Rumors of Kim Jong Il’s Demise May Be Greatly Exaggerated

BLANK Aug 10, 2009 The North Korean dictator seems to be in control of both his government and his personal faculties, U.S. national security adviser James Jones said Sunday. Reports in South Korean media and elsewhere have suggested Kim's health is failing, but Jones, referring to Bill Clinton's recent visit to the Hermit Kingdom, said "obviously we didn't have any time to make an assessment there. But he [Kim] seemed in control of his faculties." Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Bill Clinton Reportedly Wins Freedom for 2 U.S. Journalists in N. Korea

Staff / Truthdig Aug 4, 2009 Although his wife is usually the one making headlines about international relations these days, former President Bill Clinton put on his diplomat's hat Tuesday, visiting North Korea in an attempt to negotiate the release of two American journalists jailed there. Updated Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Propaganda 2.0

Staff / Truthdig May 27, 2009 Sure, Obama and McCain (well, actually their staffs) joined micro-blogging site Twitter for propaganda purposes. But now the nuke-happy and secretive North Koreans are getting in on the Web 2.0 revolution, offering an interesting state-controlled glimpse into the isolated country. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

North Korea Talks Fizzle

Staff / Truthdig Dec 11, 2008 North Korea and the US have agreed to the broad strokes of a nuclear disarmament deal, but hammering out the details is proving to be a monumental challenge U envoy Christopher Hill announced Thursday that talks were essentially on ice It may or may not help that Kim Jong Il has been missing in action for months. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

If at First You Don’t Get North Korea to Disarm …

Staff / Truthdig Oct 1, 2008 While Americans from the president on down were preoccupied with the financial meltdown, the disarmament deal with North Korea was quietly falling apart. Actually, talks with the nuclear hermit state have been on the rocks for some time, and have only grown more complicated since Kim Jong Il went MIA. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

U.S. Official: Kim Jong Il May Have Had Stroke

Staff / Truthdig Sep 9, 2008 Rumors are flying after the North Korean dictator skipped a parade in honor of the country's 60th anniversary. A U.S. intelligence official said Kim apparently "suffered a health setback, potentially a stroke." Or he could be fine. News travels slow out of the hermit kingdom. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Food, Not Bombs

Staff / Truthdig Jun 30, 2008 Remember when North Korea loomed menacingly as the next big nuclear threat on the world stage, with cognac-swilling Communist Kim Jong Il starring as the latest dictator du jour? What a difference a few years can make: The North Korean government has now demonstrated its willingness to halt the country's nuclear weapons program and has begun accepting food shipments from the U.S. and increased aid from the World Food Program. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Bush Downplays Progress in Korea

Joe Conason / Truthdig Jul 19, 2007 For the first time in a long time, encouraging news is emerging from North Korea. Yet the Bush administration so far has drawn little attention to this happy achievement by its own diplomats. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )