Kim Jong Il's Publicity Coup

Nutbar that he may be, you still gotta hand it to North Korea’s Kim Jong Il for pulling off publicity coups that smack of blackmail. Freeing the two journalists at the apparent behest of Bill Clinton, was a masterstroke for all concerned – Kim Jong Il, the Clintons, even Barack Obama himself.

Nutbar that he may be, you still gotta hand it to North Korea’s Kim Jong Il for pulling off publicity coups that smack of blackmail. The latest gig of freeing those two TV documentary journalists, Laura Ling and Euna Lee, (at ages 32 and 36 they’re hardly kids who don’t know better) at the apparent behest of Bill Clinton, was a masterstroke for all concerned – Kim Jong Il, the Clintons, even Barack Obama himself. Forget for a moment that it seems the journalists were never intended to serve their 12-year sentence for filming the misery of North Korea and it’s people who try to escape to the fleshpots of China (joke). Apparently Kim intended to free them eventually (they were held in reasonable comfort at a “safe house”). At issue was which Big Name American would approach Kim as a supplicant, apologizing and pleading for mercy. The sort of thing that would persuade Kim to be magnanimous. We are told that Al Gore, the inventor of the internet, was unacceptable to Kim (he’s apparently not that nuts!), and nor was John Kerry acceptable as the one to beg for mercy. Bill Clinton was perfect as a foil. Not only would his vanity be tickled, but he is a genuine patriot and would do an honest job – witness his efforts with George Bush the Elder when the pair of ex-presidents drummed up international support for victims of the tsunami in 2005. Bill Clinton and Kim Jong Il share a similar affection for the spotlight, and both have the ability to surprise their critics. Bill seems to have adopted the proper demeanor on this trip, and abandoned his cheery looks and foolish grin, and was all business and solemn as befits an ex-Prez in the lair of the loose canon with nuclear and missile ambitions. Bill’s voyage of discovery will also be useful to the Obama administration, if only because one of theirs will be able to give a first-hand impression of Dear Leader Kim’s health and mental acumen. Where once Kim was the only plump person in starving North Korea, he’s since become leaned down and gaunt  due to the suspect stroke he allegedly suffered. Diabetes and other afflictions are said to limit his actuarial expectations. He’s not expected to be long for this world, but you can’t count on it because Kim congenitally befuddles those who think they’ve got him figured out – especially American administration pooh-bahs (Democrat or Republican) who repeatedly seem to believe food aid will deter Kim from experimenting with nuclear weapons and missile launches over Japan. But at least the two American journalists are now free, which pleases everyone. So what if it’s interpreted as more capitulation to the nutbar? The North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) says Kim showed generosity and mercy because of  “the sincere apology expressed by Clinton for the hostile acts committed by journalists.” Ho-hum. The U.S. denies the apology part, but seems to think the whole exercise was a ploy for the North Koreans to save face and back off their recent belligerency and to perhaps cease launching missiles and to switch off their nuclear reactors. At least until next time. Who knows?  It’s unlikely Kim Jong Il is finished yet, and there’s always his son waiting in the wings as heir apparent to the starving kingdom that has neither friends nor resources  - Kim Jong Un, about whom we know precious little... yet.