“North Korea’s state-controlled media are well known for reverential reporting about Kim Jong-il, the country’s dictatorial leader.

But the Dear Leader is not the only one getting deferential treatment from the communist state’s propaganda machine: John Kerry, the presumptive Democratic candidate, is also getting good play in Pyongyang.

In the past few weeks, speeches by the Massachusetts senator have been broadcast on Radio Pyongyang and reported in glowing terms by the Korea Central News Agency (KCNA), the official mouthpiece of Mr Kim’s communist regime.” —Financial Times

Of course, the rabid right is going to have a field day with this story, propagandizing about how Kerry is dangerous to national security, a Commie sympathizer, etc. Of course, what it really indicates is the contemptible utter failure of diplomacy under Bush. After the collapse of the latest round of multilateral talks about the North Korean nuclear issue, it became clear that Pyongyang is waiting for the possibility that Bush will be defeated and they will be able to deal with someone more reasonable than his demonizing hawks.