Monday, October 09, 2006
As I was on my way to downtown Daegu in a taxi today, I heard some reports on the news concerning North Korea. I understood that they were talking about North Korea, nuclear weapons, and seismic activity.
My Korean is not yet at the level for me to easily understand complicated news broadcasts, so I asked my taxi driver to confirm what was happening. He told me that the report was that North Korea tested a nuclear weapon about an hour prior.
It seemed a bit strange since everything around me looked just as it had before. Nobody seemed upset or worried.
I also did not feel any threat or fear of danger. The main threat that I felt was the threat to our business. I know that this report will have an impact. Although at the time of my writing, the United States has not confirmed whether or not the reports are true, it seems likely that they are.
So, the question now is how will this impact myself and my family in the short term, how will it affect South Koreans in general, how will it affect the world’s outlook on safety in Korea?
At this point, nobody in my family is packing their bags, that’s for sure. While we obviously have the means to get on a plane and head to another country, that is nowhere near my mind. Oddly, the main concern I have right now is whether or not the bus I am on will arrive in time for me to make it to they gym with my wife for 9 pm as we had planned.
Are South Koreans, and perhaps myself, too passive? That is possible. But, it seems to be a pretty safe bet to follow the locals. They’ve been dealing with North Korea for over 50 years, and this is far from the first event that has been initiated by the attention-seeking North.
Having lived in Korea for over 5 years, I have a pretty good understanding of the local atmosphere. For me, this feels a bit different. Perhaps back in my teaching days, I was not so worried about events like this. But, now that my livelihood, and the survival of
my business, depends on being able to provide a safe and enjoyable experience for those planning a teaching trip abroad, I’m paying more attention to the news.
It has been my experience that Westerners have little idea of what life is like on the Korean Peninsula. I have to include myself, because before arriving in South Korea in 1999, I could not name a city in Korea aside from Seoul, and could not relay any useful information about the country if I had to. I think that still applies for the majority of Westerners.
Except now, they will be able to say, “Oh yeah, Korea is the place with the nuclear bomb. Better stay away from there.”
But, is staying away from here the best advice? According to my opinion, no.
The motives of the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-Il, seem painfully obvious to me. It’s almost embarrassing to see. To paraphrase Ayn Rand, it’s like the feeling you get when watching an unfunny comedian. Or to paraphrase my business partner, in a slightly more crude expression, it’s like watching porn with your parents. Very uncomfortable.
Would this behavior of trying so hard to garner attention for oneself be witnessed at a party, it would make one wince and cringe. By trying so hard to attract attention, the perpetrator of the spectacle only alienates themselves further.
How about the South’s provocation, referring to the firing of warning shots towards North Korean soldiers crossing into southern territory? I don’t think it will take a team of CSI investigators to figure that one out.
Let’s see, we need a reason to say that South Korea provoked the test, let’s send a few soldiers into southern territory. Hopefully they will get shot at, and perhaps even killed. Then, we can show that we have obvious justifications for testing a nuclear weapon.
How embarrassing is it to hear the North claim that incident as having provoked the test? Particularly after already having announced the upcoming test.
This reminds me of another behavior I witnessed while in elementary school. It involved a student that I’m sure everyone is familiar with. He is the one who, after having hurt someone while playing outside, fakes an injury of his own in order to take attention away from the original injury (the real one) and to try to illicit some pity of his own.
The only downfall with that is that the only person who is buying the act is the actor himself, everyone else is forcing themselves to pretend to believe that he is hurt, because it would be more uncomfortable for them if the truth were out in the open.
This is the strange psychology happening with North Korea now. But, I think it is time we admit that we know what’s happening, and that we expose the culprit. Enough pretending not to know the true motives.
This only encourages bad behavior, as any parent knows.
So, let’s discontinue our capitulation to the North Korean leader, and be bold enough to call him on his actions.
We know what you’re up to Mr. Kim, and we’re tired of watching porn with our parents. Let’s change the channel.
Jason Cresswell has lived in South Korea for over 5 years.
Originally a teacher, he is now co-owner and CEO of
ASK Now Inc.
