News from the Juche Joint

THE LA TIMES HAS A SAD REPORT ON THE RETURN OF JUCHE in North Korea, as the prime economic goal of the psychopaths that run the country. The report, written by Barbara Demick, details how the regime has banned imports from China and everywhere else.

In the markets of Kilju, a city of 100,000 near North Korea's eastern seacoast, the ruling Korean Workers' Party has ordered the removal of Chinese-made cookies, candies and pharmaceuticals.

Even soybeans, many articles of clothing and shoes are now forbidden.

It is all part of a great leap backward taking place in the secretive autocracy. North Koreans interviewed in China in recent weeks say that the regime of Kim Jong Il has made a concerted effort to roll back reforms that had over the last decade liberalized the most strictly controlled economy in the world.

Why should you care?

The economic restrictions reflect the rising power of the hard-liners within the staunchly communist regime and go hand in hand with the belligerent mood that led to North Korea's May 25 nuclear test. Those jostling for power in the scramble created by the failing health of 68-year-old North Korean leader Kim Jong Il are raising the banner of juche, the term coined by his father, Kim Il Sung, the country's founder, for an ideology emphasizing self-sufficiency.

North Korea has in effect scuttled dialogue with the United States, South Korea and Japan, shut down South Korean business interests within its borders and evicted many humanitarian aid operations.

AP HAS A REPORT on the latest missile tests, with an interesting statistic:

The North has about 600 Scuds, plus 200 Rodong-1 missiles -- which could reach Tokyo.

Dangerous people, folks. ASIA TIMES has an article with a good over-view of the history of the North Korean missile efforts. When you look at the chart below, the staggering cost of developing all these missiles becomes apparent: that's a lot of engineering and expensive fabrication. No wonder the poor North Koreans can't get enough to eat.