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World Traveler
Joined: 29 May 2009
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 Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 9:56 am Post subject: |
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| weso1 wrote: |
Local news has had kind of a weird take on things. I can't translate everything they say, but there's almost a sense of grief about it. They keep showing montages of him smiling and laughing and playing sad music with every photo in a kind of soft focus. Like, they're sad he's dead.
Now, I'm not saying I've heard this from anyone, but I can see how some ubber nationalist might think it. Could they actually be reserved about this because, after all, he was Korean? So, despite the evil he's done, the threats he's made to the South, the starvation and torture of his own Korean people, could the locals really be thinking "well, he was still Korean, so we can't be happy about this." |
South would cheer on North in football with U.S.
Feb 09,2011
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More than 70 percent of South Koreans would root for North Korea if the communist nation played a football match with the United States, while the two Koreas� reunification is becoming less of a priority for the public here, a study showed yesterday.
According to the study by Professor Eun Ki-soo of Seoul National University, one survey last year showed that 70.1 percent of respondents would cheer for North Korea while only 6 percent to 8 percent would side with the United States in a football match between the two countries. Six to 10 percent said they would cheer for both teams, while the remaining 10 to 13 percent said they would not side with either.
Comparable data showed that the percentage of North Korea supporters was 21.3 percent in 1986 before increasing annually to 55.1 percent in 1987, 58.1 percent in 1988, 71.2 percent in 1989 and 82 percent in 1990. |
http://koreajoongangdaily.joinsmsn.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=2931956 |
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Captain Corea
Joined: 28 Feb 2005
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 2:24 pm Post subject: |
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| weso1 wrote: |
| Local news has had kind of a weird take on things. I can't translate everything they say, but there's almost a sense of grief about it. They keep showing montages of him smiling and laughing and playing sad music with every photo in a kind of soft focus. Like, they're sad he's dead. |
The local news (evening) that I watched last night ran the whole course - Rumors around his death, taped reactions from the DPRK, reactions from South Koreans, and political manoeuvring around what to do.
The Left seemed to be showing the grief you are talking about... with calls for sending condolences and such. And the Right seems a bit befuddled as to what to do.
Public shocked but calm compared to 1994
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The South Korean public was dumbfounded by the unexpected news of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il�s death, announced shortly after noon yesterday by the regime�s Korean Central News Agency.
Hundreds of people were seen crowding in front of televisions in public areas across the country, trying to watch news reports, while others frantically poked and prodded their smartphones for more details on the breaking news.
Some people cried out in celebration, while others voiced concerns over potential escalations between the two Koreas, including a war.
�I was bewildered at first, but now I�m glad,� said Seoul resident Lee Kyu-ho, 78, who described himself as strongly anti-North Korea. �I hope the death of Kim Jong-il will bring unification of the North and the South.�
Parents of sons currently serving in the military took the news seriously, worried for their children�s safety.
�My son is currently serving in the Marine Corps in Pohang,� said Lee Hyung-ok, 52, who said she was worried sick that her son could be dispatched to the front lines in case of war. �I�m pretty sure that all parents who have sent their sons to the military would be alarmed by the news.�
But some South Koreans said Kim�s death was not a big deal.
�When North Korea�s founder Kim Il Sung died, the media and citizens in South Korea were in shock, and the country was noisy for several days, but nothing much happened,� said Huh Seung-jin, 27, an oriental medicine doctor in Seoul. �Plus, we were aware that Kim Jong-il�s health was poor. His death was somewhat anticipated.�
Lee Sung-jae, 21, a college student, said, �I wasn�t aware that Kim Jong-il�s death was such a big issue until the huge media coverage. Right now, I�m confused by people�s diverse reactions, and I don�t know whether I should take this seriously or not.�
Among these mixed reactions, many people expressed anger at their government for being blindsided by yesterday�s news.
�I heard that the government found out about the news the same time as the public, even though the death occurred two days ago,� said Min Sang-hyeok, 34, an office worker in Seoul. �I think I�ve lost trust in the country�s national security.�
In contrast to the panic in South Korea in 1994 when Kim Il Sung died, members of the public yesterday appeared to take the news more calmly. In 1994, South Koreans, fearing a war, flooded supermarkets to purchase daily necessities, cleaning out shelves across the country. However, reports yesterday said that daily necessities such as water, noodles and canned foods were still in stock.
Kim�s death quickly became the main subject on social networking services, including Facebook and Twitter, yesterday afternoon. Many young South Koreans posted critical comments online about Kim�s death, such as one user who wrote, �The notorious cold-blooded leader deserves death.� Those who posted on Twitter wishing Kim to �rest in peace,� meanwhile, were criticized by a flood of replies, calling such comments �irrational� and the posters �commies.�
The official Twitter account for coffee chain Tom N Toms posted yesterday afternoon, �It�s sad to see some people expressing joy while some express fears over a death of a person. Rest in Peace Kim Jong-il.�
After a flood of criticism, the tweet was deleted, and Tom N Toms posted an apology saying that �it was a posting by an individual employee.� |
Sounds like some likely reactions. |
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SMOE NSET
Joined: 25 Feb 2010
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 4:34 pm Post subject: |
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Kim Jong Eun went to school in Switzerland. On the news special last night (probably the same one Captain watched), they had a whole segment on his schooling there. They had interviews with former classmates, showed pictures, and even had a few essays he had written.
His classmates said he was a really smart and funny kid. He was top of the class in maths and English and he became fluent in German within two years. One of the essays/poems they read of his stated that he opposed terrorism, nuclear weapons, and war.
In the pictures, they showed him wearing a Chicago Bulls jersey laughing and playing with his classmates. He was always smiling in all of the photos and with many friends.
