You had to know that Pyongyang, the world leader in food sovereignty, would eventually get involved in the ongoing anti-American beef (anti-high oil prices, anti-miss the fun at the rally, anti-study for finals at SNU, anti-…) protests.
They do not disappoint. Check out this headline: All Koreans Called upon to Hold High Banner of June 15 Joint Declaration (KCNA):
People from all walks of life in south Korea are now turning out in the massive anti-”government” actions because the sycophantic and treacherous policy of the Lee Myung Bak group kowtowing and submitting to outside forces has brought so unbearable shame and disillusionment to the nation.
(I always think it is cute the way they always put quotes around “government” when refering to the democratically chosen administration in Seoul.)
OK protesters, you have your marching orders. We expect you to beat last night’s number of 80,000 to 200,000 protesters when you march to defend the June 15 Joint Declaration this weekend.
BTW, I think it is about time for the protesters to retire the image of candlelight girl thrusting her phallus upwards. Things have moved way beyond that.
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
“the sycophantic and treacherous policy of the Lee Myung Bak group kowtowing and submitting to outside forces has brought so unbearable shame and disillusionment to the nation.”
Funny. But that’s what the leader of Democratic labor party in South Korea, Kang Ki Gap said something similar along that line, the other day. In fact, it’s the same line as many South Korean civic groups and teachers union and some media.
Sometimes I can’t tell the difference in comments coming from either North government and South Korean politicans/groups.
North Korea DOES know something about “the abyss”.
North Korea sure knows how to nip any protests in the bud. Just keep your populace too hungry to move unless they have a gun to their heads!
But seriously, I hope these protests fizzle soon. If they keep increasing in scale, continue to have no central addressable issue, (the protesters goals have fractured so much, and many of the issues are pure internet fantasy, so how can you address them?), continue to paralyze the government and now starting to screw with the economy,(and, furthermore, just shutting down major streets in major cities); I can seriously see, in a month or two, a military strong man deciding enough is enough and trying to turn the clock back 30 years. It has moved from protest to irrational mob mentality. I also think that the original instigators have lost control, even if they don’t realize it yet. If things don’t stop soon the situation could become very, very self destructive.
One notes that, due to rising fuel prices, truck drivers may start a strike this friday — one that holds some real problems for the economy at this time. The taxi drivers are considering striking and the KCTU — notorious for their antics — is to vote on striking or not.
If I had to pick people who undermine South Korea, thus causing it harm, I would point to the teacher’s and trade unions as causing more harm than good. Are these people so willing destroy what prosperity South Korea has, all for the sake of their ideology?
Well just steer clear of Gwanghwamun and you should be okay. I haven’t seen any of the effects of this anywhere except online, because I work in Samseong-dong and live in Hongdae. I’ll let you know when it spreads to my world, though.
I just love the title. Its so melodramatic…
Kim Jong Il weighing in on a topic (and stealing credibility from the side he supports [imho]) is like the Godwin’s law of the Korean political scene:
Godwin’s law:
“As a Usenet discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches one.”
Kim Jong-Il’s law:
“As a political scenario pitting Left against Right in Korea grows longer, the probability of a goofy, vaguely threatening press release in overwrought prose from Kim Jong-Il approaches one.”
Roboseyo’s law:
The more one posts, the more one resembles Sheldon Bumturner.
#6 & #7
I do love the Melodrama of the North Korean English. There was a internet series of a guy who recently went to the North and filled his stay there. I cant find the link now, sorry, but I m sure many f you here watched it.
Anyway, when I read a quote like this I imagine someone reading it in that North Korean Propaganda English.
The more one posts, the more one resembles Sheldon Bumturner.
swlee: Who is this Sheldon Bumturner? I don’t know who you are speaking of.
he must be before my time.
(from mystery men:)
(but seriously: I am not he. Sorry to disappoint. He seems like a smashing good fellow, though.)
#9: Otto: you know those “mr. t my text” websites, where you can enter text, and it translates it into Mr. T speak, or smurf speak, or Valley Girl speak, or whatever? There ought to be a “propaganda speak” engine, where I can enter ordinary prose and have it come out reading like a North Korean press release, or a Korean corporation’s English promotional material.
for example:
Before: “I lost my glasses.”
After: “At the culmination of a 5000 year history, I lost my long-oppressed, sparkling glasses.”
Confirmed for all. thank you
actually, I really don’t know who this guy is. You can click through my link and see who I am — it’s all on my blog. Was he a K-blogosphere old-timer or something? Old-timer marmite? I’ve never used that name as a handle, and I don’t play with socks (makes my hands smell); sounds like i’d have liked him, though.
have a good one, swlee.
There is no nice way to say this, but swlee is easily and by far the least qualified of anyone among us to put down Shelton.
“Roboseyo”‘s comments do bear an uncanny resemblance to Bumgarner’s.
Who is this Sheldon Bumturner? I don’t know who you are speaking of.
Shelton Bumgardner (aka Migukin) is a Jewish-American expat who used to guest blog on this here Marmot’s Hole, who also happens to bear a striking resemblance to that guy who pee’d on himself while holding a bunch of ammo when the GIs were being attacked by the Germans in a particular scene of “Saving Private Ryan”. It has been a long while since he made an appearance.
North Koreans speak way better English than South Koreans.
You must log in to post a comment.