Remembering Sept. 11th

Well, I recall that day quite vividly. I was logging onto a my usual game site and heard tlak of a building blowing up. I figured it was a castle siege - until someone explained that it was real. After rushing to the TV and watching in disbelief, I woke my roomies and we sat in shock.

Even as a non-American, I felt terrific shock and sadness.

Now that brings me to my next point, how much I do not like Hankyoreah. I try to site from them as often as possible, and they do a fine job of attacking big business, but all to often, they step over the line.

The Grand National Party is flying into a building titled the "transfer of wartime command authority," which they are opposed to currently.
"Thanks to this, we’re going to be able to get Korea to foot more of the bill for having U.S. troops over there," says Bush. - (Hankyoreh Geurimpan, 5 September 2006)

Way over the line.

Roh Defends Himself Against ... ME!

Noh Moo-Hyun is one of the worst presidents I've seen in my lifetime. Here he tries to convince me (ok, everyone) otherwise:

http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200608/200608310021.html

Roh said the game arcade scandal “was caused by several complicated, connected reasons such as systemic faults and industrial deregulation policies and lax policing of gambling. It is difficult to deal with the case since a cluster of several small problems have combined into one big scandal.” He vowed to reveal on a different occasion what steps the government is taking. Roh waited 12 days to apologize after the gambling scandal broke on Aug. 19

Not one mention of his nephew? Of his "talent supporter's" leading role? What kind of appology is this?

Roh suggested the overall economy and people’s economic difficulties should be talked about separately. He said macroeconomic indicators including exports, prices and foreign reserves were strong and the stock market more than doubled during his tenure. “But even when our economy is doing well, people can find themselves in economic trouble,” he said, due to the growing wealth gap in a globalized era and a surge in the number of temporary jobs and small businesses.

I call BS. Sure the stockmarket is up, and I have little doubt that it is a result of his policies, but can anyone tell me the last time they heard lower income workers bragging about making money in the market? The truth is, Noh's family is heavily invested in the market and they are raking it in. I have no doubt this will come to light after he is out of office.

He also reiterated a class-conscious justification for the government’s controversial real estate policy. “Everyone wants to see housing prices rise, but if they do, those with smaller homes will lose out,” the president said, adding the hope that there will not be too much resistance to the policy. “There were those who raised the toast, ‘Let it be forever!’ during the financial crisis of the late 90s when our economy was in serious trouble,” he said. “They were not ordinary middle class people” -- an apparent suggestion that the rich benefited from the high interest rates during the crisis.

Wow, nice to try to sound like you're taking the working man's side, but what are you doing? I wokr in Seoul Station every day and things have only gotten worse! Noh has redistributed the wealth alright, right into the pockets of his supporters.

The president also rejected accusations of cronyism in his personnel appointments. “The administration has much improved in managing personnel affairs” from its predecessors, he said. “People keep taking issue when someone close to me is appointed to high office, but it’s only natural that I choose someone who understands my policy well.” He warned if the criticism refuses to go away, “it will make it very difficult to manage administrative affairs.” He added pointing out glaring errors in personnel appointments was fine, but constant griping was “inappropriate.”

He cannot keep a minister for longer than 6 months before they mess something up. He is surrounded by inexperience and idealism - a bad combination. here is a nice enough to give an old drunk friend a job:
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200608/30/200608302216172279900090309031.html
Nice to know who is at the wheel of the Unification Ministry.

Turning to the question of Korea taking over sole operational control of its forces, the chief executive said the core of independent defense was “physical military force.” “We headhunt the most suitable Korean candidate, not a foreigner, when selecting the president or the chief of general staff,” he said. “That is the basic principle of managing a nation.” Roh reiterated the plan to “withdraw” wartime operational control of Korean troops from the U.S. was already hatched during the Roh Tae-woo administration, while the target date of 2000 was set by the Kim Young-sam government. “The Grand National Party shouldn’t oppose the plan just for opposition’s sake,” he added.

This I am not opposed to. I think it is becoming too much of a political issue, where it should be a defense one. All parties involved need to let the experts figure it out...

They just have to figure out who the experts are.

The North is a Push Over

well, at least that is what old Rummy has to say.
http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_international/152628.html

It seems that the man who said to "watch out for a musroom cloud from Iraq" and "the war will be over quickly" is now sharing his wisdom about the Peninsula.

