The question of how much cash will Roh drop this time… I think whatever it is, it will only add to his lameduck legacy. And perhaps teach the South Korean tax paying public about the wisdom of their choice 5 years ago.

My only concerns are… that KJI is doing a fantastic job cleaving US-ROK relations by demanding that we stop ULJI FOCUS and also shaking hands with Tehran. I am afraid that RMH might be stupid enough (and we know from the past that he is indeed stupid enough) to stop ULJI FOCUS.

Personally, I think South Korean voting public are sick of paying for KJI and getting nothing back in return. This whole thing will probably be (here’s hoping) the final blow to South Korea’s loony leftists. And I still think that the chance of this summit not happening is significant enough.

Amid all the inflated rhetoric?from both the Roh administration and expat pundits?the recently announced DPRK-ROK summit is at best yawn-inducing. I’m struggling to find any element of this proposed vanity project that either side has not tried b…

First of all, thank you for your kind words! And sorry for a relatively short answer, I still have an urgent work to finish tonight.

I think that a summit is not a bad idea. But not now! The Northerners know only too well how desperate the RMH and his supporters are, and Pyongyang dictators will make most of this situation. Seoul is not in position to bargain now, they will many concessions and will not ask too many questions.

The generous aid packages which are certain to be agreed upon will be delivered without any conditions attached. The lame ducks of the Blue House are not in position to insist on monitoring, so the aid will be used by Kim Jong Il to enforce its grasp on power. In other words, additional money and food would feed the dictator’s bodyguards, the secret police officials and propaganda mongers while only a fraction, if any, of this aid will ever reach the average North Koreans.

Having said that: I believe that exchanges and negotiations are the only way. Not because it will somehow redeem the NK regime or persuade them to start reforming themselves (they are not suicidal), but because it will bring some seeds of change, which will sooner or later have some impact, and also because it will prepare the North koreans (I mean, real NKoreans, not only the privilleged elite) for the life in the future world. And this preparation is an important task which is often underestimated.

Sorry, have to go…

First let me just say that I am in awe of the work you are doing with FreeNK radio, Radio Free Asia, and NK Daily. I noticed that you are getting quite busy—my Lankov-watching leads me to conclude happy destruction of KJI in the near horizon. Also on a personal note, I think your opinion is the only one worth listening to out of all the so-called NK “experts” I hear.

In my view of the upcoming summit (folks, there is always the possibility it doesn’t happen, we are talking about North Korea here), Roh Moo Hyun is grasping for straws in terms of popularity boost. I can’t see how it’s going to change the Lee Myung Bak outcome. I think you probably agree with me that when KDJ did it, it was worth the effort, since it was the first time a South Korean leader did anything of the sort. I think most SK voters are smarter than what our regular Marmot posters give them credit for.

And I think at this point, if KJI were to use this to “twist” the context of the summit for his propaganda… well, this is really grasping for straws on the part of KJI considering we all know that Winter Sonata has successfully infiltrated the North Korean psyche. It is enough, I think, that NK people see South Korean president on NK central broadcasting. I think it’ll generate enough talk and hopefully gossips and rumors.

The third concern you raise, this is something that is troubling indeed… But now matter what we do, I really can’t see the south korean groovy train stopping whether or not Roh goes to Pyongyang. If anything, this summit thing could be a “reward” KJI gave to Roh for a broader set of goodie basket South Korea gave to North to get it back on the table with nuclear disarmament. IF this summit leads to more family reunions, then the cost of funding North Korea’s secret police may be worth it. We all know how those family members go back to North Korea and talk about what they seen or heard.

The way I look at it, I favor any action that chip away the information blockade of North Korea. RMH can not save Uridang. It’s just not all about NK issue. His party’s crazy members left him when he tried to do a sensible economic policy. You yourself have written several times that the change in NK must happen from party cadre. If we wind up feeding them and at the same time hopefully shove in a fresh wind of change, I welcome this.

I like my gay ass id almost as much as I like my gay ass friends. :b Tip to your butt: chicks generally aren’t homophobes and thus aren’t insulted or put off by gay references.

” Boo Hoo hoo…You gonna cry, like the rain? Or are you a fan of the singer???”

Troll insults only ever make me laugh. Thanks for starting my morning with a healthy serotonin-raising chuckle.

Holy shit, Rocco’s spot on about something. I’d better get my ass to confession; the apocalypse is clearly upon us!

You didn’t answer the questions. Can’t you?

AH! Korea’s role in the Asian economic crisis. Ok. Got it.

You probably werent paying attention when the north Koreans attacked the ROK Navy in 2002 and sank a ROK ship killing several sailors int he process. You were probably too busy watching the World Cup game against Turkey. Who won that game anyway?