Fine Dining in Pyongyang

In the vein of travel-related posts, I saw this article a while ago, and it really surprised me. For a society with such food problems, I don't think gourmet is really where the DPRK needs to go.

North Korea Wages War on Long Hair

The government of North Korea has launched a series of television public service announcements called "Let Us Trim Our Hair In Accordance With Socialist Lifestyle!"

More Sabre Rattling?

Wide awake at this wee hour in the morning and saw this article just pop on the screen while browsing reuters.com. Supposedly satellite imagery has revelead that the DPRK is resuming contruction on two reactors in Yongbyon andThaechon. This is an interesting move given all the talk about a possible North Korean return to the Six-Party Discussion table.

http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2005-06-30T070341Z_01_N30506403_RTRIDST_0_NEWS-KOREA-NORTH-REACTORS-DC.XML

US Commander in SK says US can repel any NK attack

Here's a Reuters report about an interview that the commander of US forces in South Korea gave yesterday. He reiterates that US and SK forces can repel any potential attack NK may launch, regardless whether Pyongyang has nukes. He says he believes NK has at least 2 nukes.

"Tourism with a Korean Twist"

Tourism is the biggest industry in the world today. Can the North Koreans make it work for them?

A brief history

North Korean Animation

"North Korea has been winning the heart of animators across the world with its competitive quality and low production costs."

Is it possible that North Korea can develop a globally competitive industry after all?

This Washington Post Article discusses a possible new Presidential Executive Order that could assist in halting the spread of WMD materials and technology. Hoping to be signed by President Bush before his upcoming G-8 Summit in Scotland, the new Order seeks to freeze the assets of proliferators and prohibiting Americans from engaging in transactions with them. These proliferators are eight companies, three of which are located in North Korea. The rest are Iranian, and Syrian. This resembles the measures taken after the 9-11 of attacks by freezing certain assets of individuals. This Order would go even further and affect even foreign banks that do buisness with those eight companies targeted. Seems like the President needs to sign this in order to bring it up at the G-8 Summit. North Korea WMD proliferation should definately be included for an issue of discussion.

Regional News: Sino-Japanese Dispute Heats Up Again

This isn't a North Korea-specific item but it is a regional issue worth highlighting.

If you'll recall earlier this spring, there were massive demonstrations between China and Japan over the depiction of Japanese history toward China in Japanese textbooks. Although, it should be remembered, this was actually just a Chinese proxy war over Japan's pursuit of a seat on the proposed enlargement of the UNSC. After a few months of relative quiet on this issue it has arisen again.

What are the implications for NK? It seems highly unlikely the Sino-Japanese dispute will escalate far beyond what it is now so it would appear the direct effect on Pyongyang would be negligible, if anything at all. Of course, any instability in Northeast Asia is never good for anyone, including NK.

Anyone have any thoughts?

"Grand Bargain"

Today Prof Larsen suggested three possibile ways Bush could deal w/ the DPRK during his second administration. One of the ways he suggested was the grand bargain but said that it was unlikely because the US is too worried that N. Korea might say no. It seems to me that, IF Kim Jong-Il could keep his word, this would be the best way to deal with North Korea. Instead of officially suggesting it, we could test the waters through unofficial channels (have low level state deptartment bureaucrats meet with their equivalents in North Korea. Then, the North Koreans could take it back to Kim Jong Il and have him suggest it. Once he does, Bush could agree to it. That way we save face if he says no, AND it greatly helps Kim's propaganda efforts (esp if the US appologizes for all the pain and strife it caused since the 19th century...though I think we'd have to do what we did when the Chinese shot down our spy plane back in 2001; appologize without actually appologizing) because he is able to show his people that he once again defeated America and through the socialist paradise the Americans have come to see the light blah blah blah. Any thoughts?

The film "stealth"

An upcoming Hollywood blockbuster features a scene in which a stealth fighter attacks North Korea, Yonhap News Agency quoted Japanese daily Sports Hochi as reporting.

In the film ``Stealth,’’ which premieres on July 29 in the United States, North Korea is identified by its real name while the fighter flies over the peninsula and attacks the nation, the daily reported.

The movie, starring Jamie Fox, Josh Lucas and Jessica Biel, also contains a scene in which Biel’s character hits the silk from a fighter in the skies of the communist country.

``Stealth,’’ directed by Rob Cohen, portrays the story of three pilots who try to stop an unexpected incident triggered by newly developed Stealth fighters equipped with artificial intelligence.

There are rising concerns whether scenes from the new movie will create any diplomatic problems between North Korea and the U.S.

Yanji

In class today we discussed that if South Korean companies were to invest in North Korea, it would be for the long run, as in post-reunification. It seems the Chinese media has become aware of such South Korean companies moving to the China-North Korea border to set up shop. Already over $150 million in South Korean funds have been invested in Yanji the central city for North Korean refugees (located in China's Yanbian region).

Bridging the gap through sports

Here is an article about a sports promoter, Park Sang-kwon, who hopes to bring North and South Korea closer through boxing matches. Tomorrow, female boxers from North and South Korea will fight each other in Pyongyang for the first time ever.