I'm not saying he is wrong, but honestly, at this point, who trusts him?

"I think the real threat that North Korea poses in the immediate future is more one of proliferation than a danger to South Korea,"

Testing, testing...

This is a test. This is only a test. If you are surprised to see me writing on this blog again, please realize that... this is only a test. I'm writing again to find out if I have time to try to revive this 'ol thing. If I keep posting, then I guess you'll know eh?

Speaking of tests, the Chosun Ilbo http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200608/200608280027.html
is warning that a North Korean Nuclear test is just over the horizon.

National Intelligence Service director Kim Seung-kyu said Monday. “Nuclear test facilities are always on standby in North Korea, but we don’t have any direct information indicating that the North is preparing for such a test,”

And what is the South going to do about it? Nadda! As it stands right now, the current administration is planning to do exactly, well not exactly, well, almost something... ok, not much. But they just might get "red in the face" - oh wait, that's only for the Americans. For their Northern Brethren, I'm guessing Noh will send rice! Gotta' celebrate a passing test score somehow!!! lol

Yodok Story

http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200603/200603150026.html

A controversial musical set in a North Korean gulag has at last been staged, overcoming pressure from powerful circles to bin the production for fear of offending Pyongyang. Wednesday night saw the opening of “Yoduk Story” at the Seoul KyoYuk Munhwa Hoekwan auditorium.

It has been a difficult road for producer Chung Seong-san, himself a North Korean defector, that saw him reportedly exposed to death threats and official pressure. “Yoduk Story” centers on Kang Yeon-hwa, the daughter of a party official and a promising dancer. When her father is falsely accused of being a South Korean spy, she and her family are detained in the notorious Yoduk concentration camp, where she is raped and becomes pregnant.
If you are able to I recommend checking out this musical. Although I have not seen it yet, and most likely I will understand little when I do (it's in Korean), the back story is quite interesting.

Rumor has it the producer put up his rights to his kidney (that's right, his own kidney) to some mobsters to finance the show. Good luck to him, just for guts like that, I'll shell out the dough to check it out.

Plus, ya just might learn someting! ;)

The PM is leaving

http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200603/200603140036.html
Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan has resigned because of a "scandal" over his golfing (with some bad guys) during a holiday (that also saw the launch of a nation-wide railway strike). Now, I'm glad to see the guy go. Personally, I've always felt he was a Noh lapdog, but I guess that what the position of Prime Minister is often about.

Leaving because of a golf scandal though, I'm not sure about it. I am the first to say that this administration needs to leav, but all too often nowadays it seems that they bow far too quickly to public opinion. A Super Comment Tribe (http://news.naver.com/news/read.php?mode=LSS2D&office_id=025&article_id=0000599179&section_id=105§ion_id2=226&menu_id=105) Seems to be ruling online opinion (See Marmot for translation - http://www.rjkoehler.com/?p=2541).

I worry about how this will affect politics in the future. It seems far too easy to bend to the eb and flow of internet waves.

*sorry for bad link, I have forgotten how to hot-link
/sigh

Noh is makin' Moh!

That's right, people think that president Noh is your average joe. That he made his money legally and such. Well take a look at this:

http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/SITE/data/html_dir/2006/03/01/200603010040.asp

President Roh and his immediate family saw their wealth increase by 12.9 percent or 94.47 million won (about $97,400) with total assets now reaching about 829.3 million won.
The increase mostly came from bank savings and stock investments, according to the government ethics committee.

And then think about how much Noh has been pushing the devaluation of Real Estate. His family is heavily invested in the Stock Market and he is flodding investors into that sector by making Real Estate a bad buy.

maybe his strategy has less to do with the nation's welfare and more to do with his own pocketbook?

Danger: Chung takes another step

It seems that this past weekend was an interesting one for the Uri-party. They had their leadership election and they all smoked A LOT of Marry-Jane. I'm not sure on the second point of course, but how else could they have elected someone like Chung?

My only positive feeling about this is that it might just result in the chrushing defeat of Uri-dang that I have so long dreamed for.


Korea's ruling party has a new leader in former unification minister Chung Dong-young. Chung was elected chairman of the Uri Party on Saturday at a national convention attended by some 12,000 party members with 48 percent of the vote. His main rival, former health minister Kim Geun-tae, lost by a 6 percent margin.

