So, thanks to a little thing calling HALO 3, I've had a brief hiatus from blogging, but after my 2nd run through, its time to come back to (cyber)reality. As promised, I'm finally covering the historic summit between North and South Korea, which ended earlier today.
The problem with these summits is, while they are indeed historic, don't really provide much by way of blogging material. Two Presidents (actually, one President, one megalomaniacal tyrant) come together, shake hands, have a few chats, and call it a nice time. Well thats how this summit was shaping up until today.
Western and East Asian political analysts had a field day speculating over the video feeds emanating from Pyongyang, in which Kim Jong Il could barely move his left arm, seemed despondent, showed an overall lack of energy, and could barely muster the words "I'm pleased to meet you" to South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun in front of thousands of well wishers, who we are sure came at their own accord. While most believe the dictator has diabetes and cirrhosis of the liver, this type of behavior suggests the Chairman has recently had a stroke or possibly bypass surgery. Interesting food for thought anyway. (Watch for yourself here-sorry no translations yet, I need to call my fraternity brother who speaks korean).
This meeting finally came to hold some significance after what occurred early Thursday morning, when President Roh and Kim signed an agreement pledging to end the status of war between the two countries, a status that has existed for over a half century. President Roh also stated that South Korea will continue to invest heavily in thee North, hoping to spur economic activity like that seen in booming China. This proclamation would not have been possible for the progress of the 6 party denuclearization talks taking place in Beijing in which North Korea vowed to completely and verifiably eliminate all means of nuclear weapons production, so that as well is a sign of progress.
Historically, it is almost unheard of for two countries who are technically at war to have their two leaders sit down and conduct business in a civil, let alone cordial fashion. So in that sense, anyone who is looking for a sign of hope in an increasingly volatile world can take a little piece of solace from the past few days of activity on the Korean peninsula. A nuclear weapons program has been set on course for dismantlement, and the baby steps of a peace treaty for a 54 year old war have been set in place. This type of hopeful news might also not be permanent. President Roh has left than 3 months left in his Presidency, and the front runner to be the next President, former mayor of Seoul Lee Myung-bak has said he will take a much stronger stance with his neighbor to the north.
This is not to take a pessimistic tone. I'm a fan of candidate Lee and his Grand National Party, which has traditionally taken a harder line with the Kim regime, as of course it should. North Korea's government is disgusting, what takes place in that part of the planet makes Nazi Germany look like a pg-13 movie. Gulags, families forced to watch each other tortured to death for saying comments "unbecoming of the communist ideal and Dear Leader Kim," as well as perverse scientific experiments performed on political prisoners occur routinely in "The Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea." That said, it would be foolish to revert to needless badgering after progress with denuclearization has taken place. So, here's to President Roh for making this possible, and here's to his probable successor Lee to continue the progress towards a denuclearized peninsula and free Korean people. I'm cautiously optimistic.
The problem with these summits is, while they are indeed historic, don't really provide much by way of blogging material. Two Presidents (actually, one President, one megalomaniacal tyrant) come together, shake hands, have a few chats, and call it a nice time. Well thats how this summit was shaping up until today.
Western and East Asian political analysts had a field day speculating over the video feeds emanating from Pyongyang, in which Kim Jong Il could barely move his left arm, seemed despondent, showed an overall lack of energy, and could barely muster the words "I'm pleased to meet you" to South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun in front of thousands of well wishers, who we are sure came at their own accord. While most believe the dictator has diabetes and cirrhosis of the liver, this type of behavior suggests the Chairman has recently had a stroke or possibly bypass surgery. Interesting food for thought anyway. (Watch for yourself here-sorry no translations yet, I need to call my fraternity brother who speaks korean).
This meeting finally came to hold some significance after what occurred early Thursday morning, when President Roh and Kim signed an agreement pledging to end the status of war between the two countries, a status that has existed for over a half century. President Roh also stated that South Korea will continue to invest heavily in thee North, hoping to spur economic activity like that seen in booming China. This proclamation would not have been possible for the progress of the 6 party denuclearization talks taking place in Beijing in which North Korea vowed to completely and verifiably eliminate all means of nuclear weapons production, so that as well is a sign of progress.
Historically, it is almost unheard of for two countries who are technically at war to have their two leaders sit down and conduct business in a civil, let alone cordial fashion. So in that sense, anyone who is looking for a sign of hope in an increasingly volatile world can take a little piece of solace from the past few days of activity on the Korean peninsula. A nuclear weapons program has been set on course for dismantlement, and the baby steps of a peace treaty for a 54 year old war have been set in place. This type of hopeful news might also not be permanent. President Roh has left than 3 months left in his Presidency, and the front runner to be the next President, former mayor of Seoul Lee Myung-bak has said he will take a much stronger stance with his neighbor to the north.
This is not to take a pessimistic tone. I'm a fan of candidate Lee and his Grand National Party, which has traditionally taken a harder line with the Kim regime, as of course it should. North Korea's government is disgusting, what takes place in that part of the planet makes Nazi Germany look like a pg-13 movie. Gulags, families forced to watch each other tortured to death for saying comments "unbecoming of the communist ideal and Dear Leader Kim," as well as perverse scientific experiments performed on political prisoners occur routinely in "The Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea." That said, it would be foolish to revert to needless badgering after progress with denuclearization has taken place. So, here's to President Roh for making this possible, and here's to his probable successor Lee to continue the progress towards a denuclearized peninsula and free Korean people. I'm cautiously optimistic.
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