I googled around and found no evidence that Bolton made any such statement. I think the Bolton quote is b.s. However, there is one published source that claims that at an internal State Dep’t Meeting, Undersecretary of State Robert Joseph hoped that Resolution 1718 sanctions would “put out all the lights in Pyongyang.” The problem with that account is that I can’t find anyone but Selig Harrison — who might as well be an unofficial North Korean diplomat — who claims Joseph said it. So that EBA’s claim is a misquote, quotes the wrong person, and relies on a pretty dubious source. Harrison actually hopes that the nuke test will finally pressure the US into bilateral talks and another payoff, so you can see where he’s coming from.

The quote is also out of context. For all you fans of multilateral UN diplomacy, UNSCR 1718 provides a sliver of hope that it might actually work. It was a response to North Korea’s nuclear test, something that justifies strong international pressure and a more equal distribution of North Korea’s misery, to include Pyongyang and the ruling class, too. After all, the lights are already off everywhere in North Korea at night, except for those Kim Il Sung monuments. I really don’t see the downside to plunging those into darkness.

For those interested in a more representative European response to North Korea, read this.

“KJI’s crew” is making a “free choice” to oppress, starve, and slaughter N. Koreans.

The Robeson quote was a great non sequitur though.

I sometimes don’t know whom I’m more afraid of, Bolton and his ilk, or KJI and his crew. If I had to choose right now, I’d say it’s Bolton and his bunch because they are making a free choice whereas many of KJI’s crew are doing what they have to do to survive–evil though it may be.

And, no, I won’t be moving to Pyongyang anytime soon. It’s like Paul Robeson said, “Because my father was a slave and my people died to build this country and I am going to stay here and have a part in it just like you. And no fascist-minded people will drive me from it. Is that clear?”

http://pyang.su/10132006-02.htm

Here’s a bit from it:

Dilara Alisultanova - Victim of American Imperialism

Dilara, can you explain to us how the imperialists tricked you, your class mates, and your teacher into a class field trip to the USA?
Dilara: In Uzbekistan the American government was always playing propaganda messages on the radio and TV, telling us the country had streets paved of gold, and everybody was rich and happy in every way you can imagine. Then our teacher at the All Girls School I attended came to our class all excited one day, saying that she had received a special invite from the American government to visit the USA in a week-long exchange program, in which we would meet other classes and students, and get to see many sights, both educational and for fun.

So what happened when you landed in America?
Dilara: We all knew something was wrong right away. There was no roads paved with gold, and everything was gray and miserable. [Must have landed in Newark ]

…Then we saw some other people, two burly looking men and a nasty looking woman. They all began to laugh at us and told us they had tricked us and we were going to be used as slaves for sex day and night. If we tried to escape we would be murdered.

What kind of things did you have to endure over the next three years?
Dilara: Being raped for 12 hours a day. We all went through that. Even the teacher. We then found out that our parents were force to sell us by representative of the Uzbek dictator, Islam Karimov. He made deals with Bush to send school children from Uzbekistan to be used for personal profits. :0

Check out “ask a Korean” too, it’s brilliant.