Comments for DPRK Studies

Comment on Korean-American Hero: Fred Ohr, WWII Ace by Richard Moffa

Richard Moffa — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 21:08:01 +0000

My stepfather, Joe Macaro, was a crew chief in the 4th Sq, 52nd FGp. I just published my first novel, and am finishing the sequel, inspired by the group’s experiences. I have models of two of Maj. Ohr’s planes, his Spitfire Mk. IX, and his “Marie”, a beautiful P-51D. A USAF veteran myself, I’m also a member of the CAF (Commemorative Air Force), and I just read in our publication “Dispatch”, Jan 2010, that he was inducted into the Combat Airman Hall of Fame. I’m proud to display both his aircraft, and to be able to tell a story of men like my stepfather, and Maj. Ohr. For those interested, “The Vaulted Sky” is the story of an American who served first with the RAF Desert Air Force, before transferring to the 52nd Gp. That part of the story is continued in “The Sky Suspended”, to be published later this year

Comment on On a Personal Note… by James Na

James Na — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 17:50:50 +0000

That’s interesting. My brother-in-law contributing to an arm of an evil, monstrous regime for some sort of a twisted gag is “innocuous” and I apparently “overreacted” to it. But my drawing a parallel to the Nazis is “unfortunate” and “offensive.”

Hmmm.

Well, point taken on one thing. Air Koryo is probably more like the Lufthansa of the 30’s (a quasi-military arm of Nazi Germany that nominally performed a civil function). But Air Koryo is no more a simple airliner than North Korean state-owned banks are simple banks.

Nonetheless, the comparison wasn’t so much about who is more evil or any nonesense like that (I don’t particularly care to engage in quantification of evil). Just as a giving Nazi paraphernalia to someone who is Jewish will likely enrage, certainly offend that person, especially if he suffered loss of family at Nazi hands, handing me — whose family was abducted and perished at the hands of the North Korean regime — a North Korean government paraphernalia is enraging. That’s it.

I find it bizzarre that you would find it “unfortunate and offensive.” I would certainly like to know the reasoning behind that statement.

As for the content of this blog, the final arbiter on that is Richardson who is the owner and editor of the blog. But I think I would not be out of bounds to say that while much of the blog is about substantive policy issues regarding North Korea and the surrounding region, posts do occasionally veer into the odd, the humorous, the personal and even, very rarely, the angry. After all, it is a blog.

Comment on On a Personal Note… by philip72

philip72 — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 23:16:24 +0000

Love the blog, I’ve been following it for quite some time.

However if I were you, I’d delete this post.

-You’ve overreacted to a fairly innocuous gag gift to put it mildly.
-Your comparison of Air Koryo to the Luftwaffe is unfortunate and offensive; Lufthansa would have been the correct comparison to Air Koryo, and he did not give you KPAF t-shirt.
-Using a blog dedicated to such serious issues, as a forum to publically call your brother-in-law names and cast aspersions on his character over a silly little gag gift; denigrates the rest of the so far excellent content.

If I were you, I would delete this post, shove the t-shirt in a drawer somewhere and reappraise the issue in about six months with a cooler head. Then make your decision.

Comment on Introducing KPA Journal by Richardson

Richardson — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 03:26:23 +0000

Thanks, but only back for a bit here and there.

Comment on Introducing KPA Journal by MAJ K

MAJ K — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 10:56:45 +0000

Richardson,

It is nice to see that you are back.

Comment on A Fine Funeral by Richardson

Richardson — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 00:48:56 +0000

Very glad I was able to attend.

Comment on Height Differences in North and South Koreans by ESPN Interviews North Korean Soccer Coach Kim Jong-hun | ROK Drop

ESPN Interviews North Korean Soccer Coach Kim Jong-hun | ROK Drop — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 00:14:31 +0000

[...] Kim I think it is more like North Koreans are not very tall; I wonder why? Tags: Kim Jong-hun, North Korea, soccer SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: “ESPN Interviews North [...]

Comment on A Fine Funeral by Kevin Kim

Kevin Kim — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 06:10:38 +0000

Thanks for coming, man. It meant a lot. Good to meet you face to face.

Comment on On a Personal Note… by chris

chris — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 08:24:06 +0000

i guess i agree with Saber, but if you are unhappy with it, don’t throw it out or burn it, what the hell does that achieve? no, hawk it on e-bay and donate the proceeds. we can but hope it fetches more than the government of North Korea got for selling it, if sell it they did.

there are plenty of NK human rights NGOs out there who’d be happy to get $20 off you, i know that much.

Comment on On a Personal Note… by MAJ K

MAJ K — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 10:15:33 +0000

I think you should donate this T-shirt to Richardson. He loved to collect something like this.