Inside Korea

Kim Jong-Un

Kim Jong-Un is the actual supreme leader of communist North Korea. With many titles, such as “Supreme Commander of the Korean People´s Army”, “Chairman of the Central Military Commission”, “First Chairman of the National Defence Commission of North Korea”, “First Secretary of the Workers´ Party of Korea”, this young man, the youngest president in the planet, has its country in the eye of the World due his policies toward developing nuclear technologies and its recent war declarations against South Korea and the United States of America.

He’s the symbol of the 3^rd generation of communist leaders in this country; grandson of the founder of North Korea Kim II Sung and son of Kim Jong-il, one of the biggest leaders in North Korea´s history. Kim Jong-Un inherited the power after his father died on 28^th December 2011, despite he is the youngest son, he was announced as the “Great Successor”. This man grew surrounded by the fierce power and the cult of personality of his predecessors and probably preparing himself to play the same roll in the future. He has a lot of history and tradition behind him, which could mean a lot of pressure. But it seems that Kim Jong-Un handles this with no problem, expressing his own ideas, without mattering what the rest of the world think, ruling a dictatorship, with a very strong hand and making decisions that can even change negatively the whole World and that can probably may cause irreparable damage to his Nation.

Kim Jong-il has a strong leader spirit, as his father and grandfather had, but a spirit of authoritarianism that had isolated North Korea from almost the rest of World. This man continues with a communist regime that opposes to any kind of globalization, and shows total opposition and dislike to capitalist regimes, which actually are the majority around the world. He reigns with strong hand, and it is said he continues with the policies of executing defectors or sending them to political prison camps. Media in his country is still managed by the government, so citizens in North Korea live secluded and many admire and believe only their leader, despite most population has poor living conditions. Kim Jong-il also continues with the idea of focusing in military preparation and of investing in high nuclear technologies for war.

There is no clear information about his real biography. It is said that Kim Jong-il was born on January 8^th, probably in 1982, 1983 or 1984, the exact year is uncertain. What it is known is that he was quite shy and studied primary from 1991, 1992 to 1998 in a private English language school near Bern in Switzerland and then changed to a public school in the same city and completed his studies in year 2000. Then returned to his country and studied in Kim II Sung University, obtaining physics degree and then obtained another degree at Kim II Sung Military University. So apparently he has had a good preparation. He is married with Ri Sol-ju. He had been criticized by some for having occidental likes (which is totally contradictory against he’s communist regime ideas), like when he was pictured with a smartphone or when he declared a fan of the NBA (National American Basketball league). But at the end what Kim Jong-il shows to the world is that he follows the ideologies of his predecessors with determination and fierce, with leader skills clearly imposed.

TITO VASQUEZ

REVIEW of EVENTS in the PENINSULA of KOREA

Korea was a Japanese colony since 1910, but in 1945 after World War II, the peninsula was divided at the 38^th parallel into, “NORTH KOREA”, called “People´s Democratic Republic of Korea”, occupied by the Soviets. And in “SOUTH KOREA”, called “The Republic of Korea”, occupied by the United States of America. Initially both agreed to occupy the peninsula temporarily and to establish a provisional government that would become free and independent on time. But the Soviet Union then refused elections establishing a permanently Communist State in North Korea. Each side demanded dominion over the whole territory. So problems started; the 38^th parallel became a political border between the two Korean State´s and in June1950 a war started with the invasion of North Korean forces to South Korea. USA with forces of fifteen other members of United Nations fought at South’s side and Chinese Communists forces joined North Korea. And until the end of 1952 there were combat actions. By July 27^th 1953 an armistice was signed. A new border between North and South was established; the South gained some extra territory. The zone between the two nations was demilitarized. But this armistice never turned into a full treaty so no peace has been ever signed. So the peninsula had been in a situation of neither war nor peace.

In North Korea, “Kim II Sung”, the ruling leader since 1948, established a “very centralized and brutal dictatorship”, and generated a strong “cult of personality”. He isolated Korea from the rest of the world, having just some contact and trades with Russia, China, Cuba and Vietnam. He invested lots of money in expensive nuclear technology and focused in improving army forces.  Kim II Sung died in 1994, and Kim Jong iI his son succeeded him, ruling in the same dictatorship way. He was the supreme commander of the Korean People´s Army (4^th largest in the world), he was called the “supreme leader” and also gave priority to invest in armament instead of improving the income of his mostly poor population. He died in December 2011, and Kim Jong-un, his 3^rd son started to rule in North Korea, also following the same policies of his predecessors. Therefore North Korea had been subdued by communism and dictatorships for the last decades.

