South Korea Snubs Kim Jong Il Funeral Invitation

Staff / Truthdig Dec 23, 2011 Other than a small group of people specially authorized by the government in Seoul, no South Koreans will be attending the funeral of deceased dictator, film star and golf prodigy Kim Jong Il, despite overtures from the North. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Kim Jong Un: New Leader of North Korea

Tom Janssen, Cagle Cartoons, The Netherlands Dec 23, 2011 Dig deeper

Hair Apparent

Mike Luckovich / Truthdig Dec 21, 2011 Dig deeper

‘Democracy Now!’: The Koreas of the Future

BLANK Dec 21, 2011 As Amy Goodman points out in this report from Tuesday's edition of "Democracy Now!," North Korean leader Kim Jong Il's death came as a surprise to the U.S., which also underscores a more general lack of knowledge in America about either of the Koreas. Fortunately, she brings in some experts on the region to bring us up to speed. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Grieving for the Dear Leader

Staff / Truthdig Dec 20, 2011 Since North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il's death last weekend, images of his countrymen grieving en masse have passed through the country's ironclad borders to the outside world, provoking a range of reactions -- incredulity and puzzlement among them. So what's the story behind the weeping and gnashing of teeth? Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Do We Want Mitt Romney Answering the ‘3 A.M.’ Call?

Eugene Robinson / Truthdig Dec 20, 2011 It's late at night when the phone rings at the White House: Kim Jong Il, the ruthless, oddball dictator of nuclear-armed North Korea, is dead. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Kim Jong Il Is Dead

Staff / Truthdig Dec 19, 2011 North Korea's current dictator has died. State television gives the cause of death as -- and this is not a joke -- exhaustion from working too hard. Kim succeeded his father in 1994 and has indicated that his third son is to take over the responsibility of oppressing the North Korean people.State television gives the cause of death as—and this is not a joke—exhaustion from working too hard. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Robert Mugabe Does Not Approve of This Humorous Fast Food Ad

Staff / Truthdig Dec 8, 2011 Zimbabwe's own Robert Mugabe is the unlikely star of this startlingly funny little number that its sponsoring chicken restaurant chain, Nando’s South Africa, calls "Last dictator standing." This did not please the real-life version of the ad's fun-loving dictator. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

North Korea Attack: ‘It’s Whatever’

Steven Borowiec / Truthdig Nov 26, 2010 North Korea's provocative shelling of tiny Yeonpyeong island has the world in a stir, but residents of Seoul have been mostly cool, almost indifferent. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

N. Korea Deserves a Hard Kick for Abusing Its Soccer Team (Update)

T.L. Caswell / Truthdig Aug 16, 2010 The sport’s international governing body is looking into reports that the defeated players were exhibited in Pyongyang as targets of condemnation Kim Jong Il must be confronted in this caseThe sport’s governing body is looking into reports that the defeated players were exhibited and denounced. Dig deeper ( 14 Min. Read )

Why Can’t We Be Friends

Staff / Truthdig Jan 1, 2010 2010 might already be looking up. North Korea has sent the U.S. a New Year's message calling for an end to hostility in relations between the two countries and declaring that Pyongyang is committed to making the Korean peninsula nuclear-free. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

North Korea Bows to the South’s Fallen Pioneer

Staff / Truthdig Aug 19, 2009 Did Bill Clinton shake something loose during his recent visit to Pyongyang? No, Kim Jong Il's overtures to his southern neighbors this week are the legacy of Kim Dae-jung, the former president and first modern South Korean leader to visit the North. Kim died Tuesday. He survived political persecution and attempted assassination to cross the neutral zone and step into history. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )