Google’s executive chairman Eric Schmidt and Bill Richardson, the former governor of New Mexico, today arrived in North Korea following days of heated debate about their trip.  While it's the seventh time Richardson's visited the DPRK, it marks Schmidt’s first visit, leaving many observers pondering what will come of it.

Although some speculate that Schmidt hopes to open a new market in the country, North Korea's highly limited internet access and computer infrastructure make this improbable. Although the delegation has stated several times that the visit is not being conducted on behalf of the United States government, some political figures have openly criticized the trip.  Today, Senator John McCain evoked an old Cold War slur and labeled Schmidt and Richardson as  “useful idiots” for going to North Korea under present circumstances.