Comments on: Thanks, guys

By: usinkorea

usinkorea — Tue, 17 Oct 2006 23:48:57 +0000

Didn’t have time to read the comments, but….

this was one of the things that tipped me off real quick that SK’s Cold War experience was a good bit different from America’s. This was back in 1996, and when the alert went off in Wonju, after it was over, I asked the students where the bomb shelters were or what kind of sign to look for on banks and other buildings to see if they had a bomb shelter. They looked at me like I was from Mars and then thought, “Hey. Bomb shelters. Those might not be such a bad idea!”

When I asked what they were supposed to do if it were not a drill - they said, “Stay in side so the military can use the roads.” They left out the “like sitting ducks” part that quickly jumped into my mind.

These were all adults in the 30s and up.

By: jefferyhodges

jefferyhodges — Tue, 17 Oct 2006 20:02:16 +0000

I guess if you work for MOFA, then you’re an expert on judging paranoiacs’ tendency to perceive patterns where none exist.

Jeffery Hodges

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By: chiamattt

chiamattt — Tue, 17 Oct 2006 07:59:55 +0000

You people are so off the hook hillarious. There are air raid drills every year. I currently work for MOFA and yesterday we had a gas mask demonstration. The paranoid ramblings on this site are more cause for concern than the nuke test.

By: jefferyhodges

jefferyhodges — Tue, 17 Oct 2006 04:36:31 +0000

Thanks, Seouldout, it was a well-handled moment — if I do say so myself. Of course, I had some help from the ROK Air Force.

But your evacuation scenario would have been even better.

Incidently, I’ve written about the scene at somewhat greater length on my blog, where I discuss The Marmot’s own evacuation route

Jeffery Hodges

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By: North Korea zone

North Korea zone — Tue, 17 Oct 2006 02:42:53 +0000

Latest on NK Nukes…

Various news items concerning the recent nuclear test in North Korea: Chinese banks are restricting cash payments to the DPRK, according to the Chosun Ilbo, and North Korean workers in China are being returned home. Andy Jackson, writing on the……

By: seouldout

seouldout — Tue, 17 Oct 2006 01:00:24 +0000

Jeff, great comedic timing.

Then, I laughed and went on teaching.

Pity you didn’t put your book in your bag, announce “Time to evacuate; I gotta go to the US Embassy”, and walk out the door. It would’ve pushed them over the edge.

By: michael

michael — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 23:44:55 +0000

As Nomad said, the sirens go off every month on the 15th, even in downtown Seoul. Sometimes the neighborhood is so noisy you can’t hear them.

By: kimchipig

kimchipig — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 23:38:45 +0000

The air raid drills were an annual even before the love the dear leader period that started in 2000. The first one I was in scared the crap out of me. Then they became routine.

By: jefferyhodges

jefferyhodges — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 19:22:52 +0000

I recall these drills from 1995, so I knew what was happening. My students were clueless, so I told them that Kim Jong-il was attacking. That got some nervous laughter. About that time, the screaming jets flew over, and actual fear crossed some of their faces. I said, “Those are the missiles,” eliciting more fear.

Then, I laughed and went on teaching.

Jeffery Hodges

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By: Haisan

Haisan — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 16:31:22 +0000

I bet it is a Marmot version of “The Boys from Brazil”