In South Korea, USA maintained economical, political and military support. The 1^st Republic started with “Syngman Rhee” who was the President since 1948 with an authoritarian style of government. In 1960 he was deposed and the Nation fell under militarism and several governments followed. It was not until 1987 when the 6^th Republic started re-establishing a multi-party system with Roh Tae-woo who was elected as president. In 1992 the 1^st civilian president was elected, Kim Young-sam; he promised to build a “New Korea”. Relations with North Korea quite improved. In 1998 Kim Dae-jung followed and he did big efforts to reconcile with North Korea, even having reunions with Kim Jong iI. But North Korea was resistant. Next president was Roh Moo-hyun in 2002 and until this moment despite tension, incidents, infiltrations and incursions to one side or the other had been occurring, the relation between the two Nations had improved somehow. But things changed when Lee Myung-bak a conservative president started to rule in February 2008, showing strong opposition to the North Korea´s persistence development of nuclear weapons. With Myung-bak, relations between both Korea´s became very tense.

North Korea has not taken direct military action against the South since 2010, when it bombarded a South Korean island, killing four persons. But problems re-started when December 12^th 2012, North Korea launched a rocket, and said to have put a satellite into orbit, (this test of long-range missile technology is prohibited by the UN) and on February 12, 2012, just few days before the end of Myung-bak´s ruling period, North Korea conducted its 3^rd underground nuclear test (two previous in 2006 and 2009). Pyongyang was sanctioned March 7^th 2013 for this action; North Korea says it has the right to a "preventive nuclear strike" on the USA and since that moment had been threatening attacks to South Korea and the USA almost everyday.

So since February 25, 2013 that Park Geun-hye, the first woman ever elected as president in South Korea is ruling, she is facing this extremely hard situation. Worsening since March 11^th when the USA-South Korea annual joint military trainings started, and North Korea said this attempted against the war armistice. Geun-hye has vowed zero tolerance with North Korean´s provocations and has demanded Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear ambitions immediately. But Kim Jong-un intention´s are to continue developing nuclear weapons and expanding its nuclear arsenal, without mattering what the rest of the world think.

A threaten of war between North Korea and South Korea-USA exists. March 16^th, North Korea warned of attacks against South Korea's border islands, and advised residents to leave the islands. March 19^th USA flew B-2 nuclear capable bombers over the peninsula. Cyber attacks to one side and the other had occurred. North Korea continued threatening to attack USA and South Korean targets. On March 27^th North Korea cut military hotline with South that was the last official direct link between both nations. Then on March 28^th USA flew stealth bombers over the Korean peninsula to show its skill for “precision strike at will”.

And on March 30^th, North Korea declared it is entering a “state of war” with South Korea. Assuring “severe physical actions against any provocative act". Threatening with a warning of a "preventive nuclear strike" on the USA and the canceling of the Korean War armistice. Kim Jong-un judged “the time has come to settle accounts with the US imperialists". And he has threatened with a nuclear war “at any cost on the Korean peninsula”. Furthermore has promised to reopen a mothballed nuclear reactor disobeying UN Security Council resolutions. Also has continued to refuse entrance to workers from the South into a joint industrial zone managed by South Korean firms in the North. Almost 600,000 of North Korean soldiers and 400,000 students are waiting ready to fight.

Potential targets for attack are USA mainland bases in Hawaii, Guam (where the USA has already sent a missile shield) and South Korea. Most advanced missiles of North Korea, supposedly are able to reach Alaska, but not USA mainland, despite Pyongyang considers it as another target, but it is thought North Korea does not have the technology (nuclear weapon or a ballistic missile) to achieve it. But it is capable of targeting USA military bases in the region with mid-range missiles.

USA is taking the threats seriously and is alert to answer to a real danger of war. USA had been sending warships to the area, and also warplanes to Seoul and had been planning strategies with its ally. The Pentagon has declared the deployment would "strengthen our regional defense posture against the North Korean regional ballistic missile threat". USA officials also declared that a destroyer capable of intercepting missiles had been positioned off the Korean peninsula.

President Park Geun-hye said last April 1^st that South Korea will make a "strong response" to any attack by North Korea. South Korean army has been ordered to “respond with force to the initial stage, without taking into account political considerations,” in the event of “any provocations” against South Korean citizens or the country's territory. Park´s intention is to protect her people.

North Korea is alone in this threaten of war. China, its main trading partner, has called for all sides to ease tensions and does not want to get involve. Also Russia showed concern and said they are hopping maximum responsibility from all sides and declared the desire that “no-one will cross the line after which there will be no return”. Even Cuban government has declared things as that “such a war would affect more than 70% of the planet’s population” and condemned “the gravity of such an incredible and absurd event” in a densely populated region. UN Nations members also have rejected North Korean threatens.

On April 2 North Korea declared it was restarting Yongbyon reactor. Then on April 4^th North Korea had authorized its forces to attack and its leader Kim Jong-un has said he is ready to destroy his enemies without compassion, and had already moved missiles to the coast. By April 5^th the world is still aware of what´s going to happen.

ALONSO PADILLA

Korea´s Geography

                 

Korea is located at the east part of Asia between the Yellow Sea and the Sea of Japan.  This peninsula is divided by the 38^th parallel in “North Korea” that shares borders with China at the north and in “South Korea” that is surrounded only by sea but is in front of Japan.

