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Not that I ignore the Korean angle to hostilities on the Korean peninsula, or think the road to unification runs through Beijing, but developments like a new Chinese Anti-Ship Ballistic Missile (ASBM) capability will keep me awake at nights. Especially, that is, when Chinese hacks write with this kind of bravado.

It’s what I’ve always wanted – more North Korean propaganda. From Martyn Williams site:

North Korea’s Naenara website is back. The site went offline around early September when the dot-kp domain name space went down.

Naenara is run by Pyongyang’s Korea Computer Center and offers news, photos, shopping, tourism information and MP3 files from North Korea.

It’s running inside North Korea’s recently-activated domestic IP address space, but isn’t working perfectly. Some of the links point to dot-kp addresses, which are still not working. It’s worth keeping an eye on.

You can find it at http://175.45.176.14/en/

It’s the “China Lurking” edition. Whether it’s in Juba, Tokyo, or Pyongyang, or in the wallet and in the White House, Chinese actions in its backyard and farther abroad are stirring trouble. And, for Indians, comparisons with China are in the foreground because of the hash New Delhi is making of the Commonwealth Games. I’ve never thought highly of white elephant sporting events as economic engines, so I hope the Indians can end the fad altogether.

As for the Sino-Japanese row over goat-infested islands, I see no reason to change my opinion here.

Andy Jackson highlights two contingencies the Brilliant Comrade, Kim Jong-un, needs to consider, the second of which involves sibling rivalry in the dim reaches of the Kim clan. But, I do have to point out a third prospect.

There are at least two points in the first few years after Kim Jong-il dies that could lead to instability.

The first is early on, before when various groups compete to be the power behind the throne. The various factions, including the military, party officials and members of the extended Kim clan attempt to flatter, cajol or force their way into the successor’s inner sanctum in a bid to become puppet masters to an isolated monarch. That would be especially tempting for female members of the Kim clan, more distant relatives or in-laws.

Kushibo has some hig-powered speculations about the reasons for Dear Leaders recent visit to Manchuria.

Let’s not forget that Kim Jong-il tried at one time to establish a SAR of its own in Shinŭiju, which may have failed because China was angered at North Korea’s unilateralism in its own country. Could that be the reason behind the Dear Leader’s visit: He’s not just trying to get permission for a dynastic transfer, but permission for Kim Jong-un (under the auspices of his father while he’s still alive and after that, his regent uncle, Jang Songthaek) to pursue Chinese-style economic reforms?