Sports exchanges are an example of how North and South Koreans can express their solidarity and also help to bridge the gap between the two countries and promote cultural exchange. The 2000 and 2004 Olympics, soccer, basketball, and table tennis competitions are other examples. I believe these increased sports exchanges are healthy for the relationship between North and South Korea and are evidence of the fact that the younger generation from both nations are willing to put their differences aside.

Changing Curriculum

I found this article from October 2003 that discusses the Chosen Soren (the North Korean population living in Japan). Apparently, the schools are beginning to adopt reforms to cut back on the curriculum that excessivly praises the Dear and Great Leaders. The schools are apparently funded in part by the DPRK government. Aside form the changing the curriculum I tried to find recent reports of any Japanese discrimination/repression of the Chosen Soren, but did not have any luck.

http://www.freenorthkorea.net/archives/freenorthkorea/000627.html

This article (http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3327300a12,00.html) *sorry, won't let me hyperlink*
talks about how at the g8 summit of the worlds top developed industrialized nations, Japan will bring up the threat/situation with North Korea and their nuclear ambitions. The Japanese government thinks the situation is very troubling (as do most nations, except for fringe groups in Zimbabwe, etc...) and I assume they will discuss with the other world powers on how to negotiate to a void conflict

Sunshine Policy Discussion

Hi Classmates, I want to discuss about the "Sunshine Policy." We know it failed. No personal, just related to the class discussion.

I support the "Sunshine Policy". First of all, look at the result. On the unification day, the whole world saw that Kim Jong-il shaking hands with Kim Dao Jung and showing his kindness instead he hid himself at home. He is a jerk, we know that. But we don't have to point fingers to his face to criticize him. Second, South Korea brothers/sisters really know how to deal with their enemies after years they have competed. Because of different culture, Americans know them but they are "too harder" and "harsh". Our Professor mentioned the unification does not help solve the nuclear problem. How do we know they that make friends with N.K. could not? Maybe they can "sneak" and figure out one way to deal with Kim.


How about America, Japan, or Taiwan invited Kim out of his door? The situation in Asia may change.

South Korea really doesnt seem to want North Korea to fall apart

This is a lot of fertilizer....wow. They sure seem to be worried about the DPRK collapsing or getting into worse economic shape than it is right now. While humanitarian concerns obviously have a great deal of bearing, this is just a lot of fertilizer.

By Jon Herskovitz and Kim Yoo-chul Mon Jun 27, 3:21 AM ET
SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea will send more fertilizer to North Korea to help the impoverished communist state battle chronic food shortages caused by its weak farm sector, a South Korean government official said on Monday.


South Korean officials have said they hope bilateral humanitarian assistance will help to coax the North back to stalled talks on its nuclear weapons programs.

Seoul will send an additional 150,000 tonnes of fertilizer to the North starting Monday. The aid is on top of 200,000 tonnes the South completed shipping earlier this month, a spokesman for the South's Unification Ministry said by telephone.

Last week, the South Korean Red Cross said it received the request from the North for the additional fertilizer and asked Seoul to grant the request on humanitarian grounds.

At bilateral ministerial-level meetings last week in Seoul, North Korea requested 500,000 tonnes of separate food aid, which the South agreed in principle to deliver. But the South left the actual amount open for future discussions.

National Security Archives

The National Security Archives is located at the 7th floor of Gelman Library. It is constantly acquiring newly declassified government documents, and includes much of the early intelligence on North Korea's nuclear development program. I've found that using the Archives made my most recent essay much more interesting and fun to research.
Check it out...

I was really interested in this weekend's assighned reading in the "Idiots Gude." On pages 242-243 they mention a U.S. soldier who defected to North Korea in 1965 to avoid serving in Vietnam. He now teaches english in Pyongyang Universities and plays the typical "American Imperialist" soldier in the adored North Korean motion pictures. Found this article in the Seoul Times, discussing his guilty plea in a Japanese court. Really interesting article, and gives a good summary of Private Jenkins' life.

http://theseoultimes.com/ST/?url=/ST/db/read.php?idx=1199

Seoul-Pyongyang Meeting

This article discusses the Thursday summit between high level officials from the North and South Koreas. While no clear nuclear agrrement was achieved, the South did pledge to offer food to the North as the United States pledged 50,000 tons on Wednesday. Also, an upcoming meeting between Beijing and Pyongyang is scheduled in the following weeks. Things are looking a bit positive for a possible return to the Six Party Talks in July.

http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2005-06-23T135204Z_01_SEO184585_RTRIDST_0_INTERNATIONAL-KOREA-NORTH-DC.XML

Bush's meeting with defector criticized

I was waiting to see what North Korea's response to Bush's meeting with defector Kang Chol Hwan would be. Of course, the Korean Central News Agency labled him "human trash." It also stated that the meeting "cannot be construed otherwise than an act of throwing a wet blanket on the efforts to resume the nuclear talks." They see Bush's meeting with the defector (which exploits the human rights issue) as sign that the U.S. does not respect North Korea as a dialogue partner. North Korea has agreed to a peaceful end to the nuclear issue (albeit we don't know when that will be), but I think that to an exent, North Korea is keeping the U.S. waiting because it wants the Bush admin. to "give it the respect that it deserves" (quotes mine). Meetings with defectors only angers North Korea more. Article