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This feels like the regime is holding civilians ransom for celebrity, business or diplomatic encounters[1][2]. I appreciate that when these types of events hav
by ghayes 14y ago
This feels like the regime is holding civilians ransom for celebrity, business or diplomatic encounters[1][2]. I appreciate that when these types of events have happened in the past, they have brokered for civilians being freed, but we should be careful as this trade becomes too commonplace.
Note: the article speculated as to the connection with a recent US civilian arrest.
[1] http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/06/world/asia/06korea.html?pagewanted=all http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/06/world/asia/06korea.html?pa...
[2] http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/aug/27/north-korea-us-prisoner-jimmy-carter http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/aug/27/north-korea-us-p...
- seanmcdirmid 14y agoIf all it takes is a diplomat to visit and give the DPRK government some face, that is much cheaper than war. Its amazing what face can accomplish in Asia.
- drsim 14y agoThe 'dear leader' of DPRK has always been a man who wants to be revered and responds aggressively in public to criticism. Who really knows what these visits by high profile figures accomplishes behind closed doors? If nothing else, exposing Kim Jong-Un or just his inner circle to different thinking plants seeds. It's very slow. Isolation doesn't work to promote openness.
- anigbrowl 14y agoKim Jong Un has only been dictator of the DPRK for one year. I think you're mixing him up with his Father, Kim Jong Il. Jong Un is only 28 or 29 and was educated in Switzerland as a teenager.
- drsim 14y agoMy point is that each leader displays similar traits and is expected to act/react in a certain way
- seanmcdirmid 14y agoHe is still following "the script." Let's see what happens when he gets a little bit more clout and confidence and is ready to step out of his dad and grandfather's shadow.
- tomjen3 14y agoA million for defence, not a penny for tribute.
- rwallace 14y agoTribute no, but diplomacy is a different thing.
- anigbrowl 14y agoOn the other hand, Myanmar's opening has been surprisingly successful. Kim Jong Un has made a remarkably public commitment to an agenda of peace and economic reform; while we shouldn't be too trusting or accept it at face value until it's backed up with meaningful actions, there's certainly cause for optimism.
- meaty 14y agoI think Mr Un is absolutely spot on with his agenda but he's got to unravel many years of crazy before him without getting knocked off himself.
- GotAnyMegadeth 14y agoMr Kim* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_name https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_name
- meaty 14y agoThanks didn't know that :) sortable as well!
- anigbrowl 14y agoVery true. This is why I expect him tocontinue with the occasional missile test or fire-breathing speech for domestic consumption.