The KT’s Reuben Staines got opinions from a number of experts on whether Seoul is getting duped by the North on its offer to provide electricity to the energy-starved North.
-
English Books on Korea... and More!
-
Visit My Brother's Film Review Site
3 Comments
I’m surprised Seoul has not learned by now that there is no such thing as a kept promise when dealing with North Korea.
Of course, sometimes it’s difficult to understand SK’s true intentions. Are they giving blindly because they really think North Korea can deliver, or are there more selfish motives involved such as the lure of a constructing project within NK’s borders which in the future could possibly mean a lot financially to SK building contractors.
Of course, anything done in North Korea is a gamble…it just seems with Seoul there are hardly any limits.
I think we’ve seen this behavior before and North Korea has caught onto the game, as suggested in the article. NK knows the South will continue to give no matter what and therefore, Seoul has lost credibility in the eyes of the DPRK which seems to make true negotiations between North and South Korea almost a joke.
I’m not sure if the idea of striving for peace at “all costs” is a smart move on the South’s part. Yes it certainly sounds good and noble but if you are to be realistic here, as long as Fat Boy Kim is in power all that aid is sitting in very dangerous and untrustworthy hands.
While I certainly would like to believe that such gestures on the South’s part could be fruitful, judging on history’s experience that might be a little too much to wish for, even this time.
I don’t know what the point of a dialogue with DPRK is since it just seems to me that the DPRK negotiators are simply human recorders, blabbering back whatever message KJI programmed into their heads. What kind of “negotiating” can they possibly do when any sort of concession they give, might mean they wind up in a concentration camp? (so far their concessions include a handful of “video-family reunions”.)
Well, actually, a dialogue can be useful I suppose. It builds domestic political capital in that it makes it seem that we are working towards some type of solution. This could be useful. Also, it’s an effective delay tactic, and I’m not fully convinced that delaying a resolution to this is worse for us as opposed to KJI.
Seoul ginseng
The Seoul Times, South Korea - Oct 17, 2005 mountain dew tea produced in Haegye Valley and the other teas grown in the other commercial growing field is comparable to that of wild and ordinary ginseng.