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Asia Times (Free subscription) | 11/26/2008
The latest risky business from North Korea is the gamble that shutting the South Korean border will freeze out Seoul and possibly wring better concessions from the United States at next month's nuclear talks. North Korea is betting the US won't jeopardize good news in President George W Bush's final days in office by strongly supporting the South. - Donald Kirk (Nov 25,'08
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Asia Times (Free subscription) | 11/19/2008
Seoul, stung by the repeated targeting of South Korean commercial ships, is set to deploy a 4,500-ton stealth destroyer to battle pirates off the coast of Somalia. This means South Korean troops will close down their operations in Iraq to focus on protecting the trade routes to and from Asia. Other Asian nations may not be far behind. - Donald Kirk (Nov 19,'08)
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Asia Times (Free subscription) | 11/14/2008
North Korea's threats to close the border with the South appear to be a military inspired attempt to drive a wedge between Seoul and Washington. The move could also be another of Pyongyang's attempts to squeeze money out of the countries overseeing the disarmament of its nuclear weapons program. Now the scramble is on to find a face -saving way out of the mini-crisis. - Donald Kirk (Nov...
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Asia Times (Free subscription) | 11/07/2008
The chit-chat on the phone between Barack Obama and South Korean President Lee Myung-bak followed all diplomatic niceties, but unfortunately it avoided the substantive issues of North Korea and a free-trade agreement. The George W Bush administration may come to the rescue on the latter. - Donald Kirk (Nov 7,'08)
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Asia Times (Free subscription) | 10/31/2008
Pyongyang has unleashed a venomous tirade against South Korea for allowing balloons carrying leaflets and foreign currency to be released over North Korea. The issue illustrates the worsening relations between the two countries, something the United States has yet to factor in as it struggles to resolve key difficulties with Seoul, ranging from North Korea to free trade. - Donald Kirk...
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西儒 ─ The Western Confucian (Free subscription) | 10/25/2008
Donald Kirk suggests "the myth-makers are... propping up the mystique of the Dear Leader, and dreaming up a suitable story for his passing, and his elevation to immortality" — Heaven's above! What's up with Kim? Subscribe in a reader
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Asia Times (Free subscription) | 10/24/2008
The overworked propagandists in North Korea have not shown whether Kim Jong-il is in good health, or at least alive. What the myth-makers are doing is propping up the mystique of the Dear Leader, and dreaming up a suitable story for his passing - and his elevation to immortality. - Donald Kirk (Oct 24,'08)
