North Korea Lifts Nuclear Ante as It Seeks U.S. Talks (Update1) - Bloomberg.com

North Korea Lifts Nuclear Ante as It Seeks U.S. Talks (Update1) - Bloomberg.com: "North Korea said it finished reprocessing spent fuel rods to extract plutonium used in nuclear weapons as the communist country pressures the U.S. to agree to bilateral talks on its atomic program.

“Noticeable successes have been made in turning the extracted plutonium weapon-grade,” the country’s official Korean Central News Agency said today. North Korea had completed reprocessing 8,000 spent fuel rods at the end of August at its main Yongbyon complex, the report said.

The statement comes a day after the communist country threatened to “go its own way” if the U.S. doesn’t commit to direct talks on its nuclear weapons ambitions. Kim Jong Il’s regime withdrew from multilateral disarmament negotiations in April in protest against the United Nations’ condemnation of its firing of a long-range missile over Japan."

North Korea destroys nuclear reactor tower - Yahoo! News

Not so fast, here's the money line from the AP story...

North Korea destroys nuclear reactor tower - Yahoo! News: "The declaration does not address the North's alleged uranium enrichment program or suspicions of its nuclear proliferation to other countries, such as Syria."

Uganda gots North Korea's back.

Um, ok.

allAfrica.com: Uganda: North Korea Visits - Pariah Nations Enjoy Welcome in Uganda (Page 1 of 1): "Uganda supports the 'right of North Korea to defend itself' and its confrontation with particularly the United States has had little impact on Kampala's own relations with America."

Ding! You are now free to roam about HELL ON EARTH!

Dude.

Air China launches flights to North Korea | Industries | Industrials, Materials & Utilities | Reuters: "Air China on Monday launched flights to North Korea, making it the world's only foreign airline to fly regularly to the country's capital, Xinhua news agency reported."

Nightmare World of North Korea - Sun has great piece

A must click...

North Korea | Communist regime | Kim Jong-il | Strict rules for visitors | The Sun |HomePage|News: "IN a cold sweat, I was led away by the jackbooted and armed North Korean border guards to a bleak side room.

My crime was that I’d disobeyed strict orders and taken pictures of the Stalinist dictatorship’s long-suffering people and the ruthless military who keep them suppressed."

Escape Documentary

Must see

North Korea invites Eric Clapton to rock Pyongyang - Yahoo! News

North Korea invites Eric Clapton to rock Pyongyang - Yahoo! News: "'We have recently sent a letter to Mr Clapton's agent inviting him to Pyongyang for a concert. And I do think that if he plays a concert in Pyongyang it will be a good opportunity for the Korean people to understand Western music,' he said."

Don't do it! It's a trap!

I don't think anyone doubts that Clapton will completely and utterly miss a golden opportunity to shed some much needed light on the human rights catastrophe that is North Korea. But, a golden opportunity is certainly there. Clapton has two options as I see them.

1. He very publicly denies the invitation, stating that if North Korea would like him to perform, then he needs to treat his citizens better. He could demand he release political prisoners immediately.

2. He could accept the invitation, play the concert, and then publicly announce what a nightmare North Korea is for it's citizens. Hopefully, Clapton is not duped by the royal treatment by the North Koreans like Mega-doofus Sean Penn was by Hussein controlled Iraq and Chavez controlled Venezuela. Penn, took the bait...hook, line, sinker. If Clapton is flattered easily, then game over. He's going to announce to the world that gee, North Korea is really not a bad place and Kim Jung Il, we all just need to lighten up.

Don't disappoint Clapton. You could help provide moral support to hundreds of thousands of political prisoners who suffer in concentration camps daily...suffering unspeakable horrors. Don't screw it up!!!!