Anyway, that's not the point of my post. My mom messaged me that I should look into an exit strategy in case things get tricky over the next few weeks with North Korea. I'm pretty sure, in my 3 years in Korea this is the first worrisome message I've gotten from her. So, in an effort to ease your concerns, here's my update.
Things are okay here. I'm sure Seoul feels the tension, but in Gwangju/Naju it's life as usual. We go about our lives as if nothing is amiss. Koreans are so used to North Korean threats that there is not a worry or care about them. I've been here almost 3 years and I've come to realize there is no use worrying. We don't notice the tension, there isn't the constant fear of being bombed. Nothing. The news is clearly having a field day with the "tension" in Korea. Rest assured, we are absolutely FINE. There is no need to worry. Please don't believe the news stations and their attempt for more viewers. But to further ease your worries. I am and have been registered with the Embassy. I re-updated all of my information. There is an airport 20 minutes from my school should I need to get out quickly. The Office of Education will message us if they feel we need to leave and the Embassy will absolutely be in contact should we have to get out of here.
Things are okay here. I'm sure Seoul feels the tension, but in Gwangju/Naju it's life as usual. We go about our lives as if nothing is amiss. Koreans are so used to North Korean threats that there is not a worry or care about them. I've been here almost 3 years and I've come to realize there is no use worrying. We don't notice the tension, there isn't the constant fear of being bombed. Nothing. The news is clearly having a field day with the "tension" in Korea. Rest assured, we are absolutely FINE. There is no need to worry. Please don't believe the news stations and their attempt for more viewers. But to further ease your worries. I am and have been registered with the Embassy. I re-updated all of my information. There is an airport 20 minutes from my school should I need to get out quickly. The Office of Education will message us if they feel we need to leave and the Embassy will absolutely be in contact should we have to get out of here.
Here is a message from the Office of Education in Jeollanamdo:
Kim Jung Eun is a young, new North Korean leader who needs to make a name for himself and solidify his power. In a reclusive state like the North, his name at home is what is most important. The last two leaders, his father and grandfather, headed the state through the legends of their military prowess and he is no different. He has already been credited for the Cheonnam incident and the “successful” launch of a nuclear capable rocket, not to mention possibly curing some diseases, building some magnificent structures and the rain that came ending a drought.
He needs to show his country that he can stand up to any threat and protect them from the evils elsewhere in the world. Who better to stand up to than the US, the longtime nemesis of the North that everyone there is trained to hate. However, standing up to and actually doing something are two different things as we all know.
As usual, I expect these deteriorating relations will be used as a bargaining chip for future negotiations to secure aid and lift sanctions placed on the North. This has been a pattern shown over and over again in North/South relations and one I’m sure will continue.
So far, there has been no real unusual movement in the North that would indicate them prepping for war. In the 1950’s, the North surprisingly attacked the South, but with today’s technology any preparations for an all out war would not go unnoticed.
China, has moved troops to its border with the North in attempt to fortify their border. This may be mistaken as China’s support for the North but when in fact it is to prevent mass exodus of North Korean citizens trying to escape the North into China. China stands strong that they would not be involved unless the North were attacked on their own soil. Much like the Korean War, it wasn’t until the forces from the South entered North Korea that China got involved. This was also a time when there was a struggle in the world between capitalism and communism. China is a much different place with different ideals these days and has a world reputation to think about. Lately, China’s stance on the North has been changing directions and their involvement is less likely this time.
The North can not support let alone does not need a war. They have very little food, fuel or resources to support a war and find themselves in a much more difficult situation with the sanctions recently upped on them. Also, what if the North came to the South? Imagine the explanations that would have to be given to North Korean citizens who see the riches here compared to the North. They are better kept isolated where they are. Korea is a very different place than it was in the 1950’s. Then, North Korea was the more prosperous of the two Koreas but things surely have changed with North Korea being one of the poorest countries not only in Asia, but in the world, and the South being one of the most prosperous countries. It would be a tough sell to your country’s citizens that your way is the best and convincing them to follow your way.
Although the South claims to support reuniting the two Koreans and many experts believe this will only come through a war, the South by no means is ready to take on this massive project and would like to avoid it all costs.
Things may even be getting better already. Park Geun Hye, the new president of the South, took a break from measuring short skirts and handing out fines to have a meeting with top US and ROK military officers to discuss ways to calm things down on the peninsula and a scheduled appearance of US’s F22 raptors was cancelled. This has been the first step towards better relations and let’s hope it is a sign of things to come.
So, there you have it. We are fine here. Things are fine. As my boyfriend likes to say "They are not stupid, they will never attack. Stop reading the news!"
This is a great article on an Expats perspective. http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/april-salchert/north-korea-south-korea-anxiety_b_2858119.html
He needs to show his country that he can stand up to any threat and protect them from the evils elsewhere in the world. Who better to stand up to than the US, the longtime nemesis of the North that everyone there is trained to hate. However, standing up to and actually doing something are two different things as we all know.
As usual, I expect these deteriorating relations will be used as a bargaining chip for future negotiations to secure aid and lift sanctions placed on the North. This has been a pattern shown over and over again in North/South relations and one I’m sure will continue.
So far, there has been no real unusual movement in the North that would indicate them prepping for war. In the 1950’s, the North surprisingly attacked the South, but with today’s technology any preparations for an all out war would not go unnoticed.
China, has moved troops to its border with the North in attempt to fortify their border. This may be mistaken as China’s support for the North but when in fact it is to prevent mass exodus of North Korean citizens trying to escape the North into China. China stands strong that they would not be involved unless the North were attacked on their own soil. Much like the Korean War, it wasn’t until the forces from the South entered North Korea that China got involved. This was also a time when there was a struggle in the world between capitalism and communism. China is a much different place with different ideals these days and has a world reputation to think about. Lately, China’s stance on the North has been changing directions and their involvement is less likely this time.
The North can not support let alone does not need a war. They have very little food, fuel or resources to support a war and find themselves in a much more difficult situation with the sanctions recently upped on them. Also, what if the North came to the South? Imagine the explanations that would have to be given to North Korean citizens who see the riches here compared to the North. They are better kept isolated where they are. Korea is a very different place than it was in the 1950’s. Then, North Korea was the more prosperous of the two Koreas but things surely have changed with North Korea being one of the poorest countries not only in Asia, but in the world, and the South being one of the most prosperous countries. It would be a tough sell to your country’s citizens that your way is the best and convincing them to follow your way.
Although the South claims to support reuniting the two Koreans and many experts believe this will only come through a war, the South by no means is ready to take on this massive project and would like to avoid it all costs.
Things may even be getting better already. Park Geun Hye, the new president of the South, took a break from measuring short skirts and handing out fines to have a meeting with top US and ROK military officers to discuss ways to calm things down on the peninsula and a scheduled appearance of US’s F22 raptors was cancelled. This has been the first step towards better relations and let’s hope it is a sign of things to come.
So, there you have it. We are fine here. Things are fine. As my boyfriend likes to say "They are not stupid, they will never attack. Stop reading the news!"
This is a great article on an Expats perspective. http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/april-salchert/north-korea-south-korea-anxiety_b_2858119.html
