Chang Song-Taek

News out of the north this week is that Chang Song Taek, brother in law of the late king Kim Jong-il, has been executed for crimes crimes against the people.

As many commentators have said, this is akin to a 40's style Soviet purge rather than a modern removal from power of a leader as seen in China, and gives a solid idea of where the Kim's are mentally and politically.

No one knows why he was removed but it is believed that he favoured Chinese style economic liberalization and was actively fighting Kim III on this one. Others suggest he was the only real threat to Kim III's power and so he was removed. Either way a huge shakeup.

Some people think it will be followed by another provocation to get all the north Koreans scared and behind the Kim's. But as I have mentioned many times before it won't go farther than sabre rattling. North Korea vs. South Korea/Japan/USA/UK/Australia/Canada/whomever else gets in with China as referee.....

I might get a long weekend out of it. :)

But seriously, it is just another reminder of what a strange reality there is just a few miles from here.