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Jasmine WeeksHi Julie,
I was thinking along the same line wondering how much of the Western education many of the the world leaders received did actually change the course of the leadership. We probabaly have heard stories about how many "juniors' received Western education intending to birng new innovatiosn to their family business which has been running successfully for years, only gets backfire because of the possible risk factors invovled, and perhaps the lack of understanding too what the new innovation would cost. I am thinking it must be difficult to dismantle a system that has been established for decades without really causing an upheaval equivalent to a coup, becausee there are many layers that need to be gutted and considered for an overall effective change.
Jasmine WeeksHi Tom,
Thank you for the research and the reminder that THAAD is good to shoot down missles closer to the launch site. That probably explains why the presence of the U.S. is essential in Korea peninsular, considering that China which is not too far off has maybe even more nulcear weaponry that North Korea than we know of. Here is a site: https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2017/world/north-korea-missile-defense/about the Ground-based Midcourse Defence (GMD) that the U.S. to counter the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM), although we don;t know it is fully developed and effective yet. While we were in Kuwait, we have heard of the effectiveness of a protective shield over the military base in Baghdad, Iraq, where the missiles from the air were either intercepted or repelled. Plackett in this article: https://www.insidescience.org/news/science-dismantling-nuclear-bomb states that it is impossible for anyone to launch the nuclear bombs :" without reaking such devasttion that their own citizens back home would not be killed". If any country is to start firing, there must be desperate and it sounds like "endgame".
Jasmine WeeksHi Meghann,
It is interesting that you brought up the swing of seeing more authoritarian among our world leaders recently. Although he last emperor and monarchy were seen in the 1960s, the idea that "dictatorship" has not totally phased out. According to this website: https://planetrulers.com/current-dictators/, we currently 50 dictators aorund the world, many reside in the Middle East and Africa. The question I have is how could we educate them? Some of these leader actually got Western educaiton, at least at the thirtiary level. Or is it the humanity issues that affect ruling style?
Jasmine WeeksHow has Kim Jong Un forged his own path for the Kim dynasty?
In many ways, Kim Jong Un is like his two immediate ancestors. He inherited the role as the supreme ruler of North Korea after the death of Kim Jong II’s death in 2011, a path probably paved and predestined just like his father’s. Kim Jong Un provides “on site guidance” like his grandfather and maintains the Juche ideology in its socialism.
Due to the heavy investments in military groups (nearly 20%) and the famine between 1994-1998 which caused increased poverty among the poor, Kim Jong Un also inherited the challenge to bring economic reform. North Korea has been attempting to enter the global market to increase its economic growth. However, there have been a lot of setbacks because North Korean is not willing to adhere to the denuclearization protocol as requested by the rest of the world, mainly the U.S. and South Korea. As a result, North Korea has been sanctioned by the U.S. to prevent them from participating in international trade and to withhold humanitarian aid from North Korea. Without the freedom and opportunity to import and export essential goods, it is difficult to build the home-based industries and provide sustenance for the suffering and needy civilians. It’s ironic that the advancement in nuclear technology and weaponry Kim Jong Un has achieved is also the very thing that prevents North Korea from normalizing its relationship with the rest of the world and moving its economy forward.
On the other hand, the advancement in the digital age and the lure to participate in its usage have consistently posed more threat to the North Korea regime. Back in 1974, Kim Jong II had systemized the principles of Juche to enforce more peer surveillance as to monitor the infiltrat of media from outside NK (Jieun Baek, 3). The use of cell phones and media players are heavily monitored and the media are censored to suit its propaganda. However, curiosity among the deprived non-elite and the allowance of a small market (jangmadang) system for civilians to buy and sell basic goods from one another at the stalls open the opportunity for a slow but sure infiltration of uncensored media via the black market. This makes it more challenging for the leadership to continue the repression with the false imessage that the “outside world is a wasteland of deprivation, immorality, and criminality” as official propaganda depicts (Jieun Baek, 2). This in turn resulted in the uprise of many defectors in who risked everything to get out of Korea in search of truth and a better life. They are also actively attmeoting to return to NK to rescue their families. Is this why Kim Jong Un holds so dearly its nuclear power ability, that scares everyone almost to the point of bowing down to him?
How worried should we be about North Korea?
