Salwak prepares for
magical diplomacy

The Los Angeles Times reports Dale Salwak, "The Gentleman of Magic," is preparing for some diplomatic sleight of hand: He wants to arrange for some North Korean magicians to visit the United States and coordinate the visit with the International Brotherhood of Magicians' convention next July  in San Diego.

The L.A. Times story also recounts Salwak's visit to North Korea as part of the government's 26th Spring Art Friendship Festival. Salwak was the only American, and it was no easy feat.

"Traveling to North Korea is not a simple matter," he told the Times. "One doesn't just buy a ticket, hop on an airplane and fly there. It took two years to sort out the regulations and the logistics. Travel in and out of North Korea is always supervised by the highest echelon of government." Read the story here.