Free Republic

Kim Jong-il Scarce, Conjectures Plentiful by Chosun Ilbo Daily Reporter Kim In-gu (ginko@chosun.com) The North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has not appeared in public for 43 days, observers said, triggering speculation that he putting his country in a war posture. Mr. Kim was absent from the Supreme People's Assembly meeting on Wednesday; his last public appearance was Feb. 12 at the Russian Embassy in Pyongyang. Experts on North Korea say Kim's withdrawal is deliberate and that North Korea has gone into a semibelligerent state since the outbreak of the Iraqi war. Sixty-one other top-level North Korean officials were absent from...

GOTTA SEE THIS -- TECHNOLOGY, PREPARATION,PERPS and HEROES 7/13/02 BREAKING NEWS - Action and Preparation during the War for Enduring Freedom, Allies seeking Information and Freedom; Posturing ===== TECHNOLOGY ====== In California, Boeing's X-45 Unmanned Combat air vehicle was revealed 7/11/02 at Edwards Air Force Base. The X-45 has been aloft at least twice, and will transport autonomously 3,000 pounds of munitions + At Boeing, stay tuned for the fuel-efficient bat-shaped Blended Wing Body 450 passenger subsonic transport. No more tube and conventional wings. This is a 3% scale model mounted for static force tests at Langley ======= PREPARATIONS ========...