While its a developing situation and IMO a very risky one from a global perspective is anyone at this stage thinking of changing their plans?
Particularly interested to know about travellers in S.K at the moment?
I had a call from a relative living in China who runs colleges last night and she is making contingency plans for her and her staff if the situation becomes any more edgy.
Just interested in peoples thoughts.
Reply to this I currently live very close to the North Korean border in North-East China near Dandong and if there is any fallout, i can see the only problems here being an influx of refugees.
I was lucky to have visited North Korea last month before the tension escalated and it really is an oddity of a place stuck in a timewarp. Although their army numbers over a million, from what i saw, most of it's fleet of vehicles is an ageing, rundown unit. Obviously still capable of causing damage, but one i think that can be stopped without too many civilian casualties outside of North Korea.
Reply to this This is geopolitics. They have people starving and a change of leadership...so they show their muscles just to be able to sit later on and ask for more rice. The good news here is that the South Korean government is intelligent and understand the issue. Mugabe has back down, Castro family is now more open to improve the life of their own citizens. Why are people fascinating about what is happening in North Korea...some in Europe had the same fascination for the nazi regime... I just have a simple point...the last day of the DPRK regime will be a better day for the world. And anybody who try to say there is anything nice in North Korea regime today...should read history books! UN have international tribunal awaiting these people...one day...hopefully...
Reply to this I honestly think that everything will blow over as it usually does. Having visited S Korea yearly since I was a child, I would often see the news and reactions when clashes occurred, and it's always been interesting to see the completely different reactions from those in S Korea versus those who were back home (the States). While friends and family back in the States would freak out and essentially overreact about the tension, the citizens of S Korea would wait and see.
As with previous deaths, artillery shots, and blame taking place in the same Western area off of the DMZ, people will wait for the tension to ease.
I'm not saying it's the right/wrong response, but that's simply the way the two countries have interacted since the parallel was instituted.
On a positive note, I strongly strongly doubt it will affect your travels and highly recommend visiting Korea! All of my friends working/teaching and family living there aren't scared in the least. 😉
Reply to this Hey there again,
Just writing to adjust my previous position on the situation in Korea. It seems people are a bit more nervous and holding their breath to see how things go. Because Kim Jong Il's son seems to be taking over, nobody really knows what will happen. It's reminiscent of the time when Kim Jong Il took over for his father Kim Il Sung, and people didn't know if matters would improve or worsen.
My mother and I are planning a trip to Korea soon and are just keeping an ear on the news and remaining in touch with family to see if we will go or not. So, I guess my advice is to keep with the news. It would be a shame to miss a trip to Korea because of the current situation, but it's really a matter of your comfort level. 😊
Reply to this The geopolitical climate is greatly altered by the Kim Jong Un situation....an educated aggressive brainwashed 26 year old....just what SK doesnt need. War games with the US are a perfect excuse to up the ante to add a new element to the threat, escalate, force rounds of talks to force more aid typical Modus Operandi NK have employed for the last 50 odd years.
I havent been to Korea for 20 years and dont plan on doing so in the near future (not due to any worries, more due to the fact that im not a repeat visitor type traveller other than a few places that really capture me) but have some serious doubts as to the presence of the US fleet in the pre planned naval exercises - Id see that as a provocative move in a time when restraint is called for. Given the minister of defence has resigned and our media are showing footage of SK citizens demonstrating in Seoul it is seeming to be a developing situation.
Not sure of the truth in this but some of my mature age SK students have mentioned a new ruling regarding only being able to take 58% of profits from sales of homes or businesses when leaving the country. Interesting times indeed.
Reply to this The situation in North Korea really does not surprise me - I spent 10 days there last year and they are hyper-sensitive to any perceived threats to their territory, and they get quite emotional when discussing their love for the "Fatherland". Any military exercises in the area are thus seem as extremely provocative. Even when looking beneath the controlled view of the nation I was allowed to see, I believe that there is little resistance to heading to war if it is required.
I believe that Kim Jong Un is a factor here - with the military hierarchy wishing to establish the agenda for the new leader, this sort of activity has increased the closer we are getting to the end of Kim Il Sung's reign.
I think the situation there is quite serious as there are many ingredients in the mix at present. Also be aware that the 100th anniversary of the birth of the Great Leader, Kim Il Sung, will be celebrated in 2012. The nation was already gearing up for that event back in September 2009 and his great dream (according to what I was told) was of a united Korea. Perhaps, 2012 is the time the peninsula will finally be united in order to fulfill his dream. So if this could not be achieved through dialogue, then force perhaps?! I hope not, but I fear so.
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