I am not overly concerned about North Korea as a threat knowing that we have the technology such as THAAD and others to dismiss or reduce the threat. I am more concerned about the North Korean citizens, when the regime collapse, how to reculturate them into the society ourside that is so different from they are used to. I personally think that Kim Jong Un is unrealistic in that on one hand he wants North Korea to be recognized as a nuclear state and to be able to participate in world trade, and yet still not willing to give up some degree of denuclearization. The continuation in the buildup of nuclear weaponry seems to me more than just a defensive act. However, Kim Jong Un probably just as much “brainwashed” as those he subjugates due to many years being in a “closed” country. Perhaps the diplomacy and friendliness that Trump displayed in 2019 is an attempt to slowly melt the hard facade and fabrication that may be the only tactic KIm Jong Un had even known and learned. I do agree with Snyder that in order to have a more productive and systematized agreement, the negotiation cannot realistically be achieved by Trump and Kim themselves without support from specialists inside both governments. Kim has to understand that modernization within the country has to start with the modernation of the mind.
Jasmine WeeksSeeing this for the first time has really opened my eyes to the dichotomy between North and South Koreas. The movie did an excellent job in contrasting the culture and social structure of the two Koreas, which effect the different use of the Korea language.
I could use this movie to have a discussion about how language evolved under different environments such as when Yoon Seri speaks, people in the village could tell that she is from the South. That is a good example of how after a long period of separation, the same language evolved based on the local social construct and outer influence, which in case the lack thereof. As a result, dialects and various accents of the language emerged at various places. I, as someone who does not speak Korea, could not really tell the difference. But apparently, the difference was obvious enough to make Yoon Seri stand out and experience difficulty in trying to fit in socially in the beginning of the movie. My ENL students could identify with this experience of coming to the U.S. and speaking a different kind of “English”, whether they are Nigerian or British influenced. It is equally important for native speakers to seek to understand the kind of environments they came from that shaped them.
Another aspect in the movie I could use in my lesson is about word choices. At about the third and fourth episode, Yoon Seri began to learn the ways the ladies in the village communicate with each other, formal and flattery. Their communications reflect the kind of society they are in, revolving around the community and paying utmost respect to those in higher positions. At one social gathering, Seri taught the ladies some words that had never been heard, in particular some swear words that would probably have never been taught and allowed openly in the North Korea society, so as other slang that are popular in South Korea due to the influence and exsitence of the Pop Culture there. Comparing that to using "biscuit" in British Engliash as opposed to "cookie" in American English, word choices reveals culture and background expereince. Therefore, we should pay attention whenit comes to choosing the appropriate vocabulary words to use in different settings, including our speaking and writing assignments.
Jasmine WeeksHi Meghann, I too was surprised by Kim Jong II's need to start over. It is understandable that the 'new' might not always fit the 'old' and having your own allies as your own support is defintiely a plus. However, it seems that with the long preparation from his father's plan, stating from his graduation in 1964, until he was formalized as he intended successor in 1980, to his final taking over in 1994, there was plenty of time for Kim Jong II to familiriaz himself with the regime, build relaionship with the cabinet, and effect some changes. Had he encountered such obstacles that he think being the chairman of a strong military is the only way to effect the changes he wanted? The article also mentioned Kim II Sung himself took almost a decade to establish his role as the sole leader in North Korea (Kim, 71). It seems to me that Kim II Sung not only has demonstarted his caliber through his fight in Manchurian war, but also some patience in ascending to his supreme power. Was the Military-first a quick approach for Kim Jong II to rise to the ultimate power?
Jasmine WeeksHi Alyssa, I remember reading form somewhere that Sunshine Policy was revisited in 2017 under the leadership of Moon Jae-in which led to the joint venture in following year Winter Olympics in South Korea. The initial Sunshine Policy was put to rest under Lee Myun-Bak when North Korea continued its nuclear weapon tests in 2009. However, the Kaesong Industrial Region started in 2002, was a result of the Sunhine Policy. The joint venture continued bewteen the two Koreas until 2016 even the Sunhsine policy was rested for a while. There were economical benefits for both Koreas whereby South Korean companies build factories and hired cheap but capable labor from North Korea, in addition to investing assests and equipments in that region. Kaesong Industrial was closed after the provocation by North Korea, launching its first statelite and testing hydrogen bomb.
Jasmine WeeksHi Julie, I agree with your point about Kim Jong II introduced new idea and new slogan with his new leadership may not receive overwhelming support from the old guard who fought the war with his father's generation. He mush think that he need to do things in the 'new way" and the 'new poeple' to get the same power and honor. A change of cabinet with the change of leadership is common in other political system too. I feel like with the overhelming support South Korea received from the U.S., and the sanction pressed on them, North Korea must think that they must possess something, scuh as the powerful nuclear power, as a defensive mechanism to hold off the superpowers from taking over. On the other note, I wonder if North Korea were to open up and have a more diplomatic relation with the U.S., would the U.S. treat North Korea the ame as they did with Sotuh Korea, to help them start over?
