NKorea's Kim in China

[Mid]

NKorea's Kim in China
May 3, 2010


North Korean leader Kim Jong-il appears to have entered China, his destitute state's biggest benefactor, for a rare trip abroad that could defuse tensions on the troubled peninsula, reports said on Monday.
PHOTO: AFP

DANDONG (China) - NORTH Korean leader Kim Jong-il appears to have entered China, his destitute state's biggest benefactor, for a rare trip abroad that could defuse tensions on the troubled peninsula, reports said on Monday.

China has the most influence in curbing the North's military grandstanding and the reclusive Kim's previous trips to his neighbour have led to steps that have reduced security concerns for the economically vibrant region and between the rival Koreas.

The trip to China would be the first in four years and comes at a time when Seoul is considering ways to respond to a suspected North Korean attack on one of its naval ships. South Korea lost 46 sailors in what could be one of the deadliest strikes since the end of the 1950-53 Korean War.

'We have confirmed the arrival of a special train at (the Chinese border city) Dandong, and we believe it is highly likely that Chairman Kim is on board,' a South Korean government official told Yonhap news agency.

There has been no confirmation of the trip and reporters camping out along the line that Kim's special armoured train would have to use to enter China, were hounded out of the area by Chinese security agents just before the suspected crossing. Yonhap said the train thought to have carried Kim crossed in the pre-dawn hours of Monday with several hundred Chinese security agents sealing off the area around the train station.

Witnesses at the border said the security clampdown ended a few hours afterwrads. The North's KCNA news agency's last report on Kim was on Saturday and said he attended a May Day concert in Pyongyang where songs including 'This Is Icon of Socialism' and 'Where Are You, Dear General' were performed. The visit would be Kim's first trip abroad since a suspected stroke in 2008.

straitstimes.com

[Camel Toe]

South Korea lost 46 sailors in what could be one of the deadliest strikes since the end of the 1950-53 Korean War.

Bull droppings! What was it about 1965 when the North sent 30 special forces to kill President Park at the Blue House. They must have killed at least 100 civilians alone in their retreat. The year I was there on the DMZ over 300 GIs died from DPRK fire. Since half the troops stationed on the DMZ were ROK at least that many were killed as well. This is stuff reported in The Stars and Stripes but never the free press.

I don't know who I hate more, Il or the Chinese. Maybe Il'll get fresh and the Chinks will nuke em.