Would Kim Jong Il have even wanted a Segway?

If you were eagerly hoping to someday see a grainy, most likely illicit video of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il falling off a Segway Human Transporter, you can probably give up now. As I'm sure you've heard already, the Associated Press reported this morning that the U.S. Department of State has imposed new trade sanctions on North Korea that ban the shipment of "luxury goods" like plasma TVs, yachts, expensive liquor and, yes, Segways and iPods.

The sanctions are being coordinated under the auspices of the United Nations, and are designed to optimally cut off one of the ways that the luxury-loving dictator exerts control over a largely impoverished nation.

Boats, cars and expensive booze, sure, but Segways? The geeky scooters just don't seem to fit in with the rest of Kim Jong Il's trendy tech preferences as reported by U.S. intelligence officials. Apparently, he is a fan of Sony cameras, Harley-Davidson motorcycles, and Mercedes and Cadillac cars. CNET News.com is not sure he'd want to be spotted playing Segway polo anytime soon.

And, last but not least: Insert an "evil empire" joke here about how Kim Jong Il would probably prefer Microsoft's Zune to Apple's iPod, too.