On another note about the inter-relationship between North -South Koreas, I believe people should consider the stories from the exiles and their culture where family reunion is a big motivation for reunification of the two. We saw that right after the successful evacuation of the Japanese rules in 1949, there were a brief peirod where the both Korean Workers' party were joined. Had it been not the intrusion of the Cold War superpower, the two Koreas may have worked out their differences more gradual and not to the two extremes, or maybe it will be more like China.
Jasmine WeeksHow did Kim Jong Il ensure regime survival?
It’s obvious that Kim Ii Sung had paved the way for Kim Jong II to succeed him as the supreme leader of North Korea through a series of quick promotions from a cadre in the Korea Workers' Party (KWP) after his graduation from the University in 1964, to establish him to be the future successor 10 years later, and finally officialized in 1980. The following years starting in 1981, Kim Jong II began his "practical leadership training" by accompanying his father in overseeing various economical and industrial development and provided leadership for domestic and foreign affairs (IIpiong J. KIm, 60). The junior Kim however, did not embrace Juche ideology as his father did. He argued that the old regime, mostly populated the Korea Workers’ Party by old cadres from his father’s time, lacked “dynamism” to move forward to maintain socialist politics. Seeing the downfall of communism in Russia and Eartern Europe, and the economic crisis within North Korea (NK) around the turn of his taking over the reign, Kim Jong II made policy changes to bring urgent social and economic reform soon after his father’s death in 1994. A major reconstruction of the constitution in 1998 placed the National Defense Committee (NDC) above the KWP. As a result, Kim Jong Il as the chairman of the NDC now has the full power to control the economic, political, and military affairs. Kim Jong II justified his “military first” political movement as his strategy to practice “self-reliant” ideology in Juche by revitalizing economic production to provide the much needed sustenance, and strengthening the military power to protect themselves from the South Korea- U.S. rivals.
How did South Korea’s Sunshine Policy change international relations?
The Sunshine Policy (1998-2008) in South Korea during Kim Dae Jung presidency was erected mainly to engage North Korea for repatriation relationally and economically. The idea started in 1997 with the start of democratization through which Kim wanted to mitigate the economic difference between the two Koreas, and to restore the communications between them. As a result, Kim Dae Jung won a Nobel peace prize in 2000 for his success in organizing the first North-South Summit. His successor Roh Moo Hyun continued this reconciliation vision by launching the second North-South summit in 2007. However, Lee Mying Bak who succeeded Roh as the next president was more interested in revitalizing economic growth within South Korea than promoting the inter-Koreas relationship. Lee signed a free trade agreement with the EU (2011) and U.S. (2012) and achieved milestones in economic growth. In doing so, Lee had to maintain the U.S.- South Korea partnership and regarded North Korea as a “shared foe” due to the hostile relationship between the U.S. and North Korea. Moreover according to Tim Shorrock, U.S. foreign policy has historically propagated North Korea as dangerous “rogue states” that necessitated tough policies (US Policy And Korea: A Korea Policy Institute Reader, 45). While South Korea’s stance on the reconciling the two Koreas effort is paramount, the U.S. hostile attitude towards North Korea needs to be lifted to allow the two Koreas to work things out.
Jasmine WeeksHi Laura,
I like your observation of the trend of communist countries in getting rid of all other religions consistently. Truly if there is no other higher entity to give hope, to provide guidance, or/and to be worshipped, a practical hero is next in line to be exalted and revered. Culture is closely tied to religion. Geeting rid of reigions is also an easier way for new ideology and culture to be brought in. On other note, I feel like having the progeny in the succesion line may not always promise the continuous reverance from the people. It would depend on the performance of the succeeding heir, and the needs of the people who may now have different expectations since they are in peaceful time and their basic needs met. Like the monarchy in Europe which eventually collapsed, people will eventually question the existence of the "more privileged" and seek to obtain more power if they could.
Jasmine WeeksHi Tom,
It's interesting that you bring out how communisn was established in Cuba because of the needs of the poeple. I see similar trend in Chinese Communist Party's move when China was devoid of food and peace during the Japenese occupation. Coupled with the issues of the exploitation from the West and fallen imperial power, Mao Zedong with his new ideology was able to win many supports from his countrymen to establish his communist rule around the same time as Kim II Sung was rising up. Such united and sacrificial effort of the people has served as a strong garrison that could fence off the attack and bring a quick turn around, especially in the emergnecy state or war time.
Jasmine WeeksHow did Kim Il Sung establish a communist monarchy?
