[Marxism] South Koreans: North Koreans "showing their power to foreigners--not us"

["Fred Feldman" <ffeldman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

SOUTH KOREANS ARE NOW ALMOST BLASÉ ABOUT NUCLEAR MISSILES
By Andrew Salmon

Times Online (London)
May 28, 2009

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article6374872.ece


Despite the rhetorical barrage from the North it was business as usual in
Seoul, the South Korean capital, yesterday. South Koreans have grown
almost blasé after decades of bellicosity from their Communist neighbor,
and there was no sign of a human exodus, panic buying, or angry
demonstrations.

Analysts and policymakers are deeply concerned not just at the dimensions
of Pyongyang?s provocations -- a nuclear test, missile tests and a virtual
declaration of war -- but also at their unprecedented speed: all have
occurred in the past three days. ?Should North Korea provoke us we will
counteract sternly,? the South?s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a
statement. President Lee Myung Bak urged a calm response.

South Korean television alternated tributes to the country?s last
President, Roh Moo Hyun, who committed suicide on Saturday, with footage
of naval clashes that took place on the maritime border between the Koreas
in the Yellow Sea in 1999 and 2002.

A handful of South Korean sailors and perhaps a few dozen from the North
died in the skirmishes, and many analysts expect the North?s next
provocation to be of the same kind.

However, with Seoul?s ten million people having lived for decades within
range of an estimated 300 North Korean artillery barrels dug in 30 miles
north of the city, most people seemed able to separate rhetoric from
reality; the leading stock index fell only 0.7 per cent.

?We are not worried,? said Ahn Hae Kyun, a vice-president at Daewoo
Securities, drinking with staff at a pub. ?We have been living for over
50 years under the same conditions.?

?North Koreans are the same blood as us,? added his colleague, Chris Jung.
?They are showing their power to foreigners -- not us.?




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