President Roh Moo-hyun, himself a member, sent Chung a congratulatory message, saying he hopes the transition of power will help advance the ruling party. Party officials expect the new leadership to boost the party's chances in local elections on May 31. The party hopes to recover from a crushing defeat by the main opposition party in last October's parliamentary by-elections.

http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200602/200602190012.html

Ban Ki-moon for UN Secretary-General

Well, someone who I've liked on the political scene for quite some tie has been Foreign Minister Ban Ki-Moon. I've always felt that while the current administration has tried it's best to subjegate the South to the North, Minister ban has taken the middle-road to most issues. he has always seem to play the level head in a feild of occasional loons.

I'm not sure he'd be up for this challenge though:

http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200602/200602140009.html

Korea will field Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon as a candidate for leadership of the UN to replace Secretary-General Kofi Annan, whose term ends in the second half of this year. The decision was made last December but the government delayed making it public to avoid prejudicing Ban’s candidacy.

“I humbly accept the nomination, which is based on the nation’s strength on the global stage and on public support,” Ban told reporters Tuesday. The UN secretary-general is the world body’s chief administrative officer in charge of 3,000 UN staff. He earns US$200,000-300,000 a year and is treated on a level with heads of state around the world.

Dubbed the CEO of the international community, the secretary-general also has a role to play as a mediator in international conflicts in a post symbolic of the global community’s administrative, political and moral authority.

Government officials give Ban a 50:50 chance of being elected. Given the principle of rotation by continent, it is theoretically Asia’s turn, but on the continent Ban is up against Thai Vice Premier Surakiart Sathirathai, who has the support of ASEAN. The AFP news agency reports Surakiart and Ban are the “leading” candidates. Singapore’s former prime minister Goh Chok Tong is also reportedly in the running.

However, the U.S. has recently come out against rotation by continent and could support a candidate from Eastern Europe. A high-ranking Foreign Ministry official said the U.S. was also not helping in another sense since Seoul’s alliance with Washington could make Ban suspect to other members of the UN Security Council, who could exercise their veto in the belief that he will side only with the U.S.

China, which is on the Security Council, has warned it will veto any non-Asian candidates. France is sticking to a notion that the secretary-general must speak French, and Ban is reportedly learning what was once the language of international diplomacy.

Another disadvantage for Ban is that Korea is $130 million in arrears in UN membership dues. Even government officials say it is “like a billionaire trying to get a top government post without paying his taxes.” The government has promised to pay up soon.

North Korea is another factor. A high-ranking Foreign Ministry official said, “We informed North Korea of Ban’s candidacy separately but haven’t received a response.”

North Korea may think twice about Ban’s candidacy. Any increase in South Korea’s international standing could mean problems for Pyongyang, but Seoul could counter North Korean objections by pointing to the plentiful help it has given the North. Pyongyang would probably prefer to work behind the scenes by urging its ally China to support the ASEAN candidate.

What happens in the deadlock over North Korea’s nuclear program over the next few months could also have a decisive influence. If the six-party talks resume and North Korea is willing to open up further, Ban’s candidacy could gain momentum. But if the matter ends up being referred to the Security Council for resolution, it could deal a fatal blow to South Korea’s bid.

N.K. Prison Camp Musical

It seems that I have not had a lot of time for blogging of late , but hopefully that will change soon. Here is an article about how the Ui party is not the fan of free speech it claims to be.

http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200602/200602050001.html

N.K. Prison Camp Musical Falls Foul of Seoul Officialdom
A planned musical about human rights abuses in North Korea’s Yoduk concentration camp has run into massive obstacles, not least from officials fearful of upsetting the Stalinist country. South Korean government agencies are demanding changes to the story, which they say dwells too heavily on the negative aspects of the camp, according to producers. Officials also allegedly invoked the National Security Law to warn producers against showing a portrait of former leader Kim Il-sung and the singing of North Korean songs in the show.


Director Chung Seong-san and cast rehearse for the musical ‘Yoduk Story’, which deals with human rights abuses in North Korea, despite government pressure to tone down the show’s criticism of the Stalinist country.

