Politico reveal the fascinating backstory of Bill Clinton’s crusade into North Korea: Pyongyang specifically asked for the former president to come.
North Korea
Clinton just another pawn in North Korea’s nuclear game?
Bill Clinton’s sudden swoop in to North Korea to rescue a pair of US journalists may seem like a victory for diplomacy, freedom and the American Way, but for North Korea, it was simply a successful propaganda project — and the US played right into its hands, says John R. Bolton.
Bill Clinton to save journos jailed in N. Korea?
South Korean newspaper Yonhap News is reporting that former US President Bill Clinton is swooping into North Korea to negotiate the release of jailed American journalists Euna Lee and Laura Ling, but Washington are playing dumb. Poor intelligence or poor privacy?
Asia’s new Axis of Evil
North Korea and Burma are not natural allies, but sharing an identity as international pariahs and an interest in nuclear weapons could be bringing the two countries together.
North Korea opens its first fast-food outlet
Freedom fries, anyone? North Korea is now allowing its subjects to sample a Western-style hamburger — as long as they don’t call it that. Patrons at the new Samtaeseong diner can order “minced beef with bread” for only $1.70, or about half the average North Korean daily income.
North Korea’s capitalist heartbeat
North Korea may boast itself as a “socialist republic”, but a capitalist heart beats strongly within its borders at the Kaesong industrial complex, a manufacturing plant providing dirt cheap production for over 100 South Korean companies.
World turns blind eye to North Korea’s labour camp abuse
The 200,000 prisoners in North Korea’s gulag subsist on a diet of corn and salt, live in rags, work 12- to 15-hour days and are regularly beaten and raped. So why aren’t the world’s leaders (or Bono) paying attention?
North Korea’s first family
Forget the Windsors: the most entertaining dynastic family of crackpots are the Kims of North Korea. Newsweek looks at Kim Jong Il and his three potential heirs, all delightfully kooky in their own ways.
Could the real North Korea threat be cyber?
Cyber attacks launched by “zombie” computers in northeast Asia have been disrupting networks in the US and South Korea. But how could low-tech North Korea be responsible? Barron YoungSmith takes a look.
North Korea launches a cyber attack
North Korea is suspected of being behind a cyber attack that left websites of South Korean and US government agencies, banks and businesses paralysed for hours on Tuesday.
The bigger issues behind North Korea’s missile launch
North Korea’s Fourth of July fireworks show was fairly predictable — the bigger issue is the dictatorship selling their missiles to countries like Iran, Syria and Burma.
North Korea’s first beer commercial
North Korea has aired its first ever beer commercial on its state-run television, and it’s pretty spectacular. Don’t worry — we’re pretty sure it doesn’t make any more sense if you speak Korean.
Time to deal North Korea the China card
The only nation with real influence in Pyongyang is China, says Doug Bandow. If they can be influenced to cut off aid and commerce to the country, some real change might be possible.
Time to acknowledge North Korea’s terror
A year has passed since George Bush removed North Korea from the US list of state sponsors of terrorism. It’s time we put them back on it, says Joshua Stanton .
Inside North Korea’s gulags
More than 500,000 people may have perished in Pyongyang’s labour camps since they were established in the 1970s, with prisoners enduring beatings, forced abortions, infanticide, rape, torture and public executions.
The Six-Party dream is over
Having cajoled Pyongyang back to the table and extracted a commitment to phased nuclear disarmament, the Six-Party talks always seemed promising. No longer, writes the Lowy Institute’s Raoul Heinrichs.
Who’s willing to talk with North Korea?
With two US journalists facing 12 years in North Korean labour camps, someone needs to start talking to the reclusive dictatorship. Enter Bill Richardson, Al Gore and Jesse Jackson.
US should get tougher with North Korea: Kissinger
Pyongyang has “vituperatively rejected” the Obama administration’s diplomatic overtures. So, should they manage North Korea’s nuclear arsenal or eliminate it? writes former US Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger.
US journos sentenced to 12 years in North Korean jail
Two US journalists arrested in North Korea while reporting along the China-North Korea border have been sentenced to 12 years in labor prisons.
Korean War II
As China purchases American debt, the US lose their ability to pressure China over North Korea. America will rue the day, says Jeffrey Kuhner.
My kingdom for a Choco Pie
North Koreans have developed a taste for South Korea’s most popular bikkie, and it threatens to undermine their whole political structure. Ruth Brown investigates.
North Korea’s next Kim
Meet Kim Jong Un, Kim Jon Il’s favourite son and the likely successor to the North Korean dictator’s throne.
North Korea all a-Twitter
Someone’s been impersonating North Korea on Twitter — and the hermit kingdom isn’t happy about it.
North Korea: we don’t know squat
It’s time to face the facts on North Korea, says former CIA officer Robert Baer: Washington is completely in the dark about Pyongyang and its intentions.
Families of American journos held in North Korea speak out
Two American journalists are to face trial in North Korea this week on charges of “hostile acts against the state” and “illegal entry”, amidst growing hostilities between the two countries.
