[Source: Daily Express]
The seemingly diplomatic and affable events that have taken place between South Korea, North Korea, and the United States have shocked the world. The unclosable gap between the two Koreas seemed to be patching as a series of conferences between the three nations took place.
However, behind the apparently warm gestures from North Korea, the hypocritical government did not fail to live up to its notorious reputation when Rosemary Di Carlo of the United Nations, according to CNN, said that there are still indications of North Korea developing nuclear weaponry. Sadly, such an accusation from a trustworthy source seems to fall deaf on the leaders of South Korea and the United States. Without further adieu, the two leaders are continuing to have perfunctory meetings with perhaps the world’s worst dictator in the world.
An extreme naivete from the idealistic population of South Korea and the US is perhaps one of the biggest engines in driving such behaviors for President Moon Jae-In and President Trump. “I think it is good that both Koreas are moving in the direction of world peace,” said an anonymous individual currently residing in Seoul, South Korea. “It is something that we have never seen before.”
Yet is it? The warm meetings between South and North Korea have taken place regularly over the past two decades. With the advent of a left-wing president in South Korea, it seemed as if a tradition of making a personal visit to the northern land and giving a loving hug to the northern dictator had become a trend for left-wing presidents. It had happened in 2000, 2007, and now in 2018. But we seem to forget why these meetings happen over and over; after the seemingly diplomatic reconciliation between the two Koreas, North Korea once again takes its bad-boy behavior and threatens the world like a five-year-old maniac. Di Carlo’s report on the suspicious behavior in North Korea is another indication of such repetitive action; the dictatorial nation is preparing to throw another fit if North Korea becomes an underdog.
[Source: Business Insider]
Moreover, President Moon and President Trump must be hesitant in forming diplomatic relationships with Kim Jong Un, who is responsible in killing countless North Korean civilians and other atrocious actions that go against the value of human rights. Forming “world peace” with such a dictator in position is synonymous with letting the demagogue roam around his country with full authority. Thus, leaders of the free world must work not to protect such a government in North Korea, but devise of ways that could unshackle the poor civilians from such a hellish grip.
Before the world benignly smiles down upon the recent series of diplomatic relations, it must remember that idealism shatters the truth into convenient pieces. Disgraceful history repeats itself, and it is our job to break the cycle.
Keebum Kim, Grade 12
Seoul International School
