No iPods for You

I was reading some random articles when I came across an interesting one which combines technology and Kim Jong-Il, psycho dictator extraordinaire. Apparently, in order to get Kim’s attention/annoy him, the U.S. government is imposing trade sanctions on Kim’s favorite luxury items. These items include, Rolex watches, plasma TVs, certain cars and motorcycles and, of course, iPods. Since the rest of North Korea can’t really afford these things, the sanctions are really targeted directly at Kim. This is the first time the U.S. has imposed sanctions specifically just to annoy a particular leader. Aside from pissing Kim off, they also hope it will curtail his giving of expensive gifts to his supporters, which is one of his tools of control.

Personally, I think it’s all pretty weird and pretty pointless. I mean, he is the leader of a country; if he wants an iPod he’s going to be able to find one, on the black market or through other various connections he may have. It might make it harder for him to get these things, but I think he’ll still be able to do it. Aside from not really preventing him from accessing these luxury items, I really doubt that making it harder for him to get a plasma TV is going to make him halt North Korea’s nuclear program or change anything about his domestic and foreign policies. I’m just not sure what exactly they hope to accomplish with this…

The article is here