After the Chosun Ilbo ran a story about the musical, one theater abruptly canceled the run there and a company which had promised to invest W300 million (US$300,000) pulled out. A key member of the production team has quit, and the director Chung Seong-san, who happens to be a North Korean defector himself, has received death threats.

Political prisoners carry pails of human waste from guard barracks at the Yoduk concentration camp in South Hamgyeong Province, North Korea in this video grab of footage shown by Japan's Fuji TV.

“Yoduk Story” focuses on a camp where 20,000 inmates work more than 14 hours a day living on just one bowl of cereal and a spoonful of salt. Those who try to escape are executed by hanging or stoning because the authorities do not want to waste bullets killing them. But its scheduled debut in March is now in jeopardy. Reportedly under official pressure, more than half its budget of W700 million has disappeared, making it difficult to feed producers and cast. "After reading our script, government officials demanded that we change part of the story, saying it’s too much,” Chung said. “I got a phone call, I don’t know if it was a government official, saying 'It's so easy to get you. You will be punished.'”

But Chung is determined to plough on. When Seoul KyoYuk Munhwa Hoekwan promised to show the musical in its theater last December, Chung borrowed W20 million against a contract to sell his left kidney. His father was publicly stoned to death in a Hoeryeong concentration camp in 2002. “I feel that my father is watching over our rehearsals,” Jeong says. Private citizens are also chipping in. One elderly woman sent a gold ring, a jade ring and a pair of earrings after reading about the show, and an elderly man sent a box containing W500 coins, W1,000 bills and W10,000 bills totaling W10 million. Chung says he is always hopeful in rehearsal but anxious when he is on his own. But he believes the show must be staged. "This is not a political activity. What we’re trying to do is just let people know about human rights abuses in North Korea by producing the musical. We are ready to deliver the message in the right way to North Korean leader Kim Jong-il,” he said. For more information call 02-569-4483 or go to http://www.yodukstory.com/

Show me the MONEY- Kim

Well, I know I haven't been posting much of late but I thought I'd take a few minutes to post up something I thought interesting. It seems that North korea is in need of some funds.

First, they filed a suit/complaint with the National Human Rights Commission of Korea. It appears that they would like to be paid $1,000,000,000 in compensation for the imprisonment and torture of some of it's newly-repatrioted citizens. Not to be outdone though, a day or so later some party from the South filed a similar suit against the North. The Noh administrations response... chirp, chirp.

As well, just the other day, a North Korean (soldier?) was killed in an automobile accident involving a Hyundai Asan employee. I'm not sure on the details of this, but I seriously wonder if $1,000,000 (what they are asking for in damages) would be what the family of the victim would usually get in any similar case in the DPRK.

I seriously wonder though if the North just isn't hard up for money. Right now Kim Jong-il is in China and living it up and no doubt either trying to broker more aide or spending more of this hard earned cash on a new fighter jet.

Chung resigns!

That is right, my nemesis has stepped down from his post as Unification Minister *cough* DPRK kiss-up *cough* and is heading on to try for the presidency.

Awhile ago I was worried that he might just have a chance of winning. That somehow he would pull a rabbit out of the bag and pull offf a diplomatic wonder. Luckily, that never happened.

So, now begins the race for the Blue House. No one out there would be dumb enough to vote for this guy... right?

Kim Dae-jung to visit North

Well, I dare say that Chung may be bumped off of my #1 slot for most asinine. An old favorite has come back to haunt us here in Juggertha's hall. Apparently Kim Dae-jung is planning on visiting the DPRK sometime soon. With comments like those below I seriously wonder why this man was not thrown off that ship so many years ago.

"Although they (the US) use strong rhetoric, I don't think they don't have the strength to carry out the military operations that the neo-conservatives insist upon."

"South Korea cooperates with the United States for peace. If war is the premise, everything must change."

Wow, could it be possible that I am GLAD that Noh is president instead of this guy? Well, maybe that is taking it a bit too far but seriously, is he just losing it in his old age? I'm no fan of US foreign "excursions" but I have little doubt as to their power.

Also of note is where this is an official visit or not, you decide:

Former President Kim Dae-jung said he would meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-il for a second time in the near future. He said the governments of both Koreas had agreed to his trip, but that he would travel there in a private capacity, not as an envoy of the Roh administration.

