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St. Cloud State University
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Forum looks at N. Korea
By Cory Fechtelkotter
Published:
Monday, April 28, 2003
Media Credit: Ryan Henry
Speaker Byung Kang discusses the possibility of an American war with North Korea at the 2003 East Asia Forum Thursday afternoon in the Atwood Lady-Slipper room.
In light of the recent developments in Iraq and the Middle East, some have lost track of other current developments around the world.
North Korea, for example, is certainly host to a plethora of debate and controversy, and also primed for potential U.S. involvement.
A talk and forum in Atwood Memorial Center aimed to address some of these issues.
"North Korea and Issues in East Asia," presented an opportunity for students and staff alike to learn more about the history and politics of North Korea.
Dr. Byung Kang, a South Korean professor of management information systems at Korea University in Seoul, spoke about the politics, economics and social issues of North Korea.
The topic that generated most discussion between panelists was tense relations between the United States and North Korea.
"I think it's dangerous and kind of scary," first-year student Megan Solonsberg said. "I don't know if they're pointing (nuclear weapons) at us."
Kang's goal was to spread awareness of the problems. "First of all, I want you to understand the current situations more clearly," he said. "Not only from the viewpoint of the United States, but also you need to look at the situations from the viewpoint of the Korean people."
Avoidance of war should be of high priority, Kang added. "I want to tell you that this kind of crisis should be solved peacefully, not by war. I don't think making war can solve the real problems," Kang said. "We don't want anymore war in the Korean peninsula. We had a Korean War in 1950, millions of people were dead, if there were to be another war nowadays, the people in the Korean peninsula would not survive."
SCSU senior, Brian Steenerson, opposes the idea of war with North Korea too.
"I don't think we should go to war with North Korea, I'm not pro war altogether," he said. "We're not really justified in telling another country to do something we haven't done ourselves."
"This country is really tightly controlled by the state," Kang said. He continued to describe that North Korea is one of a few communist governments remaining in the world. He gave several examples to illustrate. Some include North Koreans needing permission to travel anywhere within and outside the country and many of the factories being government controlled.
The most notable example is the Kim Jong II control over the nation. Jong is the Chairman of the National Defense Commission.
Kang described his militaristic rule. "It means he has a weapon in his hand, he is controlling the military system. He is not a president or premier," he said.
Although a president, a premier and a legislature exist in North Korea, all hold little power and are essentially shadowed by the Chairman of the National Defense Commission, the highest administrative position. Kim Jong II came to his position upon the death of his father Kim Jong I, the previous Chairman.
There are also many domestic problems facing North Korea. Widespread poverty and energy shortages are two large issues.
Senior, Allison Thoes, a member of the National Guard Medical Company based in Cottage Grove, said that war might be a necessity.
"I hope I don't have to go there myself with my company," she said. "I don't see why we should hesitate with them."
"If we're going to take action in Iraq we should take action in any other country that proves to us they have those (weapons of mass destruction)," she said.
"If we're going to take action in Iraq we should take action in any other country that proves to us they have those (weapons of mass destruction)," she said.
Assistant professor of history, Dr. John Ness, said debate and awareness about North Korea is a chance for the East Asian programs on campus to receive more exposure to students. "It (the forum) served as a vehicle for conveying topics of East Asian interest to the overall community," Ness said. "And that's trying to project the East Asian studies presence on campus, to generate interest, to generate excitement by bringing in speakers of Dr. Kang's caliber to campus."
The event was sponsored by the East Asian Faculty, Staff Association and the East Asian Studies Committee.
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