Not saying he didn't change once he moved back to North Korea but hopefully his experience motivated him in some way as to not go down the same path his father and grandfather laid out for him. |
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silkhighway
Joined: 24 Oct 2010
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 5:21 pm Post subject: |
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| SMOE NSET wrote: |
Kim Jong Eun went to school in Switzerland. On the news special last night (probably the same one Captain watched), they had a whole segment on his schooling there. They had interviews with former classmates, showed pictures, and even had a few essays he had written.
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That's interesting. This runs counter to everything I have been reading about the guy, that it hasn't even been confirmed if he actually did attend school in Switzerland or even how old the guy is. Even if it's true the guy took a liking to Chicago Bulls and cracked a smile on campus once in awhile, I'm not going to hold my breath that this is a sign of a reformer, that strikes me as wishful thinking. Besides, we don't even know if he is the string-puller or just a figurehead. |
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weso1
Joined: 26 Aug 2010
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| Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 5:40 pm Post subject: |
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Video by Stratfor
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQIpjRFpD6w&feature=g-u&context=G2a522a9FUAAAAAAAJAA
So it seems it's the same there as it is everywhere else. We're all just biding our time until these old farts die off.
But I like his analysis of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd generational leadership. That is spot on. However, I think his hopes for the 3rd generation might be a bit too optimistic. Who's to say Kim Jung Un isn't just waiting for the time when he can paint huge pictures of himself on walls and have everyone worship him instead of his father? The new guard may be just as bad as the old guard. |
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pkang0202
Joined: 09 Mar 2007
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| Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 8:16 pm Post subject: |
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| SMOE NSET wrote: |
Kim Jong Eun went to school in Switzerland. On the news special last night (probably the same one Captain watched), they had a whole segment on his schooling there. They had interviews with former classmates, showed pictures, and even had a few essays he had written.
His classmates said he was a really smart and funny kid. He was top of the class in maths and English and he became fluent in German within two years. One of the essays/poems they read of his stated that he opposed terrorism, nuclear weapons, and war.
In the pictures, they showed him wearing a Chicago Bulls jersey laughing and playing with his classmates. He was always smiling in all of the photos and with many friends.
Not saying he didn't change once he moved back to North Korea but hopefully his experience motivated him in some way as to not go down the same path his father and grandfather laid out for him. |
A few years being brainwashed by the NK State, he'll be jsut like Dear Leader in no time. |
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The Floating World
Joined: 01 Oct 2011
Location: Here
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| Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 11:00 pm Post subject: |
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Some folks will believe anything. Apparently Elvis is dead too.  |
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weso1
Joined: 26 Aug 2010
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The Floating World
Joined: 01 Oct 2011
Location: Here
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digitalmk
Joined: 04 Sep 2010
Location: Uijeongbu
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rollo
Joined: 10 May 2006
Location: China
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| Posted: Thu Dec 22, 2011 7:57 pm Post subject: |
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| Well to me it isnt a bad thing that KJI is gone. he masterminded the bombing of airliners, sinking of ships, murdered a lot of people. So this is a good day. There is a story in the National Post of Canada and is making the rounds that Kim's heart attack was brought on by a couple of 9MM rounds. Maybe sonny boy go tired of waiting maybe the Chinese were tired of him creating around in their playground IT'S not often a boss gets whacked. |
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994
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| Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2011 5:00 am Post subject: |
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Reports are that the train he was on when he keeled over with a heart attack hadn't even left the train station and been where it was said to have been. Conclusion: It is at least possible that the old boy was knocked off at a convenient time.
One 'theory' (to abuse the meaning of the word 'theory') is that the deal for the US to supply food in return for a cessation of the nuke program was resented and ultimately blocked by the military clique offing the Dear Leader. Given that it is colder than crap here in Seoul tonight, I prefer not to think of how cold it must be up North.
Without getting any deeper into the conspiracy theorist Trilateral Commission/Bilderburger/ whatever-passes-for-the-NK-version weeds, it is an intriguing possibility.
The important point is that the next couple of years will no doubt prove to be interesting. |
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Julius
Joined: 27 Jul 2006
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| Posted: Sun Dec 25, 2011 1:47 am Post subject: |
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| rollo wrote: |
| I think China wants the North to change to a market economy. I think that change will happen soon. I doubt they will back Kim Jung Un very far. |
Actually I think Jong-Un is just the guy to bring about change and open up DPRK to the world. |
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weso1
Joined: 26 Aug 2010
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| Posted: Sun Dec 25, 2011 5:38 am Post subject: |
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| Julius wrote: |
| rollo wrote: |
| I think China wants the North to change to a market economy. I think that change will happen soon. I doubt they will back Kim Jung Un very far. |
Actually I think Jong-Un is just the guy to bring about change and open up DPRK to the world. |
Maybe not to the whole word, but once some of the old guard starts to die off (shouldn't have to wait too long) I think it might be reasonable to see a trilateral or quadrilateral trade and commerce union open up. China, NK, SK, and Russia to begin with. Foreign companies could build factories in NK to exploit the cheap labor market. Companies could then in turn have a new market to sell their products in. Japan could even get involved on the far end, selling products in large quantity to China at a discount and China reselling them in NKorea under different labels.
We might begin to see a North Korea that looks more like Burma. Not ideal, but certainly a step up from where they are and if it goes well, a gradual reintegration with the South over several decades. Province-by-province (of course, only under Chinese supervision and with the US pulling more of it soldiers off of Korean soil and onto floating fortresses - it could happen.) |
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young_clinton
Joined: 09 Sep 2009
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| Posted: Sun Dec 25, 2011 4:55 pm Post subject: |
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[quote="weso1"]
once some of the old guard starts to die off (shouldn't have to wait too long /quote]
Let's hope that they croak soon and join all thier fallen Korean War comrades. Just as long as they are no more. |
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