The visit, at an unspecified time, would be Mr. Kim's second encounter with Kim Jong-il, whom he met in June 2000 for the first meeting of the two nations' heads of government. "Pyongyang has requested a visit several times, and President Roh Moo-hyun officially asked me to make the visit," he said.

A peek at North Korea

I've been away for awhile but now I'm back and I thought I'd start this week's blogging by making note of some pics from the North. Normally it is difficult to take pictures of anything but the "official sites" but for some reason an annonymous businessman was able to snap these pics.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/picture_gallery/05/asia_pac_unseen_north_korea/html/1.stm


I could travel more or less where I pleased for my work, and even though we always had translators and minders, I was rarely prevented from taking photographs.

I am under no illusions about the nature of the state. What I saw was how North Koreans live and work.



North Korea is a land of vast motorways, some with as many as 10 lanes. But they are always empty. Very few people own cars.
Pedestrians and cyclists zig-zag across them as they are so unused to traffic.

But even though these roads host few vehicles, they are beautifully tended. Every Sunday, the people who live close by can be seen dusting down the gutter and pruning the shrubs on the road. Some might be visible in the distance here.


A woman stands in contemplation at the side of a village lane.
The most impressive aspect of such villages is that even in the remotest areas and despite their poverty, they are maintained with great care.

Scrap metal and twigs are intricately entwined to create the fencing that demarcates each home. Villagers often tend allotments together and share the produce.


Men thatch the roof of their home as winter draws in. People are responsible for the upkeep of their own properties and in remote rural areas they can only rely on the natural resources that lie around.
In the background, there is a TV aerial jutting out of the neighbouring roof. Many homes in rural areas have such aerials and I can only imagine they are for receiving broadcasts from the local state-controlled channels.

The yards are tidy. Even the most humble dwellings are clean and well-presented.



http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/spl/hi/picture_gallery/05/asia_pac_unseen_north_korea/img/5.jpg


On a frosty day, peasants cluster on a remote country lane to dig at the ice caking roads and streams so they can access the mud underneath.
Mud is valuable as a fertiliser. Throughout the seasons, piles of mud and even human manure will be applied onto fields in order to make the crops grow better.

Red flags and banners bearing government propaganda slogans dot these fields. Their motto is: 'Dig for victory'. In this case they seem to be digging for sheer survival.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/spl/hi/picture_gallery/05/asia_pac_unseen_north_korea/img/6.jpg


Despite the deprivation, children will always find creative ways to play. As they are too poor to afford ice skates, these boys have improvised with knife blades stuck onto blocks of wood. They propel themselves along with sticks.
The ice on this lake is about 25cm deep. As people walk across it you hear pistol shots ringing out as hairline cracks develop. But it is perfectly safe and in the winter people cycle across the lake to get to the other side.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/spl/hi/picture_gallery/05/asia_pac_unseen_north_korea/img/7.jpg


This department store in the centre of Pyongyang has the latest goods for sale.
The food counters sell vacuum-packed foods. There are also traditional medicines and imported pharmaceuticals. Electronic devices are also on sale, including digital cameras and the occasional MP3 player.

Just who can afford these items on a Korean salary is not clear. Perhaps some are just there for show.

NORTH KOREA: The Struggle Against American Power

Well now, this seems to be an interesting idea for a book.

Description:
George W. Bush's infamous remark about the 'Axis of Evil' brought North Korea dramatically back into the international spotlight. During the late 1990s relations between North Korea and the US and its allies were on the mend. However, the election of George W. Bush resulted in renewed crisis. The nuclear accord between the two countries was torn up, dashing North Korean hopes for establishing normal diplomatic and economic relations. Though malnutrition has eased and the economy is growing, the outlook is bleak.

This book cuts through the propaganda to unearth the complex and contradictory realities of this much-demonised country and its geopolitical context. The North is not a ‘workers’ paradise’ but, like Iraq, neither is it a threat to its neighbours and the region in the way usually portrayed.

Tim Beal reveals a country overburdened by military spending that sees itself under constant threat. However, he also shows that North Korea is pragmatic about negotiating with the United States. Attempts at economic reform and export expansion are shackled by US and Japanese hostility. Exploring a broad range of subjects including the historical and political framework of North Korea, the development of the nuclear crisis, human rights issues, drug trading, as well as its shifting relationship with South Korea, this is an ideal book for anyone who wants a thorough introduction to the daunting challenges faced by this country.

