Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jay-shi]

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/10/03/asia/AS-GEN-Koreas-Summit-Notebook.php

Koreas summit notebook: Roh's nose-picking, gifts to North Korean leader

The Associated Press
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
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SEOUL, South Korea: South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun unwittingly offered a dose of laughter Wednesday to hundreds of reporters covering his summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Il: Huge TV screens caught him picking his nose.

Right after seeing off Kim following a break in their first round of formal talks at the main state guesthouse in Pyongyang, Roh used his right thumb and the index finger to pick a nostril, then closed his hand and put it behind his back.

Two wall-sized screens played the scene at a summit media center set up in Seoul, triggering a wave of laughter among hundreds of journalists forced to remain in South Korea and to remotely cover the historic summit across the border.

The giant screens are showing images of Roh's three-day trip to Pyongyang, which began Tuesday.

North Korea limited traveling reporters at the summit to 50 � all from South Korean domestic media � leaving international journalists reliant on the TV screens, sketchy pooled coverage stories and images from the traveling reporters.

Wednesday's laughter came in stark contrast with the silence among reporters riveted to footage of moments like Roh's first handshake with the North's leader, shown Tuesday.

Seven years ago, reporters at the same media center in a posh Seoul hotel, where they covered the first-ever summit between the leaders of the two Koreas, erupted in applause when TV screens there showed scenes like Kim and then-South Korean President Kim Dae-jung clasping hands.

[Typhoon]

That might have been the most productive moment of the summit. At least it appears he got something out of his nose.

[Julius]

I thought nose-picking was a normal acceptable part of korean culture?

Next up: Roh puts his hand on Kims knee.

[cbclark4]

No picture no proof!

[jinju]

brilliant, love it. He will be remembered for that as he leaves office:) That and being a total failure