The nuclear weapon that North Korea intends to detonate in an underground test is scary. As it turns out, the missile could reach Seoul or Tokyo and kill over 200 000 people.
Apparently, NK’s Dictator Kim Jong Il gives the United States 3 months to lift its economic sanctions on the country. If Bush refuses, then North Korea will carry on with the test.
Apparently everyone in the world is freaking out over North Korea’s nuclear threat – everyone, except its closest neighbour, South Korea.
I thought I could give y’all a little perspective concerning the situation and perception that I get from living in Seoul.
First of all, what do South Koreans think of the Communist North?
They basically hate Kim Jong-Il, but they feel for the citizens. Most Koreans hope for a reunification – even my students write about it in their weekly English diary.An interesting thing is that when Koreans draw a map of their country, they draw both North and South and then make the divisive line. It kinda feels like the separation is not permanent in their mind; they hope things will change.
Do Koreans talk about North Koreans at all then?
Totally. They even give North Korea’s weather on the news (even though no South Korean is allowed there, except in specific mountains)!
Years ago there was this TV show which showed the reunification of Korean families that had been divided during the Korean War.
As it turns out, thousands of families are still separated between North and South.
North Koreans still try to cross the border. Lately people were found half dead – thirsty, hungry, ripped clothes. It’s a difficult issue for the Korean government because they see North Koreans as brothers, but the relation with the government is highly tensed and unstable.Some of you might wonder if Seoul agrees with Pyongyang’s nuclear tests?
Absolutely NOT! The only countries that could agree with such stupid Communist power trip might be China and Russia. But even China now thinks this is a bad idea.
As for the South Korean population, do they fear that a nuclear attack from the North?
From what I know, people are divided on that question. But most of them don’t because the North has threatened so many times to attack its neighbour that it is just not credible anymore.
Moreover, the US is South Korea’s ally so should something happen, the North would automatically get in real trouble.
South Koreans are just sick of North Korea's actions and many say they do not care.
North Korea has totally isolated itself and all attempts at friendship have had no effect so people think there should be a stricter policy against the state.
But then, you ask, why the heck does the North threatens if they are so small and insufferable?
Well, everyone in North Korea is brainwashed. As a result, it has a great, strong and loyal army. And it is still a Communist country so the rest of the world keeps a close watch on them.
Moreover, Dictator Kim Jong Il keeps his people in poverty and misery – thus humanitarian organizations such as Human Rights Watch actively denounce the political regime.
As you probably know, the US is quite concerned with the spread of human rights and democracy (apparently the reason why they invaded Iraq…) so they keep trying to interfere with internal affairs in the North Korean government. And it deeply annoys North Korea.
All North Korea wants is to be left alone while, of course, enjoying international aid. Because, unlike Cuba (which is trying to be self sufficient and kinda manages to survive), their local economy is not good at all; they highly rely on aid.
After they shot the last missile in July, economic sanctions were imposed. But all it does is put the country in greater misery. So is there really a solution? And do they actually have nuclear power anyway?
Well, they are proliferators of nuclear energy.
And in 1998, they shot a missile that went over Japan and crashed in the sea. Just like it did last summer.
Given, Japan is not that far. But it is believed that a North Korean missile could reach the West coast of the United States.
So again, why would they do that?
Like his late father Kim Il Sung (who was mourned for days by North Koreans by the way), Kim Jong Il is hung up on his height (awfully short) and is a power freak. He’s like a little boy playing GI Joe.
So he wants to show his superiority. But he also wants to scare the world so they stay out of his internal affairs. That’s basically all I know.
As for Korea itself, some of you wonder why it is divided. So here’s what I understand and feel free to correct me.
Korea has been under Japanese occupation for a long time. Japan annexed (well invaded) the peninsula in 1910 and ruled it for over 30 years. They destroyed many monuments, buildings, houses and they forced Korean people to take Japanese names and to speak only Japanese. 30 years.
Then WWII ended and Japan surrendered. The USSR invaded the Northern part while the US later came to the South. From then on, unification was not possible.
In 1950, the North invaded the South. That’s Korean War, a useless (well, are there any useful wars, really?) combat during which a lot of people were killed, wounded, and families were separated. An ideological war between Democracy (south/US) and Communism (North/Soviets). It ended in 1953.
And here are the devastating results (see wikipedia ):
- 600,000 Korean soldiers died in the conflict according to U.S. estimates.
- More than a million South Koreans were killed, 85% of them civilians.
- According to figures published in the Soviet Union, 11.1% of the total population of North –
- Korea died, which indicates that around 1,130,000 people were killed.
- The total casualties were about 2,500,000.
- More than 80% of the industrial and public facilities and transportation infrastructure, three-quarters of all government buildings, and half of all housing was destroyed.
You should see South Korea today... they've really come a long way and I totally admire them!
Now, here's a good one:
