North Korea

So a quick little note about the troubles with North Korea.


Let me briefly summarize the incident:
South Korea does annual military drills across the country, these drills started last weekend. The water boarder between the North and South has been hotly contested by the North since the UN created it back in the fifties, the South seems to observe the boundary but the North is very anxious over it, this has lead to several navel skirmishes in the area over the past 60 years. Last March a South Korean warship, the Cheonan - named after my city - was sunk and the signs point to North Korea though they firmly deny this. On tuesday, during the drills, the North sent a barrage of some 200 missiles to an island in the Yellow Sea that is about as close to this water border as you can get. The island has both civilian and military populations. Four people, two marines and two residents, have been confirmed as killed with many others injured. The South returned fire in defense. North Korea claims it was provoked but South Korea denies this.

Yeongpang Island, South Korea. This photo was taken during the bombing

Analysis: 
Talking to many Koreans and reading many news outlets, here is what I think; I believe that the North was not provoked in the way they are saying, they claim they were fired on first. South Korea is not stupid and such actions would bring harsh criticism from the west. However it is reasonable to assume a feeling of provocation when a country you are at war with - yes they are still technically at war - holds military exercises miles from your boarder. This being the case it is still unreasonable to attack unless you think you will gain something. Several Koreans have told me that in the past, the North would do something like this - though not to this scale - in order to goad the South into sending food and other support. You see the North is in shambles and its people are starving by the thousands. Past presidents have quickly ceded to these demands but the current president has refused saying that aid is dependent on nuclear disarmament. Something that is far from happening according to a recent report that claims US scientists have just been shown a massive uranium enrichment plant that has been erected in the North. This stance has mixed support from the average South Korean. Taking all of this into account I think it is safe to assume this was a desperate act by the North to get attention from the world and possibly supplies. Also it is worth noting that Kim Jung Il's son has just been made a top military official in order to boost his image for succession, this may also be a kind of pea-cocking on his part. I do not believe this will escalate much further, I think the North wants attention and aid. Click the link for a more in depth story. 
Korean skirmish: http://tinyurl.com/27mwyu5
North Korean Uranium: http://tinyurl.com/28sah5n


What does this mean?
For me and the many who live here it means little. In fact there is by far more news and concern about this incident everywhere else in the world than there is in South Korea. This is life as usual in a lot of ways. Though this incident was more severe than any in recent memory and has people talking, not many think it is going anywhere and most are just going about life as usual. The bombing took place about 100 miles away from where I am and the fact that nothing else has happened leads me to believe I am pretty safe. Cheers.

Pepero Day!

Happy Pepero Day! Today we will be having a short lesson on Korean holidays. Today happens to be one, although Pepero Day carries the same weight as Valentines in the US and it is not a national holiday. Pepero Day is devoted to a specific style of cookie that is popular in several Asian countries. You may or may not be familiar with it; in the US you can find its Japanese equivalent “Pocky” at Wal-Mart. I find these cookies to be awesomely delicious and affordable, I have long been a Pocky fan.

The reason today is Pepero Day is due to the fact that November 11 is written 11/11; a date which appears to be in the form of the tasty cookie (although when I was in junior high 11/11 was another “day”). Of course in the states it is Veterans Day. US honors Soldiers, Korea honors cookies…I am going to have to go with cookies on this one – and yes I know that statement is going to get me in trouble with some of you but what can I say? Have you heard me talk about pacifism? I am a lover (eater) not a fighter

Now I know you are super curious about other Korean holidays now that you have heard about Pepero day. Koreans celebrate a holiday called Chuseok – very similar to our thanksgiving – in October, it is a three-day event that closes schools for the week and families make a pilgrimage to their historical homes. During this time Korea Nazarene University was a Ghost town as was much of Cheonan City. The pictures I have seen (and included for you) are of glorious feasts that remind me of our own love of smorgasbords during the holidays.

Now Christmas has not yet arrived but I was surprised to find out, as no doubt you will be too, that it is not the family holiday of gifts and trees we are familiar with, but rather a couple’s holiday. Don’t get me wrong, Christmas music and Santa are still here but you are much more likely to see people going out on a date than going home to mom and dad. I guess you could say it’s more of a “Baby its Cold Outside” sort of day than it is a “Frosty the Snowman” sort. 

Another holiday I recently heard about is Black and White day. Black day is a holiday where girls give their boyfriends gifts and White Day, which takes place thirty days later, is when the boyfriends reciprocate. Interesting to me, no excuse for crappy gifts when you get a whole month to plan, plus you can buy accordingly. It is always awkward when your girlfriend gets you a 300-dollar watch and you get her flowers!

And of course Koreans celebrate birthdays much in the way we do...with cake - I had to mention this so i could have some sort of segue for this picture of one of my co-workers birthday cakes.

Korean holidays! Another one of those little differences you find out about as you go. Just some interesting info I found out and thought it would be fun to share. Of course this may not all be entirely accurate as much of this info was procured from my Australian co-worker, although he is married to a Korean so he should be aware of such things. Until next time! Cheers!