While some experts believe tensions on the Korean Peninsula will blow over, at least one analyst who has spent years studying the secretive and reclusive North Korean society predicts conflict before the end of the year.
It will be a war resulting from the North Korean need to bolster the "father figure" image of leader Kim Jong-il and a desire to preserve a nationalist ideology, said B.R. Myers, a professor of international studies at Dongseo University in Busan, South Korea.
Read more: http://www.nationalpost.com/most-popular/story.html?id=3085070#ixzz0pPoWBY2Y_________________________________________________________________________
This article describes race based nationalism as an important motivator in the North korean decision making process. Race based nationalist ideology is found, in the thinking of many also in South Korean. I experienced this first hand during my time living primarily in Busan, but also in Daejeon, South Korea, The presence of this ideology in the south I believe works to pressure the South Korean government to work out an accommodation with the north and avoid a potential war with the north.
John H. Armwood
No comments:
Post a Comment