As mentioned by Robert below, KJI requested Roh stay for one more day, which was later withdrawn. Here’s how the exchange went.
KJI : I just got a report that the weather for tomorrow afternoon is not good. There’s supposed to be lunch before you leave and it’s supposed to last for 90 minutes. I think it’s a good idea if we were to have a leisurely belt buckle releasing lunch. So why don’t we push today’s meeting to tomorrow and you go home on the morning of the 5th.
RMH : I answer to two organizations that are more powerful than me. I have to consult the security and protocol people.
KJI : (Shuffling his papers) The President cannot decide on this matter? The President can decide and it will be done.
RMH : The big ones I can decide on but the little ones I cannot decide.
Later at 4:25 pm.
KJI : We have acheived much today. There is no need for an extension. There are a lot of people down South waiting. Let’s keep the schedule as it is.
The above exchange has sent the Korean media scrambling to interpret KJI’s motive behind the request. Personally, it looked like KJI was testing Roh.
On a different note, probably because of press reports regarding his health and Roh’s toast to his health at yesterday’s banquet, when Roh thanked KJI for welcoming him personally, KJI responded by saying “The President has come, I’m not an ill man, so there is no need for me to be in bed at home.”
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
Did they re-fuel the cars and buses? How much is a liter
of gas up there?
I wondered if KJI was just too tired to endure a long afternoon meeting. Notice how haggard he looked on the first day. He was smiling and talking more yesterday, but that 2 1/2 hour meeting was probably a strain for him. He really needs his beauty rest.
Maybe all those checks just had not cleared yet? :^)
Sounds like he was trying to bugger the great pretender.
“personally, it looked like KJI was just testing Roh.”
Wow. That’s deep.
Anyways, this summit will surely put to the test the notion that more talk is always better than less. I’m normally a proponent of more talk but, in this instance, there is just way too much concern about Roh giving away the store. Better to keep him on as tight a leash as possible and pull him back here before any damage could be done.
Another consideration, though: imagining for a second that Roh was not such a fucking loser (I know… big request..), wouldn’t it be nice if the leader could break free of the security/protocol diplomatic institution that binds all leaders and do something really daring?
Ok, back to reality…
I am sure there are plenty of people wishing they all stayed up there permanently!
Media transcripts of the exchange appear to have edited out KJI’s advisor rephrasing Roh’s reply, which apparently, KJI didn’t understand. Click the third VOD at the following link (Blue House website):
http://www.president.go.kr/cwd/kr/archive/archive_view.php?meta_id=inter_korean_summit&id=7efce9d099922d0a0cc1486
man… what i would give to find out what goes on in that guy’s head…
Hardyandtiny:
Daily NK tells that a couple of years ago one kilo of gas (they use the weight unit in the north) cost a half month’s salary of a worker, that is 1500 won.
Most cars run with wood gas as was the case during WW2 here in Finland, but I guess Benz drivers in DPRK opt for not installing a wood gas burner in their vehicles.
An earlier report by Daily NK from 2001 has it that diesel fuel was 50 won and normal gas 100 won a liter, so there seems to have been quite a rise.
#1, #9 – How long is the drive between Seoul and P’yang? Couldn’t they make it on one tank of gas (with enough left over for a trip to Everland)?
I agree this could’ve been a test of sorts. If Roh said yes, then Dear Leader’s folks will say Kim has Roh eager to meet with him for as long as possible to receive Kim’s guidance. If Roh says no, then that can be interpreted any number of ways, including an unwillingness to work towards concrete progress on (insert issue here).
Unfortunately, I think Roh’s answer was even worse, and he started digging a hole for himself when he said he’d have to check with his peeps first. In an effort to cover that up he said “The big [issues] I can decide on but the little [issues] I cannot decide.”
I’m actually surprised KJI didn’t scold him with a retort like, “So you don’t think meeting with me is an important issue?” or “Yes, and you should check with the Americans, too, to see if it’s OK!”
Kim’s a sneaky, clever guy, and I’m sure he’ll find a way to get some propaganda mileage out of that.
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