So, those friendly folks north of the border (and I’m not talking about Canadians) have  detained an American tourist for unspecified “hostile acts” against the regime.

Why in the fuck would any sane person voluntarily go to North Korea in the first place?  It strikes me as morally questionable to provide the hard currency that allows a corrupt government to oppress it’s people.  But as Jeffrey Fowle learned a bit too late you also make yourself subject to the whims of a nation that has a long history of taking hostages for the purpose of blackmailing for concessions, aid, or propaganda.  Unless you are Dennis Rodman you visit North Korea at your own peril.

Now I admit it would be somewhat interesting to see how the other half lives but given that the tours only allow you to see what the NORKS want you to see, what’s the point?  And I’m quite certain if I ever did go I’d run afoul of the authorities the first time they asked me to bow down before the statue of Kim Sung-il.   It ain’t worth it folks.