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I don't know where this is going to lead - but its a postive sign to a better relationship between the two Korea's.
http://www.kois.go.kr/News/News/News...no=20050816017Quote:
Eleven North Koreans paid a courtesy call to the Assembly Speaker, which marked the first-ever North Korean visit to the South's parliament in Yeouido, Seoul, since the division of the peninsula six decades ago.
And then there is this one
http://www.kois.go.kr/news/news/news...102&SearchDay=
More likely Kim is trying to buy more time for the developement of his nuclear program - but, wouldn't it be nice if they suddenly changed their attitude.
One thing, the Souths' government has been very patient with Kim - from my experience there in 67-68' I find it amazing (felt we were there as much to keep the ROK troops from invading the North, as vice versa). Still, 40 years is a long time - and it has been 50 years since the end of formal hostilities. Who knows, but we do know that Kim could change his mind tomorrow.
You might be interested in viewing a Korean film (not bad - really) about the "Police Action". It won acclaim there and elsewhere. "Tae Guk GI - the brotherhood of war". Believe me, the South has not forgotten (or entirely forgiven) what happened 50 years ago. Btw, the film can be viewed dubbed in english, or with sub-titles. Is worth a look.
Hope for peace springs eternal. Eh, Red?
I enjoyed my tour in Korea - and while I believe its sometimes necessary to fight wars - I always pray for peace.Quote:
Originally Posted by KafirChobee
I pray for peace as well. I loved my year there; the Korean people are the greatest people I've ever met.
I just don't see a Korean conflict happening, short of Kim getting nukes. Maybe Kim is softening a little (Although I doubt it). I hope a peaceful reunification of Korea happens in my lifetime.
I think the North Korea nuclear programme has more to do with extracting aid concessions from the rest of the world and discouraging an invasion than any agressive ambitions.
Time makes a difference. My brothers both spent time there on FTXs - both in the mid-70s (Marine and USAF, respectively - they found out later they were in the same one) and the later was also there when one of our officers was hacked to death at Panmunjan (ms) - he was there for another FTX.Quote:
Originally Posted by Redleg
When I dropped in there it looked almost like what I had left in 'nam, only without the jungles (it was only 14 or so years after the war and since that land had been napalmed from one end to the other there were few tall trees), it was still very primative. Dongduchon (the "village" I was stationed near) still had an outhouse system - imagine the scent in summer. Anyone that has smelled a "honey bucket" (a hole where farmers kept human refuse for fertilizing their rice fields - paddies) knows exactly what I am talking about. Can still see the cherries (dessert) from my dinner in the middle of the road after I first experienced one - two vets grabbed my arms and marched me thru it ("Don't worry, you'll get use to it." - Gah! use to it.)
My bro, that was there in the 80's said I wouldn't recognize it - Korea (I mean maybe >1% owned a car or truck and A-frames were still the main toll for moving heavy objects - or gathering wood, the main source of warmth for the rural areas). Plus, there now exists a freeway running to the North - before it was just a 2 lane dirt path that passed thru the "Chinese tunnel".
So, yeah, things have changed tremendously in the South. As have attitudes. 40 years has a tendancy to do that in a free society (which it wasn't when I was there - Park still reigned). Also, there were over 500 "incidents" (incursions by the North) when I was there - and a few instigated by the South (after one of our patrols on the DMZ was nearly annihilated - one kid survived by playing dead, even tho they began to cut off his finger for his ring; a battalion of ROK crossed to the North and ambushed one of their camps. Don't bother trying to find it in any history, it was covered up, - the only reason I know about it is that a SF friend of mine was attached to them.). Btw, I was there when they attacked and kidnapped one of our capital ships - the Pueblo - very scarey time to be sure.
Point is, the unification process maybe in motion. It may even become a reality - once Kim is deposed or dies. But, for the moment I remain a skeptic on anything that Kim initiates - remember the North was in talks on economic reunification when they attacked the South the last time.