North Korea in the News
by Richardson ~ February 9th, 2008. Filed under: News Links. Yonhap: N. Korea appears to divert oil for military training: source
Yonhap: North Korea launching massive anti-corruption drive
Kyodo: Bolton voices opposition to U.S. removal of N. Korea from terror list
Asia Times: A breach in North Korea’s iron curtain (Andrei Lankov)
Asia Times: Pyongyang waiting to pounce (Don Kirk)
Reuters: South Korea to keep ministry on North: media
Reuters: U.S. rejects linking Japan abductees to North Korea deal
Reuters: U.S. ready for full ties if N.Korea denuclearizes
Bloomberg: North Korea Maintains Uranium Enrichment Program, U.S. Says
AFP: US to send fuel aid to NKorea despite nuclear list delay
CNN: Interview with Christopher Hill (video, 9:55)
Japan Times: Lee gives Japan hope for united front against North
CBC: ABC, PBS to broadcast New York Phil.’s North Korean concert
AP: North Korea blasts US-South Korea drills
AP: N. Korea: U.S. planning permanent presence
FT: US envoy hints at split over N Korea tactics
AP: India provides food aid to North Korea
Kyodo: U.S. nuclear expert, others to visit N. Korea from Saturday
Yonhap: N.K. threatens to derail six-way talks
February 11th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
I believe that the North Korean goverment’s crackdown is just another excuse for conducting a massive purge.
February 12th, 2008 at 7:18 pm
It’s hard to tell with the Kim regime. Without a doubt, corruption has become the de facto way of getting things done in North Korea; it’s possible someone tried to force the wrong person into paying a bribe and triggered this. It’ll be interesting to see what future defectors say, or what we find in the records after the regime eventually falls.
It should also be noted that such purges help push those elites sitting on the fence concerning defection; they might be scared of being arbitrarily purged and may have the funds to escape.