Thanksgiving Day Gift
Do we laugh or do we cry? Will either help? Well, laughing will ease the stress; crying most definitely will not. Nothing to do, actually, but wait and see.The headlines in our local paper, front and centre, above the fold: N. Korea conducts nuclear test. Were we surprised? Hardly. We've been reading about North Korea's intentions and defiance of world opinion for quite some time. I expect many were hoping that these were idle boasts - that this dysfunctional country which prefers to allow its people to starve rather than use state funds to feed them as opposed to using those same scarce funds to pay for its ongoing nuclear programme - was more in the realm of wishful thinking than reality.
Odd how reality has its way. Still, despite the fact that this has happened, a successful underground nuclear test did take place early this morning, there's an air of unreality about it. And why would that be? Not only because we're collectively holding our breath wondering what it will all mean, how it will impact on the state of the world, but also because of the type of Wonderland news coming out of Seoul.
Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency announced today: "The nuclear test was conducted by 100 percent of our wisdom and technology." "The nuclear test is a historic event that brought happiness to our military and people", the agency said. "The nuclear test will contribute to maintaining peace and stability in the Korean peninsula and surrounding region."That's really lovely news, is it not? Are we not happy for the happy North Korean military and people? Don't we envy their wisdom and technology? And why, we wonder, is South Korea so worried, why is Japan so anxious, why is China, apoplectic with disbelief? Particularly given the fact that the successful nuclear test is so certain to contribute to maintaining peace and stability in the Korean peninsula and surrounding region...!
Well, one would think, South Korea is a democratic rational state, while its sister-country is anything but, and their closeness is very nervous-making. Japan is anxiously awaiting the dropping of the other shoe, realizing that it has much to lose and nothing at all to gain from its proximity to this cretinous leader's nation. And China, why China is North Korea's mentor, and China strictly forbade North Korea from taking such action (quite agreeing with Japan's view). And North Korea thumbed its nose at China.
If China, in its great and good wisdom, its elder-statesman position in the area, its growing status as a superpower, was unable to sway the Dear Leader, then, pray tell, who might be able to do so? The world has taken upon its weary shoulders yet another unsolvable conundrum.
And as though that were not treat enough for one day, another auspicious event. The estimable and much-esteemed-despite-all United Nations Secretary-General is stepping down as his two-term stint is expiring. The rotation has now turned to Asia, and the front-runner to replace Mr. Kofi Annan appears to be South Korea's former Foreign Minister, Ban Ki-Moon.
Contenders like Latvia's former President are out of the running having garnered insufficient support for her candidacy. Not so Mr. Ban, as newly-wealthy South Korea has been increasing its foreign aid and stepping up its trade missions to other member states, of late; very effective measures within the United Nations governing body.
Mr. Ban appears to have the good fortune of placing first and foremost among contenders, and appears, in fact, to be the only warm body left standing. The position of United Nations Secretary General requires a well-rounded understanding of world affairs, a firm and disciplined hand, intelligent resolve and dedication to the task at hand of fairly representing the world body's member-states.
It has been published that Mr. Ban, while Foreign Minister of South Korea did a credible job in dealing with North Korea - but where has that got us given the above? It has also been published that Mr. Ban evinced little interest in general world affairs. Does this bode well?
posted by Pieface @ Monday, October 09, 2006
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