The following article talks about women peace activist crossing the North-South Korea border (here). I found this article interesting because for the first time in years, we begin to observe a mentality change in how the two sides view one another. The walk was seen as a step in the right direction with the North-South Korea relationship.
The group of 30 women from 15 countries made a final appeal to authorities on both sides to allow them to walk across the demarcation line, but were turned down. The North allowed a South Korean bus to cross the demarcation line to pick them up on the North side of the DMZ and transport them over the border to South Korea.
United Nations Command officials met the group inside the DMZ after they crossed the demarcation line, and allowed them to march again after the final checkpoint on the southern side.
The Koreas have remained divided since the 1950-53 Korean War ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty. The DMZ that divides them is one of the most heavily fortified borders in the world. Authorities on both sides said they could not guarantee the safety of the women had they walked across.
However, there are some critics who think this peace walk makes it appear that both sides share equal responsibility and that should not be the case considering the inhuman treatment of North Korean citizens in the 90s.
What are your thoughts on the article? Is it a step in the right direction for future North-South Korea relationship? Or do you agree with some of the critics and think that this peace walk allows for the inhuman treatment of North Korean citizens by their government to be overlooked?
In all honesty, I'm extremely slow to praise North Korea on any of their public relation stunts. The country has extremely deep roots in an oppressive dictatorship scheme, and has repeatedly shown itself to be unwilling to change. I saw an article a few weeks ago stating that South Korea intelligence officials were almost certain that Kim Jung Un had his top few military officials publicly executed by means of anti-aircraft weaponry for relatively normal behavior. To me, this seems only like a PR stunt that North Korea allowed, as it would make them look good although their far from a democratic and less oppressive society.
ReplyDeleteI think it's nice to see people making a claim for peace towards the North and South governments. The action could definitely give rise to discussions between the two countries however i think this is just one step in a long pathway to peace. With such disparities between the two countries it's baffling to conceptualizer how to begin repairing such a broken road.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Alex here in saying that this is just a PR stunt. North Korea has been oppressive for a long time and is attempting to save face a bit. I think this does have people overlook the mistreatment of North Korean people because this will be all over the media and people will assume peace is possible. In reality, there is a very very long road, one I don't see changing unless there is a coup in NK.
ReplyDeleteThis peace walk is a great action, and these brave women should be praised for their courage. Although this action aim to reunite North and South Korea, I don't think that Korea will ever be united at least not anytime soon because there has been so much tension between the two Korea for more than 60 years now.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Fatima and Taylor in that the brave women should be praised and that it is pleasant to see people seek for peace between North and South Korea. However, I agree more so with Alex and Nolan that this is a public relations stunt that the North Korean government is using for foreign countries to overlook the North Korean oppressive actions. In reality, a coup d'état (as Nolan mentioned above) and many years of economic and political restructuring will be required for the North Korea to have acceptable relations with South Korea and other countries.
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