In case you’ve missed the news, North Korea has become quite vocal recently. While most American citizens harbor animosity towards the totalitarian regime of the country, I was curious of how a South Korean views the situation. So I interviewed two Korean students: Dan Ahn and Kevin Choi.
Growing up, were you raised with any antipathy towards North Korea by parents or peers?
Dan: I wasn’t raised with antipathy, but definitely didn’t receive any favorable news either. There are definitely those in Korea who treat North Korea as an enemy – it’s a viewpoint almost universally shared among the older population, and they find themselves on the political right. My parents, who lean more to the left, have told me that we ought to view the North Korean people as victims of an irrational regime, and that reunification is the best outcome for both of the countries.
Kevin: Yes, but the answer to that question usually depends on what kind of parents or grandparents you had. If your parents were treated badly because of the war and North Koreans, you are supposed to hate them. On the other hand, if you have relatives trapped in the country, you may only hate the government and not the people. I had grandparents who were very strongly antagonized by the North Koreans, and so I learned to hate them.
Have you ever felt South Korea was threatened by its proximity to a militaristic dictatorship?
Dan: North Korea is definitely a threat, since they have the potential to annihilate the entire city of Seoul within hours. The question is whether they’ll actually do it. They’re fully aware that any sort of incursion on their part will result in their utter destruction by the international community. The regime is megalomaniacal, fanatic, but not stupid. Their threats seem mostly intended to coerce the world to give them aid, and it’s highly unlikely they would actually follow through. They consistently haven’t.
Kevin: I have never felt threatened by their proximity. They have been isolated and have shut themselves away from us for a long time. However, the little “incidents” during which they test weapons and attack South Korea are aggravating, to say the least.
What was your reaction when you heard that North Korea declared the 1953 Korean War armistice nullified?
Dan: The 1953 armistice was the definitive paper tiger. Since the ceasefire, North Korea has bombarded Southern facilities on the border, captured an American vessel, raided the South Korean President’s home, and dug tunnels under the 38th Parallel. The nullification of the armistice was a symbolic statement rather than an actual shift of policy, so I don’t expect it to have a drastic impact on the conflict.
Kevin: I think North Korea just wants attention.
Do you believe that South Korea should also increase its nuclear arsenal in response to North Korea’s nuclear endeavors?
Dan: I’m against South Korea developing a nuclear arsenal. For one thing, it’s entirely unnecessary, since the country is already backed by the majority of the world’s nuclear powers, and the threat of mutually assured destruction is present. Developing nuclear weapons would only inflame tensions, and that’s exactly what we don’t need at the moment.
Kevin: I don’t believe South Korea should develop its nuclear arsenal. Though North Korea threatens with nuclear arms, they should be smart enough to know that if they attack with them, they would harm their own land as well. Using a nuclear arsenal in such small proximity would bring nothing but destruction.
Do you think there is a real threat that North Korea would initiate war with either the US or South Korea (or both)?
Kevin: No. I’m confident that North Korea realizes that it’s an “us against the world” reality and that by starting war, they would be extremely outnumbered.