KIM JONG IL ASSEMBLES ASSASSINATION FORCE TO TARGET SENIOR AMERICAN LEADERS (Japan Report)

Shukan Taishu Magazine (in Japanese) via Mainichi Daily News | 18 August 2003 Issue | Shukan Taishu Magazine (in Japanese)

[AmericanInTokyo]

Shukan Taishu Weekly Magazine in Japan (a tabloidish type men's weekly magazine) carries a story just this week (in the 18 August issue) hitting the streets in Tokyo, which states the claim that North Korean dictator (and known state terrorist/bomber/kidnapper/drug trafficker) General Secretary Kim Jong-il has apparantly organized an "assassination team" (ansatsu butai) in North Korea which seeks to target or is targeting senior American officials. The Japanese language article in detail has not been received. FReepers in Japan may want to procure the magazine. Here is the front cover of the magazine released this week, with that banner story above the cover girl's photo:

Japan's Mainichi News carried the translation of the headline and reference to this magazine on it's website in English today. Will try to get more details.

For the record, the japanese article making these claims is entitled: "Kim Jong-il ni [Amerika] Yoin Ansatsu Butai no Kage"

[FReepranslation to English]: "In the Shadows of Kim Jong il's Assassination Squad Targeting American Officials"

[AmericanInTokyo]

This magazine is not always reliabe but has in the past run various stories that were true, or perhaps were reported more in detail than what the mainline press could report. Only in analyzing the Japanese article in detail (not yet received) and seeing who was behind the article or leaking this information, perhaps could meaningful analysis be made. If anything, IMHO, this claim, as wild as it sounds on the surface, should be an issue of top priority for policy makers and national security.

[AmericanInTokyo]

ping in your general direction

[steplock]

err...who that 'sweet young thang' in the center??

[AmericanInTokyo]

various pings to y'all

[AmericanInTokyo]

more pings, North Korea Watchers.

[StolarStorm]

N. Korea fruitcake bump.

[AmericanInTokyo]

ping for youse two, too

[Guillermo]

Kim Il just won election with 100% of the vote.

It is obvious he is well loved in his Home Country and that North Koreans do not want the USA meddling in their Utopia.

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

Just in case they need help, there's a list of the ones we absolutely can't survive without here;

http://www.dsausa.org

[mhking]

"Go ahead. Make my day."

Just damn.

If you want on the new list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...

[TigerLikesRooster]

Re #1

What is he going to achieve by assasinating an American official? The only way this can remotely benefit Kim Jong-il is that assasins pretend that they are anti-American S. Koreans out to stop America on her track. Still, this could also unleash big conservative backlash against pro-North elements.

There are some people even now who love to whack the lefties, given a good political cover. This will be a disaster to lefties in S. Korea.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Yes, but you have to realize what an irrational mind (Kim Jong il) we are dealing with here, and how this guy has already sent hit teams out to eliminate foreign government officials who crossed him.

The 13 or so South Korean cabinet ministers and their senior deputies who were obliterated by bomb placed by North Korean commando terrorists in Rangoon, Burma at the Aung San mausleoum (narrowly missing S. Korean President Chung Do Hwan) are still a recent memory. And that case is a tip of the iceberg.

North Korea has already sent veiled threats that they will unleash retaliatory terrorism overseas within the countries that make them angry or fearful, and they have the international apparatus to do it. While the Japanese magazine itself is not a very high example of journalism (i.e., a "men's magazine") by a long shot, the general premise is somewhat plausible. At any rate, bottom line, there should be more investigation of these charges and precisely who is providing this information to Japanese journalists, IMHO.

[Steel Wolf]

Speaking of people who are terrified about being assassinated, Kim Jong Il should know better than to start something he can't finish. He'd be a regular JDAM magnet if an American political leader was brought down by North Korean agents. If this article is correct, then he's dabbling with some very dumb ideas.

It sounds like a bad course of action, but he's a serial offender in the terrorism department. Being that he doesn't reside in what we like to call 'reality', he may think that we would retreat in the face of more physical attacks. It's hard to imagine what he could be thinking. Trying to put yourself in his mind is a sure way to get a headache.

[AmericanInTokyo]

quite agreed, there, SW

[samuel_adams_us]

Either way, if I were a US official, I would take this to be serious and keep my head down.

[samuel_adams_us]

How would you know if it was a north korean concern, I am sure they would cover their tracks very well, we still don't know who really shot Kennedy and why.

[Salgak]

The heck with making Kim a JDAM magnet. Kim shoots at ANY US official, make him a B-61 Magnet.

A mushroom-shaped cloud, no more Kim Jung Il. . .and now, it's Miller Time. . . (evil grin)

[TigerLikesRooster]

Re #16

There are already enough things with which to hang him dry. If any official dies, in a way, it does not matter who did it. N. Korea is already guilty on many accounts, not considering any possible assasination attempts. It will only make Bush more determined to finish Kim Jong-il for good.

[OahuBreeze]

Thanks! Amusing.... I'm sure it's on the table -- don't know how close to implementation it's ever been. Kim... [sigh...] I'm going to enjoy his Ceaucescu-style execution more than I use to enjoy the old Mike Tyson fights (though I hope this main event lasts longer).

[Constitutionalist Conservative]

Unfortunately for the Dear Leader, his assassination squads died of starvation before reaching the border.