And fails. EFL
Ever since the North’s admission that it has a nuclear programme, South Koreans have felt a greater divide with their neighbours in the North. But Park Heung Bok’s biggest concern is the division he feels with the younger generation’s liberal attitude towards the communist state. "The reconciliatory policy has only helped Kim Jong-il make his nuclear bomb," he said. "Young people are so naive — they didn’t experience the war and they did not see the atrocities of the communists. "The younger generation think it’s just history, and a war can never happen here again. It’s a very dangerous situation."
| "Nope. Can't happen here, 'cuz we're special..." |
Back at Mr Park’s home, his 20-year-old grandson Hyun Jin is typical of this new generation. As the family eats together around the dining table, Hyun Jin talks about how he has spent the day. Rarely would he try to talk about North Korea in front of his medal-decorated grandfather. "North Koreans are hungry and so much in suffering. I feel sorry for them that they are always being pressurised by the United States," Hyun Jin said.
One of the most remarkable things about the whole Korean conflict is how successful the NorKs have been at getting the younger generation to swallow their propaganda line. I guess those KCNA articles don’t translate well.
"My grandfather has strong anti-communist feelings because he fought in the war. I’m not as anti-North Korean as he is. I’m more anti-American."
| "That's ever so much more fashionable..." |
This is the biggest fear of Park Heung Bok. As the nuclear tension rises, Mr Park worries that the attitude of most South Koreans — like that of his grandson — is too soft about North Korea. "The communists are all liars. I wonder how we could live together with them if the Koreas ever reunify," he said. "Young people should not be fooled by the North Koreans, and should arm themselves with a stronger sense of anti-communism. We should be prepared for any physical attack by North Korea."
I couldn’t have said it better than Granddad.
| They might even give some thought to the mechanism the NKors plan to use for "reunification." The last go-around featured an NKor attempt to "reunify" the country... |
To Hyun Jin, a second Korean War is something he has never really thought about. And he sounded doubtful that his generation — having grown up in a more prosperous environment — would be ready to deal with a war if it ever happened. "My grandfather knows how to fight, so I’m sure he’ll stand up again to protect the country," [!] Hyun Jin said. "But I get a feeling young people like myself — we don’t know a thing about war. Somehow I get the feeling that we’ll just be running for our lives."
Yeah, your 70-year old grandfather will protect you. Reading this makes me so proud of the young men and women in Iraq. I thought there was conscription in Korea. Do college kids get a deferment? |