Told you. Kim Jong-il, big-hearted lug that he is, in the end decided to bestow upon President Roh — unworthy he may be — the highest honor anyone can receive by greeting him personally once Roh arrived in Pyongyang.
Isn’t that special.
Of course, maybe Kim came out because of Roh’s pimpin’ ride — in the most-looked-at piece on the summit so far at Naver.com, YTN reports that Roh may have chosen the Benz (see below), rather than his Beemer, Lincoln Continental or Korean-made Hyundai Equus, because the North Korean leader is a known Benz aficionado. By choosing Kim’s favorite car, Roh hoped to generate a positive mood for the summit. Or so it is said.
32 Comments
Didn’t it also have something to do the fact that the Benz was readily available w/armor plating and other security features?
#1.
The BMW 760Li in the Presidential auto fleet was readily available with security features to boot. Don’t know about the Lincoln, I don’t think it’s part of the Presidential fleet but I could be wrong. The Equus however, no way, since it is not bulletproofed.
So, at the least Roh could have taken the BMW, instead of the Mercedes.
Anyways, Korean newspapers were speculating on what car Roh will ride on back in August. Here’s the link;
http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/.....edes-benz/
I’m still not convinced it isn’t one of his doubles. I’ll believe it’s KJI when I see a clear that shows his face.
…a clear picture…
Look, Noh’s eyes are lit up with joy.
Oh, that’s the way he always looks? I see.
I especially await the calls for their tasering. But this time not sarcastically…
This from the CNN web page. http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WO.....index.html
It seems like only one person was enjoying the moment.
I used adblock to block these pictures out so I will not need to load all this nonsense into my computer everytime I load this page; really, one can look at any Korean online paper for this stuff.
>I used adblock to block these pictures >out so I will not need to load all this >nonsense into my computer everytime I >load this page;
What, are you on dial-up?
I would show up too if someone came over to deliver me a nice new, bulletproof Benz. Maybe KJI couldn’t go so far as jumping in and going for a spin, but that can wait a couple of days until they get rid of the sucker from the South and after they’ve fleeced him for a few hundreds of millions more.
#5,
Yeah, now that you mention it.
That picture needs this caption above KJI’s head, “Is that your handphone or are you just happy to see me?”
Here’s an interesting little article on the summit from Reuters. It seems that among other things, North and South Korea are making fake swiss watches together in the Kaesong (cheap labor) Industrial Park.
Read article here:
http://www.reuters.com/article.....0720071002
Oh, so Roh gets to walk back to South Korea? No way the Perm Boy will let this car leave the country…
“Roh hoped to generate a positive mood for the summit.”
Later Roh will see that boshintang is served, and will slip into something more comfortable…
Do you think he brought the KY, breath mints or both?
Hundreds of well trained Pyongyang citizens waved bouquets of their flowers “Kimjongilia” as they chanted, “Long life! Long life!” to their dear leader KJI not to Roh.
Damn KJI hadn’t moved an inch as Roh walked toward him. That’s describing all about this special summit.
So how much cash do you think Roh Mu Hyun had stashed in the trunks of his fleet of luxury cars? Maybe Kim Jeong Il wasn’t smiling because he was waiting to say to the Rohster “Show me the money!”.
Is polling of the voters ongoing more or less continuously as it would be in the US at this point (within 2 months of a presidential election)? If so do the polls show an uptick in Roh’s numbers.
I would think one of you resident in ROK and routinely reading the Korean-language press might take an interest in this topic and post once a week or so (again, I’m assuming that the post-dictatorship-period ROK has the equivalent of US-style independent polling organizations — maybe not?)
When did actor Moon Sung Kun became a key Cabinet ministers and high-ranking aides greeting KJI?
http://www.ytn.co.kr/_comm/pop.....1942155832
Is he the head of Rohppa?
Any word on what car KJI will be driving in his promised visit to Seoul?
Is it just me, or does anyone else think Mr. Kim Jong Il has lost some weight?
Roh is the lamest of lame ducks and Kim is treating him accordingly. South Korea will get nothing of subtance from this summit/photo op. Also, it was interesting and telling that Kim made Roh stand in review of the troop march past - Roh was more or less forced to publiclly honor the KPA, that is unusual and different from the usual ceremonial review of the standing honor guard. Can you picture Reagan standing atop Lennin’s Tomb watching the Red Army march past? Or Daddy Bush doing the same for the PLA in China? Roh and his handlers are truely clueless.
@ Jing
I thought so too, but it looks like he’s sick as well. Perhaps there is a truth to the whole speculation that his health is rapidly failing?
Yes, the Korean media has taken note of his weight loss and overall health. I posted a link on the first summit thread. According to media reports, Kim and Roh did not speak beyond exchanging greetings. Look at the KJI in the video. He trundled slowly down the red carpet and could not manage a conversation with his southern counterpart or even a smile. I don’t think KJI is being aloof or unfriendly. I think he is a walking corpse. Have London bookies started taking bets on his demise?
You can judge for yourself in this YTN clip:
http://www.ytn.co.kr/_comm/pop.....1942155832
What’s strange is that he definitely looks like he’s lost weight, but his belly still sticks out. It seems like he’s lost more muscle than fat.
“Roh and his handlers are truely clueless.”
I’m not so sure about that. Remember the ‘Il Shim Hue’ case and how the Roh government quickly killed the investigation by replacing the director of the NIS?
http://freekorea.us/2006/11/27/?cat=0
http://freekorea.us/2007/04/16.....-confused/
Wasn’t it also revealed that one of Roh’s former aids had been the president of a pro-North Korean student union in the 80’s?
That also happened when Kim Dae Jung visited North Korea on 2000. And I remember seeing a video of it happening when a Chinese Premier visited Pyongyang, although I don’t exactly remember who and when. It looks like usual NK protocol to have the honor guard march in front of visiting dignitaries. So, I wouldn’t put too much meaning into that.
If Roh wanted to get KJI to smile, he could have tried inviting some talented actor or actress along to brighten the mood. Someone like Ee Young-Ae would be just great.
The only good thing I can say about this summit is that the Fat Man looks like he may be on his last legs. (Not that there hasn’t been speculation on his or the regime’s demise time and time again, but he really does look like shit at the moment.) Once he goes, things should get rather interesting. Strap on your seatbelts…
@globalvillageidiot
What do you think? Transfer of power to Kim Jung Nam, “war of the heirs”, random general takeover, factional infighting –> civil war (…within a technical civil war), regime collapse, *gasps for air*
Too many possibilities?
No way of knowing what will go down, or how it will happen. I would venture to guess that one of his sons won’t be the next leader, but beyond that who knows? Without a doubt, it will be extremely interesting.
“Is it just me, or does anyone else think Mr. Kim Jong Il has lost some weight?”
Ov guz hiz purfic bodi as Amerikan kon farma, YA!?