Chung caught doing crack!

That's right, you heard it here first! Chung Dong-young has been caught doing drugs

Apparently, he gave an interview while high. Read on:

"Communist North Korea and capitalist South Korea are likely to have formed at least an economic union by 2020"

"North Korea would be ready to accept Seoul's offer of free electricity as a stop-gap until light-water atomic reactors were built"

"The vision of the Republic of Korea -- my personal vision as a politician -- is that by 2020 we will be a welfare state, and also at the same time, the South and the North will be able to communicate freely, that we will at least have developed into a joint economic union,"

"With North Korea, sticks don't help in solving problems," he said. "It doesn't give you the short cut, but only aggravates the problem."

Well, now that explains it. He has been dreaming of making the ROK into a welfare state the whole time. Now I understand why he is giving away so much of the tax payer's money! He wants the government to support the masses, ok, but where will the money come from? He keeps talking about providing all this funding to the North, but I am still missing the announcement of the tax hike that will pay for it all.

Unified Olympic team

Do you see how ugly this girl is? Well, at least how bad all those colors look on her? For some reason it smacks me as a hint of how ugly this news is.

I am in a hurry but I thought this was worth posting. A unified Korean team eh. Well, I'm very curious to hear how they plan to pull that off. I mean really, which flag and anthem do they plan to play?

A good weekend for me.

Well, it seems that the Uri party Leader ship bowed out of the lime light after a crushing defeat in some local elections. Buahahaha. Seriously, did anyone expect any different? The Uri party was NEVER meant to lead and the people of the ROK have been feeling it's ill effects. I must say, I giggled like a school girl when I saw this news on the stands. Heck, I even stooped so low as to buy a Korean Herald edition just to gloat.

Also in the news was a couple of tid-bits on the DPRK. man, I thought that Bush was having a hard week (ok, he is). These guys from the North sound stressed.

First there were some shots fired at the South from the North (quite under-reported)

SEOUL, Oct. 28 (Yonhap) -- A shot fired from North Korea fell near a South Korean guard post inside the demilitarized zone late Friday, but there were no casualties, Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said.South Korean soldiers immediately returned several rounds of fire toward the North but received no response, the JCS said in a statement.

Then, a North korean diplomat decided he'd " curse at some guy for bad mouthing his dear leader.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 27 (Yonhap) -- A South Korean activist protesting against North Korea said he was called a "son of a -----" after he whispered to a North Korean diplomat that his leader Kim Jong-il must be overthrown.

And now it has been reported that Kim Jong-il is having troubles removing all the mustard stains he got on his nose from kissing Chinese president Hu Jintao's Butt.

Seoul sends regrets after death in North

Well, it seems that Unification Minister Chung Dong-young has sent a letter of condolence to the North in regards to the passing of a DPRK official. Among many nations, this is not really newsworthy, but by many accounts, this is the first time a South Kortean official has done it (in this way?). It seems that someone has forgotten that there is still technically a war on.

Anyway, on to more exciting news. It seems that I was able to get my hands on an actual copy of the letter. Please read it at your own risk. I have no idea how many laws I may be breaking by posting this.

Warming tides?

It seems that the ROK and the US are in the minds of renegotiating the details of their military alliance. There are no real big changes on the table (last year was more about moving the base out of Youngsan) but one issue that sems to be the darling of the Korean media is that of "Control over 'wartime' forces". As it stands right now, the ROK has control over it's forces during peace, but should ar break out on the peninsula, the US gets opperational command.

Personally, I'm glad the ROK is in a position to negotiate important points like this. I would like to have the Korean people more responsible for their own future, and this might just be a step in that direction. I hope though that it can be done with as little "kick out the foreign devils" as possible. The truth is, and this might surpise many of my readers (do I have many?), I think the US should look at a staged withdrawl of the majority of their troops. In the very least, they need to pull the troops out of Youngsan. The ARMY should never be in the heart of a city, it just doesn't fit with their job.

President Noh seems to think though that the Americans are looking at him more fondly. Lets hope that translates into more negotiating power eh.

"The United States appears to be accepting South Korea's changed attitude," Mr. Roh said. "The U.S. must be relieved to find that I am more moderate than they initially thought."