Are You NK? » Miscellaneous

S.K the Web Developer

S.K. — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 21:57:02 +0000

Sorry for the lack of post. New job requires I practice being web developer over blogger and web designer. I will try to update more regularly as there are many things out there.

What drives South Koreans…

S.K. — Wed, 28 May 2008 04:52:24 +0000

To pooh-pooh an issue like North Korean human rights but be devoted to issues like the import of US beef? (Via. The Marmot)

The passion is present, now we just need to move them away from non-existant problems.

Update: Maybe it’s stuff like this.

How not to protest VIII

S.K. — Mon, 12 May 2008 17:06:11 +0000

Creating videos that contain plenty of emotions but no substance (Via. ACB)

I have no problems with NGO’s trying to be creative, but I like to believe people are more sophisticated than being drawn to cartoon characters being cattle-prodded.

The reason I made this blog is not necessarily make my opinion heard (even if I do opine frequently). Even without my opinion I consider this site a good resource to look for information about North Korean Human Rights.

I try to explain the issue based on facts and I am willing to debate with anyone on them.

If the Chinese demand proof that what I say is going on in their country is true, then that is exactly what I am going to offer.

No flash required.

To my four readers

S.K. — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 22:19:48 +0000

In case you are wondering once again where I’ve been, it’s actually going to be a pretty good week for this site. For one thing, it will be moved to its own domain (name to be determined as I battle the squatters) and incorporate it under this new online brand I am working on. Plus, I can upgrade to WordPress 2.5 (this blog is hosted with 1.5). Needless to say, the transition will be a pain. I have to:

find a way to export all of these posts
turn this entire template from smarty php to plain old php
upload every graphic again
make all those improvements I wanted to do but cannot
if that does not work, redesign the whole thing

Will I be able to post regularly once again. I don’t know. I am still looking for some folks to do most of the posting while I do behind the scenes work. But I can finally get rid of that beta tag that’s been up for the past two years.

Update: Posts imported, design (almost) imported.

How not to protest VII

S.K. — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 15:20:15 +0000

Disrupting the lighting of the flame

Two protesters from media rights group Reporters Without Borders broke through the cordon of 1,000 police officers in Olympia as China’s envoy spoke.

Activists had vowed to protest over the violence in and around Tibet.

The torch will now be carried around Greece before being sent to China to start a journey through 20 countries, returning to Beijing on 8 August.

The route includes the torch being taken to the top of Mount Everest and through Tibet.

Many activists have this underdog mentality which makes them believe they can justify every action in the name of their cause. This includes acting like a bunch of immature children like this case. I have a bit of sympathy for the plight of ethnic Tibetans, but if they and their supporters want to be treated like human beings, they need to act like one no matter what China or anyone does.

Update: Speaking of immature brats

Next, Rutgers for the National Title…

S.K. — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 03:08:17 +0000

Woohoo!!!

Oh No (and other links)

S.K. — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 07:36:52 +0000

No.

In more serious news, I welcome President Lee’s slimming of the executive branch (Via. Marmot’s Hole). Not only it matches my views on small government, but the downsizing includes every NKHR activist’s least favorite government agency, the unification ministry. Hopefully, the South Korean “Human Rights” Commission gets it too.

Update: Also, Lee is also pushing for the release of POW’s still held in the North (Via. OFK).

Update #2: (Via. Rok Drop) Praise Allah! How did I miss this?

Tear Down That Wall

S.K. — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 00:16:09 +0000

Wall Street Journal that is. the WSJ is an essential source of North Korea related news and Opinionjournal was even more important for human rights related columns. That was, if one could access to it’s entire site. Not anymore, the subscription wall has fell. It appears Dow Jone has preempted Rupert Murdoch to do the same in order to fend off any takeover. So enjoy

I’m Alive!

S.K. — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 22:35:07 +0000

So where have I been the last 3-4 months? Well, after I returned to the states in mid October I was a jobless college graduate suffering from blogging burnout. It took almost 2 months to finally find a contracting gig and just last Monday I pulled in my first paycheck. By the way, the time spent building this site translated gave me the skills to secure this well-paying gig I have today (hobby in college: 1 college education: 0). Now with a bit of income flowing my way, I can continue building this site. Expect regular blogging to resume.

Update: Nothing much changed in the world of NK since my hiatus. It’s the same reneged deals and slow grind in the human rights front. Hopefully 2008 will bring more positive changes.

Vacation!

S.K. — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 22:25:24 +0000

As you can tell, the number of blog posts have dropped faster than Kim Jong-Il’s approval rating (down to the low 100’s according to the KCNA). Well, prepare for the drought as I will be in a two country swing for the next three weeks. This blog is not dead, just that I need the time and place to do it… at work. So as soon as I return from vacation and find a real job, I can move the blog to a real domain and finally make the necessary upgrades.

While I am out, be sure to check out the dozens of other NK-related sites out there