The report comes from North Korean propaganda which makes me want to dismiss it outright. But I can’t. I’ll tell you why after we provide the story:

In the message Jimmy Carter extended condolences to Kim Jong Un and the Korean people over the demise of leader Kim Jong Il.

He wished Kim Jong Un every success as he assumes his new responsibility of leadership, looking forward to another visit to the DPRK in the future.

Okay, now here’s what it’s possible:

1) Carter has a habit of hanging out with and praising dictators and terrorists. There’s Hugo Chavez. And Yasser Arafat. And Hamas. And Fidel Castro. It’s nothing new for him. So the idea he would express condolences to North Korea? Not so unbelievable.

2) If North Korea was going to flat-out lie about condolences from a U.S. president, why pick Carter? Why not Bill Clinton? Why go for the least popular president that still has a pulse? Clinton has visited North Korea, too. And he sent his Secretary of State to meet with Kim back during the 1990s. So it’d be just as believable. Yet only Carter is mentioned.

3) His spokesman can’t be bothered to comment until after the New Year. Would you put off issuing such a denial for several weeks, letting the story fester, if it weren’t true? Can you imagine a spokesman for, say, Bill Clinton or George Bush letting this story sit out there unanswered for two weeks?

So not only is it plausible, but I believe he did send the letter of condolences. It would be typical for him.