A plaque for him? Russians are baffled that Kim Jong-il and others are receiving recognition from the state as if they were heroes.

Wait a minute — we’re honoring him?

Cities all over the world rename streets and put up statues to commemorate local heroes and beloved public figures. But to the bafflement and irritation of many people in St. Petersburg, Russia, their city has recently honored three people they would hardly call heroic or beloved.

Remarkably, the least controversial of the three is Kim Jong-il.