Respect the USA Korea is quite far from the United Sates of America. So a direct attack to USA´S mainland with missiles is supposed to be improbable. However USA islands as Guam that is 3,400 kms aprox away, south east from North Korea and probably Hawaii that is 7,300 kms aprox away south east also, are within the range of the Musudan missiles and are in risk of the threaten of nuclear attacks by North Korea.

Links to maps: 

-http://adm1370p-jenny-zhu.wikispaces.com/file/view/i_ie_en_korea_map.jpg/199571044/i_ie_en_korea_map.jpg

-http://www2.gol.com/users/graham/Korean_Peninsula.GIF

-https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj61VZ3paQlqrG7gVqigFpOF_nX-9A0CKxHPyA_3WqhInles5qD1wtFMhhhxZ6J1TRFwzqX_1JP9zLxOajIEljEDDt-e6_cozgiro-p2ysB9KqgHOZPf3SQ4GXv9AOvx_islCNsewaBwmwh/s1600/38thParallelNorth.JPG

SEBASTIAN FIGARI

A deep look into the Korean Peninsula

Since last nuclear tests practiced by North Korea in December 2012, situation with its neighbour South Korea and its ally USA is extremely tense. After UN called the attention of North Korea due the practice of these nuclear actions, North Korea had been threatening to attack and destroy with no consideration his targets, which are South Korea and USA´s bases in Guam and Hawaii mainly. So the whole world´s attention is today on what’s going to happen.  All parts involved are preparing war strategies. South Korean president Park Geun-hye will respond any provocation of the enemy to defend her Nationand and allied with USA that has mobilised troops and warplanes into South Korea and situated warships in strategic places around the area, are ready for any possible North Korean attack. By the other side Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader is really angry with the movements of his enemies. He had been threatening to attack with severe nuclear actions and last March 30^th declared the “state of war” and the first days of April he had been moving missiles to the coast. This threaten of Korea seems to be a real danger of war, so South Korea and USA are really aware to the enemy movements and the rest of the world is following day by day through media news of this conflict, hoping nothing happens. Nuclear attacks and a war may be destructive for the world.

But should we really be worried? Conflicts between the Koreas are not something new, after WWII (1945) and the division of Korea as the USSR occupied the North and the US the South of Korea. Between 1950-1953 there was a war between these two countries that lasted three years, when an armistice was signed but technically until today no peace treaty had ever been signed. And minor attacks and counterattacks had been occurring, with periods of more tranquillity, but at the end situation had never been really pacific, tension has existed since the peninsula was divided. Spies in both sides had been discovered, shots and bombs were fired against each other, a South Korean ship was sank. All these acts committed had maintained and increased the tension. But what worsened the situation are three nuclear tests made by North Korea and its open intention to develop modern nuclear technology. Also South Korea-USA military essays had made the North angrier and the actual leader Kim Jong-un seems to be decided to act with no compassion. North Korea has the 4^th larger army in the world, and its dictatorial government is kind of obsessed with military preparation, war technology investments and has a huge army and many young citizens convinced and ready to fight. Despite every country, even the few partners or friends of North Korea, as China, Russia or Cuba are concern with this situation and are trying to make parts involved in this conflict to reconsider and try to find a peaceful solution, what seems is that Kim Jong-un only follows his believes and he will act in a violent way if he considers his nation threaten. And by the other side it seems that South Korea-USA are very alert to act if it is necessary.

In the last breaking news we can see that armies of both sides are getting ready for attack but no one has taken the offensive and it seems that tension will still grow. Threatens and movements come and go. North Korea has authorized its forces to attack last April 4^th, but, but no attacks had been performed yet.

So, what will probably happen next? Different situations may occur at the Korean peninsula. Many persons think that no war will occur and these will be like a little cold war. Even in South Korea, for example a Peruvian immigrant declared to the Peruvian TV that the citizens in Korea were living normally and were not getting ready for a war because they think nothing will happen there. Some people think that Kim Jong-un is trying to call attention and to scare the USA, but people also think that he knows that if there is a war he will lose it so despite he shows the world determination to fight, he will not dare to attack, so in consequence, no war will be held. Others point of view is that Kim Jong-un plans are surely to attack and in this scenario a war will be held. A horrible war, with nuclear arms that may cause many deaths and that may damage the planet and that will bring more crisis to the world.

With tension growing up so fast, just a little error could bring war. Movements of parts involved are very risky, for example if a missile wrongly explodes or there is an error with the radars and they mistakenly read that there is a missile attack, then panic will be over the Korean peninsula and war could start. What is about to happen with this conflict is unpredictable and the only thing we can do to know what will happen next is follow the news and let time pass.  Of course hopping for a peaceful solution that will be the best for parts involved and for the rest of the world.

SEBASTIAN FIGARI