[KS] Re: Still Invaded Economically and Culturally

[Dr. John Caruso Jr.]

May I ask which Korea you classify as independent?  DL Kim Chong IL's trip
to Beijing before the summit was not a sign of independence any more than
Secretary Albright's post summit visit to Seoul or Friday's meeting with NK
FM Paek Nam Sun.  It's very difficult for a shrimp to become independent
with a whale, a shark, a bear and a US Red Lobster as your neighbors or
friends.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Onno Veer" <osveer at hotmail.com>
To: <korean-studies at mailbase.ac.uk>
Sent: Thursday, July 27, 2000 7:47 PM
Subject: Re: Still Invaded Economically and Culturally


> I agree with Martin Hart-Landsberg,
>
> In fact I would even say that fact #2 seems more opinion than fact as
well.
> Wouldn't it be fair to say that the fact that korea is still independent
is
> partly because it has been left alone by its bigger neighbours, most of
the
> time. Why should that change now?
> I feel none of Korea's big neighbours would risk trying to control the
> peninsula. They all realise the other neighbours will be watching them
very
> carefully. Instead, Korea could be playing an important and independent
role
> in the area, as long as it can become fully independent from the US.
>
> Onno Veer
> London
>
>
>
> Martin Hart-Landsberg wrote;
>
>
> >Facts #3 and #4 (see below) seem more opinion than fact.  The U.S.
> >dominates the region's politics more than Japan, China, or Russia.  It is
> >the strongest military power and has had the most direct influence over
> >past South Korean political developments.  It is far from some distant,
> >neutral party.  Therefore, it is not an obvious fact to me that a unified
> >Korea would want to maintain any close formal alliance with the U.S. (as
> >opposed to peaceful relations) much less encourage or desire a continuing
> >U.S. military presence.
> >
> >
> >Marty Hart-Landsberg
> >
> >
> >On Thu, 27 Jul 2000, Dr. John Caruso Jr. wrote:
> >
> > > A FEW FACTS & ONE OPINION
> > >
> > > There are some facts about Korea that won't go away.
> > >
> > > Fact #1.  Korea, even reunited, is smaller and weaker than any of its
> >three
> > > neighbors.
> > >
> > > Fact #2.  It is likely one of its three neighbors will attempt to
> >control
> > > Korea, via alliance or threat, rather than the three agreeing to leave
> >it
> > > alone.
> > >
> > > Fact #3.  Given Facts #1 and #2, it is likely that a unified Korea
would
> > > seek to maintain an alliance with the United States, a distant world
> >power
> > > but favorite destination of Korean immigrants.  The alliance gives
Korea
> > > some freedom of action, and prevents control by any of its three
> >neighbors.
> > >
> > > Fact #4.  Because of Fact #3, it is likely there will be some type of
> > > continuous U. S. military presence in Korea - air, ground, naval,
> > > anti-missile systems, surveillance, etc.
> > >
> > > Fact #5.  Because of Fact #4, there will be tension between local
> >civilians,
> > > students, the police, and U. S. military personnel.
> > >
> > > Opinion #1  Because these facts leave little room for chitchat, a few
> > > members will continue to whine about eating dogs and hiss about
drinking
> >cat
> > > juice.
> > >
> > > John
> > >
> > >
> >
>
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>



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