The only question; is it in response to North Korea or Japan? Via the Chosun Ilbo: “The first of a new class of destroyers named for King Sejong the Great will be launched late this month. Korea’s new ship with its Aegis combat system will be more powerful than Japan’s most advanced Aegis vessel.” Dokdo uriddang!
In an article at the Asia Times, Riddles and enigmas from North Korea, Andrei Lankov speculates on how governments get intelligence from inside North Korea, and lists some of the other valuable sources of information from the country.
- #From Mainichi and via the Chosun Bimbo, "In his first reported appearance following news of his hospitalization, North Korean leader Kim Jong Il lost his temper while watching a college soccer match, denouncing several players' long hair as "disgusting," according to a source close to the North Korean government. The outburst was followed by a nationwide ban on long hair for men." We'll all be watching the next soccer match to see if it's so.
- #Outward Bound, an international non-profit outdoor education program, is offering fully funded (including transportation to/from sites) outdoor adventure excursions to all OEF/OIF veterans. It doesn't matter what your current military status is (active, inactive, discharged, retired) - you're eligible to attend as long as you deployed in support of OEF/OIF combat operations while in the military.
- #Via AFP: “South Korea has lifted an overseas travel ban on Hwang Jang-Yop, the highest-ranking North Korean defector ever to come here and a harsh critic of the Pyongyang regime. . . Hwang, former secretary of the ruling Workers' Party and an ex-tutor of Kim Jong-Il, defected during a trip to Beijing in 1997.” His travel restriction was due to 10 years of pro-North ROK leadership, now over.
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May 25th, 2007 at 10:12 am
It sure is in response to Japan & part of the new nationalism. When S. Korean economy became one of top 13 in the world, Koreans needed a better military, better global corporations, high speed bullet trains, home-made jet fighters, etc.
May 25th, 2007 at 10:28 am
I agree; my question was sarcastic.
May 26th, 2007 at 1:33 pm
wondering why some people in Korea and foreigners wish it is in response to Japan???
hahhaha, it could be in response to china whose imperialistic expansionism has ever been increasing rewriting and distorting the history of Mongols,and Korean ancient history in Manchuria.
Acutally these days Koreans see China as more troublesome threats to them far more than Japan. they don’t like chinese for sure..hahah
Japan is a democracy as well as Korea. they know how to behave and where to stop for sure. but what about communist china???
you will know what they are doing in Tibet and western mulsim territory.
June 14th, 2007 at 10:36 am
haha:
Because children aren’t trained from a young age to wish death to all Chinese like they are Japanese. It’s completely logical that S. Korea keep a close eye on China for all those good reasons you mentioned, however no one seems to care about what China is doing because they’re too pre-occupied with what Japan has once done. It should be in response to China, but it was made with Japan in mind.
June 14th, 2007 at 8:15 pm
until the day when korea claims japan and eastern half of china as their own territory, koreans will never be satisfied. i know i’m not..