NightWatch
For the Night of 23 June 2009
CNN reported a statement from the families of Ling and Lee. "The families of Laura Ling and Euna Lee are grateful to the North Korean government for allowing the Swedish ambassador to visit Laura and Euna. We continue to appeal for their release on humanitarian grounds."
The State Department spokesman said the Swedish ambassador visited the journalists in March and May. He last visited them 1 June.
The Swedish Ambassador’s post-trial access is a positive
sign the journalists are receiving sufficiently decent treatment that the North
Korean government is not concerned about blowback from his visit. Also positive
is that the North’s leaders have not directly used the journalists as a
component of their public diplomacy strategy regarding nuclear weapons and
ballistic missiles. The visit by the Ambassador lies in the background as a
reminder that the
The handling of the detention thus far is slow key, not provocative and statesmanlike. That is good news.
Leadership update.
“The heir apparent to North Korean leader Kim Cho'ng-il has
received control of the Stalinist country's secret police in the first step of
his succession process, a well-informed source on the North said yesterday.”
”Kim Chong-un and his father are known to have visited the head office of the Department
of State Security around March at the foot of
”The source said Kim made similar comments early last month while visiting the
State Security university in
”The security body monitors the ideological trends of the North Korean people,
looks for dissidents, and conducts overseas spy operations. It has branches in
provinces and dispatches captain-level agents to each battalion-level military
unit to keep watch over military organizations.”
”Since 1987, Kim Cho'ng-il has been the agency's official leader but the
organization's chief deputy director has represented it officially. The current
chief deputy director is U Tong-ch'u'k who is also a member of the powerful
National Defense Commission.”
“Signs also suggest that the security agency has grown more
powerful. The source said the North's estimated 100,000-man border guard unit
will be placed under the agency's control next month at the latest. The unit
had belonged to the agency until 1992, when it was moved to the People's Armed
Forces Ministry. “
”Officers of the unit are said to be pleased over the planned transfer to the
agency on the expectation of better treatment.”
The article also reported, “As the heir apparent, Kim Chong-un is also known to be involved in personnel appointments at the organizational department of the North's ruling Workers' Party. The source said the junior Kim will follow in his father's footsteps in becoming the party's organizational secretary, second only to the general secretary, to take control of the party. The next step will be inheriting the post of supreme commander of the North Korean military. ”
If the foregoing is accurate, the transfer of the trappings of authority to Kim Chong-un is taking place much faster than was the case for Kim Chong-il. That suggests time is a factor in investing the younger Kim with the forms of power, though almost certainly not its substance. Kim Chong-il would thus seem to be much frailer than the daily appearance reports suggest.
China-Taiwan:
Cross Strait tension is almost non-existent for now.
Three of the warrants are for the founder and two leaders of
the Pakistan-based Islamist militant group, Lashkar-e-Taiba. An Indian
prosecutor demanded that
The warrants put in perspective Prime Minister Singh’s
statement yesterday about wanting to normalize relations with
On several occasions this month, tribal lashkars -- loosely organized armed tribal militiamen -- expelled from their villages militants and terrorists associated with the Pakistan Taliban Movement. Government tribal political agents working with Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) probably provided significant support to encourage and empower the lashkar leaders and tribal elders. The government’s failure to provide security to Zainuddin will threaten to sap the courage from other potential tribal leaders who might act as counterweights to the Pakistani Taliban.
Shah’s article makes an important point that Zainuddin’s
break with Baitullah was over the direction of the fighting. Zainuddin said he
thought fighting Muslims was wrong. Thus he opposed Baitullah’s policy of
fighting in
The episode spotlights the fragility of attempting to use
tribes against each other, especially without enhancing the personal protection
of the pro-government guys. It also exposes the divergence of interests between
Kyrgyzstan-US: The Associated Press and other press
outlets reported that
The Kyrgyz political opposition denounced the agreement as
another example of the inconstancy of the Bakiyev regime. Parliament must
approve this agreement just as it approved that terminating
It has not reason to at this point. Mourning periods, job actions, driving slow
downs and other forms of passive aggressive political prove that the
dissatisfaction remains vibrant, at least in
The members reportedly told police that they were on their way to the
Somali's President Shaykh Sharif Shaykh Ahmad has imposed martial law. The
regime should fall this week, if the Islamists press their offensive, but time
is on their side. This is a significant setback in the fight against terrorists
because the Islamists will support terrorists from
Assuming
the attack occurred as reported, the significance is the militants are
shortening the time between attacks once again. That is a reliable sign that
they have begun to rebuild the capabilities, which were reduced by a mysterious
chemical accident that killed many militants.
Administrative note: NW will
not be produced on 24 and 25 June. The next product will be emailed on Friday,
26 June.
End of NightWatch
for 23 June.