I cannot imagine the common people of North Korea being any different from the people of South Korea. Aren't they both 98-99% homogeneous, and have the same DNA? Yes, the NorKo regime itself is a family dynasty of vampires feasting on the blood and spirit of its people. But in a weird way they do seem to have a crafty deterrence strategy. But is that strategy based on reality? Or is based on irrational fear? Or is it based on the internal politics of staying in power?
I'm definitely not an expert on East Asia. I've spent a total of two months in Korea (the South) back in the mid 70s. Even though it was below zero winter weather, I loved my time there. The ladies all had apple cheeks reminding me of upstate New York girls. Vendors were roasting chestnuts on street corners of the villages on the outskirts of Uijongbu. The baked chicken with body cavities stuffed full with garlic (entire bulbs, not a few cloves) was even better than my dear Aunt Rosa's (sorry Rose, may you rest in peace). The people were friendly and hard working. Same same for Little Seoul in LA and the various Koreatowns throughout the west coast. I believe the North Korean people to have the same intrinsic characteristics.
Whatever happened to the re-unification dream? China wanted it, as did the Russians, the US, the UN, and both the North and South Koreans at least gave it lip service. Grampa Kim proposed a 'Confederation of Koryo' in which North and South Korean respective political systems would remain.
We should be sending fertilizer and tractors to Pyongyang and not aircraft carriers. Ivanka and Jared should have done some ski diplomacy in Masikryong instead of carving S-curves on the slopes of Aspen.
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| hat tip on the photo to bjornfree.com/kim/ |