Reading about all that Kim II Sung had achieved within a few years of his reign could convince his people to hail him as king: the astounding economical growth, the social reforms, and his "on the spot" guidance approach are all seems to me proving him to be a capable and caring leader besides the fact he already had the history being victorious in fighting off the Japanese earlier on. This is especially foreseeably acceptable when their counterpart, South Korea, was experiencing political upheaval and socio economical instability for a long time until 1988. The stability that Kim II Sung could provide and the rapid modernaztion he performed initially after a war-torn era was a really welcoming sight in the 1950s. I can see that at that time many families were content and easily bought into their leader’s socialist vision and remained pious. Believing in their leader Kim II Sung could also be enhanced by knowing his dream of reuniting the north and the south eventually.
On the other hand, Kim II Sung had invested a lot in his military that his political partisan was unchallengeable. The education was shunned to the outside world, but designed to infiltrate Confucism which values respect to authority and promotes virtue attainment through personal and communal efforts. All these made his demand of the outward expression from the civilan commitment achievable, though not as voluntary later on. The interdependent relationship has secured Kim II Sung's dictatorship as long as it can be.
How did the Korean War and Cold War shape the two Koreas through 1994?
Learnign about the Korean history for the first time, I see that the Korean War divided Korea into two separate countries, North and the South Korea, while the Cold War initiated the involvement of the superpowers and further polarized their politcal ideologies and development. The result of Korean War goes beyond the demarcation on the peninsular along the 38th parallel, there were widespread devastation beyond physical structure and millions of lives lost. Above that is the diaspora of millions of Korean families whose pain and sorrow was difficult to express.
According to Bruce Cummings, the U.S. was unaware and insensitive to the culturs and background history on the Korean peninsular, in particular about the long standing enmity between the leader of North Korea and the leader of Japan. During the American occupation, South Koreans who had sided with the Japanese were recruited to help reconstruct the country. While North Korea does not appreciate the indifference the U.S. has demonstrated, fear of Soviet Union’s power extension into Korean peninsular and later into the Pacific region have caused the U.S. to have drawn the separating line in rash through the treaty, and persisted the animosity between the U.S. and North Korean.
Unlike the American individualistic society, Korean culture values family ties. Through these wars, their identities were challenged with the substantial loss or separation from family members. According to Charles Hanley, many who were killed not only as a result of the Korean War, but thousands of other were innocently killed by the South Korean/U.S. military because of the suspicion of them being a communist infiltrator. Who knows then, which one had killed more lives, the Korean War of the Cold War? It's hard to believe that massacre of refugess and leveling of cities and building without the confirmation of their true identities came out of the "fear of communism". It seems to be such a careless and over reaction. I agree with Charles Hanley and many other scholars who are studying the Korean history that the U.S. foreign policy needs to be examined more carefully.
Jasmine WeeksThis is very interesting and eye openning, especially with the the power of women in the society that I had misunderstood, and unlike the Chinese culture, which is just next door to Korea. Prior to this, I was not aware of the heavy influence of Chinese culture and ideology into Korean culture and politics. Just like Japanese language which has a lot of CHinese influence in it, there are similar words and pronunciation I notice between Chinese and Korea characters. I wonder there are also some cross between Japanese and Korean languages since there was a period of time when Japn pccupied Korea.I also would be interested to learn more which Chiense dialect influence Korean language the most since I am an lanaguage teacher.
It isinteresting to find out that North and South Korea have alomost exclusive trading partners besdies China. I wonder do goods come from North and South Koreas marked differently.
One thing about North Korea that I am surpirsed about is the high employment rate of 25%. Before this, I had the misconception that everyone in the communist society, everyone was being "assigned a job". Since i am not in history major, I ownder how job assignment in commuinism works.
Last, since Kalbi, a Korea beef ribs dish, is such a popular item in Korean restaurant but it's not the top ten in Korean society. I wonder if this is one of those American/ Western favorite of Korean dish.
Jasmine WeeksHello, I am currently an ENL teacher at a High School in Rochester City, New York where I am finishing my second year there. I started my first two years in elementary school k-8. Then, I had the orpprotunity to teach 9th and 10th graders in a refugee school for a year before going over to the high school. My personal background is that I grew up and was educated in Malaysia prior to college age. Although I do not directly teach social studies at school, a lot of my students do not have the understanding of the East Asia and view all the cultures and countries there as the same. Other students, however, have been very interested in K-Pop and Anime. This is my first course with this Institute, recomended by my co-worker who had been in it for years. I was amazed by her understanding and openness to Asian culture. Therefore, I believe my growth in getting deeper understanding of East Asia would allow me to be a better liaision and communicator in my environemnt as I am the only Asian teacher in my school. Especially with the cultural misunderstanding in our society lately, I am hoping to shed more light in the topic of diversity when engaging in conversations involving race and inclusion.
