Tensions rise as North Korea reacts rather unfavorably to
their southern neighbor’s media has been giving explicit
attention to the firing squad execution of the dancers of the Unhasu
Orchestra. This was done on the basis
that they had all appeared in a pornographic video, thereby breaking domestic
law and being sentenced to death. Now with media reporters in Seoul rising up
against such totalitarian acts of violence, the tensions that had appeared to
have been eased have now flared up again. The North has always been subject to
criticism but the latest wave of anti-north media has been particularly
offensive to the North and has seen tensions in the region once again soar to
war threat levels. North Korea has gone so far as to delay the usual
North-South family reunions that generally bring the two together. The Kaesong
Industrial region has thus far been unaffected by the dispute but it might
be interesting to see how this development affects the joint industrial venture
between the two countries. It is unfortunate that the Southern media felt the
need to insult the North at a time when peace was needed most.Ideally the South could control their media a little bit to avoid such problems in the suture but this might raise some domestic criticism that the South Korean government is succumbing to their Northern neighbors. This is a touchy subject that will require much finesse on part of the Southern government if they wish to avoid both Northern aggression and Southern criticism.

Written on September 23rd.
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