are still filtering out of China through fourth countries. It turns out the U.N. has a special rapporteur on human rights in North Korea, and if he existed before today, it was because I never heard one...

This week’s must-read is the Chosun‘s story about how cell phones are breaking the information blockade around North Korea. The regime’s crackdown on cell phones hasn’t overcome the strong family ties inherent in Korea’s culture, and it hasn’t stopped North and South Koreans from wanting to talk to their relatives across the DMZ: As Lee talked to his brother for the first time in 50 years over a crackling line, he couldn’t stem the flood of tears. Inter-Korean projects to...

Much news today on defectors. The Marmot’s (least-) favorite newspaper, the Sankei Shimbun, reports that North Korea is rounding up potential defectors in the future liberated zones border regions near China. Those who managed to get into foreign embassies and consulates last month are still filtering out of China through fourth countries. It turns out the U.N. has a special rapporteur on human rights in North Korea, and if he existed before today, it was because I never heard one...

Here is today’s list of unsubstantiated rumors and CIA disinformation about North Korea. Always happy to pass those along, in addition to chucking a little more gasoline onto the stove burners. First entry: In a sign of investor concern about North Korea, rumors swirled in financial markets in Tokyo and Seoul that leader Kim Jong-il had been shot dead. But a diplomat in Pyongyang said nothing out of the ordinary seemed to be happening, a view shared by a Japanese...

Well, this wasn’t exactly what I had in mind, given that it’s not actually inside North Korea, but it’s interesting: South Korea’s JoongAng Ilbo newspaper today cited unidentified Washington officials as saying about 10,000 Chinese troops were preparing for a prolonged stay along the North Korean border. China, for its part, is furiously denying everything: ‘Such a report is completely groundless and unreasonable,’ Wu Dawei, vice minister of foreign affairs, said at a briefing in Beijing today. ‘After reading this...

Well, this wasn’t exactly what I had in mind, given that it’s not actually inside North Korea, but it’s interesting: South Korea’s JoongAng Ilbo newspaper today cited unidentified Washington officials as saying about 10,000 Chinese troops were preparing for a prolonged stay along the North Korean border. China, for its part, is furiously denying everything: ‘Such a report is completely groundless and unreasonable,’ Wu Dawei, vice minister of foreign affairs, said at a briefing in Beijing today. ‘After reading this...

The Korea Herald reports that Pyongyang is growing increasingly desperate in its struggle to maintain control: [Yoo Ho-yeol, a professor of North Korean Studies at Korea University] also said Pyongyang has recently bolstered its border patrols to stop North Korean defectors from crossing into China, which could be a sign the regime has begun to perceive threats to its once iron-fisted rule. The action, he said, was a stark contrast to Pyongyang’s past negligence about controlling defectors because it knew...

The Korea Herald reports that Pyongyang is growing increasingly desperate in its struggle to maintain control: [Yoo Ho-yeol, a professor of North Korean Studies at Korea University] also said Pyongyang has recently bolstered its border patrols to stop North Korean defectors from crossing into China, which could be a sign the regime has begun to perceive threats to its once iron-fisted rule. The action, he said, was a stark contrast to Pyongyang’s past negligence about controlling defectors because it knew...

Whatever you call that particular body of water, interesting things are afloat on its troubled surface. James Brooke has this fascinating piece in the NYT, and it’s jam-packed with interesting tidbits about things that really matter: “We are sending a signal to everybody who wants to traffic weapons of mass destruction that we have zero tolerance for that, ” John R. Bolton, United States Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, told a group of 50 reporters standing...

Whatever you call that particular body of water, interesting things are afloat on its troubled surface. James Brooke has this fascinating piece in the NYT, and it’s jam-packed with interesting tidbits about things that really matter: “We are sending a signal to everybody who wants to traffic weapons of mass destruction that we have zero tolerance for that, ” John R. Bolton, United States Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, told a group of 50 reporters standing...

The NKHRA Makes Waves Korean press reaction to Bush’s signing of the NKHRA here, and the Unification Minister’s futile two cents’ worth of regret here. Now, the GNP (Grand National Party, South Korea’s “conservative” opposition) wants to get into the act. So they finally found their voice, now that the song is half over. And it’s a dirge. Meanwhile, the spigot on North Korean emigration has loosened another half-turn with only the second known successful defection by sea: Two North...

The NKHRA Makes Waves Korean press reaction to Bush’s signing of the NKHRA here, and the Unification Minister’s futile two cents’ worth of regret here. Now, the GNP (Grand National Party, South Korea’s “conservative” opposition) wants to get into the act. So they finally found their voice, now that the song is half over. And it’s a dirge. Meanwhile, the spigot on North Korean emigration has loosened another half-turn with only the second known successful defection by sea: Two North...

The NKHRA Makes Waves Korean press reaction to Bush’s signing of the NKHRA here, and the Unification Minister’s futile two cents’ worth of regret here. Now, the GNP (Grand National Party, South Korea’s “conservative” opposition) wants to get into the act. So they finally found their voice, now that the song is half over. And it’s a dirge. Meanwhile, the spigot on North Korean emigration has loosened another half-turn with only the second known successful defection by sea: Two North...

Soon Ok-Lee has a new Web site up. This one is a must-see. Beautifully presented, tasteful, moving. Check it out.