The North Korea issue
On the streets of South Korea, it would seem that the least concerned country in the world about North Korea is South Korea. It is almost as if they don’t even entertain the notion that North Korea will attack. Whenever North Korea acts belligerent to the world, South Koreans on the ground hardly flinch. People still work, students still attend after-school academies and cars still run red lights. South Koreans have been hearing the threats of Kim Jong-Il for years and have hardly seen any action. South Korea gives millions of it tax dollars in aid to the North, and seems to feel that the North will not dare bite the hand that literally feeds them. Yet South Koreans are becoming less and less patient with the North.
However, in the last year, since the election of Lee Myung Bak to the South Korean presidency, the relationship between the Koreas has been put under an immense strain. Lee has taken a harder line toward the North than past presidents and has received a typical North Korean reaction. North Korea has revved its nuclear arms program back up complete with a few test firings of its latest arsenal. Not to mention North Korea shut down a tourist resort open to South Koreans in the North after a South Korean crossed into a restricted area and was shot and killed. Then more recently North Korea closed down a plant and took a manager hostage after South Korea would not comply with the North’s wage demands at the plant in Kaesong. Currently, the Koreas only joint venture is shut down due to poor relations and for the fact that neither will comply with the other’s wishes.
But don’t be fooled by the complacency on the streets of Korea. The Korean military is prepared for anything from the North. Fighter jets fly over cities a little more frequently when relations are strained and people pay a little closer attention to the news. Though it hardly seems like something to lose sleep over, it is something to be aware of. It is also pertinent that you register with your country’s embassy as soon as you land in the country. Stay informed and be prepared.