Winds of Change.NET Regional Briefings run on Tuesdays & Wednesdays, and sometimes Fridays too. Today's Regional Briefing focuses on Korea, courtesy of Robert Koehler in Seoul.
Top Topics
- Prof. Andrei Lankov of NKzone contributed a two-part series in the Asia Times on changes in North Korea that really is an absolute MUST READ.
- Some of the biggest names in Korean studies released a set of policy recommendations on the North Korean nuclear issue that any person following the crisis needs to read, regardless of whether they agree with the suggestions or not.
- Has the U.S. "sexed up" intelligence about North Korea's uranium program?
Also on tap: South Korea cracking down on "planned defections," U.S. neocons launch offensive on Seoul, Japan gets ticked off mightily at North Korea, the times might SOON be a'changin in Pyongyang, and much, much more!
North Korea
- Is a sudden change in North Korea right around the corner?
- Seoul is planning to crack down on "planned defections from the North." Repugnant as this may seem to some, there are legitimate issues that need to be addressed with defections. Moreover, many defectors often find life in South Korea isn't quite the dream they expected. And some defectors aren't what they seem to be. At the same time, however, high-ranking military officials might be abandoning ship.
- Some people do care about China's forced repatriation of North Korean defectors. But are they enough?
- Cell phones in North Korea? And PC cafes?
- The Japanese are pissed. And for good reason. Now Tokyo is brandishing sanctions and its own North Korean Human Rights Act. Of course, South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun thinks this could all be just a big mix-up. Pyongyang says that Japanese sanctions=war, but Tokyo might be gearing up for that.
- The Japanese aren't the only ones getting kidnapped to North Korea.
- U.S. officials are talking about "regime transformation" -- as opposed to "regime change" -- in North Korea. AEI scholar Nick Eberstadt believes this is ridiculous Joseph has some good things to say about this debate.
- What do North Koreans think of their brothers from another planet? Might help explain the Kaesong Industrial Complex project.
- Sejong points to Korea scholar Bruce Cumings' last piece to demonstrate why history dictates that North Korea may have legitimate security concerns. Barry over at NKzone has a somewhat different take.
- Even the U.S. State Department looks like it has lost its patience with North Korea. For what it's worth, the North Koreans say they've lost patience, too.
- Famine in North Korea is the result of politics, not crappy luck.
South Korea
- Washington neocons have declared open season on South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun, who seems intent on putting Seoul on the fast track to diplomatic isolation. I mean, doesn't this say it all? The new South Korean ambassador to Washington is going to be a very busy man.
- One South Korean lawmaker is ensuring that there is no such thing as a defense secret between the U.S. and South Korea. GI Korea tells him to cut the "weak country" crap. Especially when South Korea could neutralize the North Korean artillery threat in 6-7 minutes.
- The Party Pooper, well, poops on anti-Americanism in Korea.
- Some Incheon residents (albeit it very few of them) want to give Douglas MacArthur the Saddam treatment.
- The torture mongerers are still alive and kicking in South Korea, but they are coming under increasing fire.
- Does the ABC series Lost make Korean men look bad?
- Just a few of the things that are harmful to the youth of South Korea.