By Like I said before how does President Roh Moo-hyun plan on diverting the South Korean defense budget to North Korea when he hasn’t even paid for the necessary equipment and man power necessary to take over operation control in 2012?:
Last year, the government insisted Korea’s takeover of wartime operational control of its troops by 2012 would create no additional burden for the country, but that is far from truth.
The Defense Ministry on Wednesday said it will need an additional budget of some W230 billion (US$1=W916) for an increase of 1,420 company and field officers to prepare for the takeover of wartime operational control from the U.S. between 2008 and 2012.
"In the second half of 2005, we worked out the National Defense Reform 2020,” a Defense Ministry official said. “At that time, we failed to take into consideration the need to reinforce operational capabilities and increase information gathering and analysis abilities once South Korea takes over wartime operational control.
"But once wartime operational control is transferred, U.S. military personnel in charge of the operation and maintenance of state-of-the-art weapons systems will also leave. Therefore, we need to prepare for this." [Chosun Ilbo]
It looks like the "Peace Tax" for the South Korean public is going to get much higher.
On a related note you would not believe how many Koreans have told me that the US makes money off of USFK being in Korea because Korea pays the salaries of the US service members. This is utter nonsense of course, but you would be amazed how many Koreans think this. The money that the Korean government does pay into USFK pays the Korean workers on post as well as constructing and maintaining barracks and other facilities that are built and maintained by Korean workers.
The truth is that the Korean government is saving hundreds of millions if not billions of dollars a year by not having to buy the equipment and services that the US military provides for them. With the slow motion redeployment of USFK out of Korea the costs of maintaining national security is becoming quite clear. President Roh would rather just ignore that fact.
12:53 pm on October 12th, 2007 1
Let’s imagine how a chit-chat between the incumbent South Korean president Roh Moo-Hyun and Kim Jong-il goes during their inter-summit breaks…
KJI: So Mr Roh, what do you think of Pyongyang?
RMH: Hm? Excellent weather, beautiful city… Unlike what I’d expected. My spokesman told me that he had googled Pyongyang and read that the city’s condition was appalling!
KJI: “Googled”? What is that?
RMH: Oh sorry. I forgot you have no internet here… My bad. “Googled” means that he searched information through Google, a search engine website.
KJI: Oh yeah, Goooooogle, is it? Yeah, I heard of it. Why, you said your spokesman found my city Pyongyang to be appalling in Goooooogle? That’s an outright lie!!! Who wrote such nonsense, huh? If I were you, I would’ve imprisoned that prevaricator straightaway!!
RMH: ( looking a bit troubled) Ah hahaha….. Yes, you’re right. But that’s not the way I run my country.
KJI: Yeah, I know. Now that I think of it, I’d personally recommend you to ban internet in your country, you know. I don’t know what other tripes people are writing their stuff there. Just take a look at my people; they’re basically pure without internet.
RMH: (now looking more troubled) Umm…. Yes, I’ll think about it. Now let’s continue our political discussion, shall we?
taken from my own original blog post in:
http://foreignprophecies.blogspot.com/2007/10/north-korea-dumbed-down-nation.html
Reply
1:18 pm on October 12th, 2007 2
KJI is an internet buff….just like his cravings for foreign movies and food….
Reply
1:40 pm on October 12th, 2007 3
So that means that he’s the only North Korean in the world (apart from the defectors, of course) who has an e-mail address, right? And now that I think of it, he might’ve got a blog and Facebook account too, then…
Reply
2:21 am on October 13th, 2007 4
It’s almost 19 December, and after Feb 2008 a lot might change. Let’s hope so.
Reply
11:11 am on October 13th, 2007 5
Totally wrong. Koreans only talk about FOOD! Every conversation, every drama has a food scene, everything here revolves around food. It’s pathetic! That’s exacly what thye were talking about when meeting.
That’s the level of animal we are dealing with here.
Reply
5:39 pm on October 13th, 2007 6
“On a related note you would not believe how many Koreans have told me that the US makes money off of USFK being in Korea because Korea pays the salaries of the US service members. ”
I have heard that so many times it’s not funny any more. I believe that’s taught in school because I’ve had numerous Koreans tell me the very same thing.
Reply
8:16 pm on October 13th, 2007 7
Nomad,
The myth of the Korean government paying GI salaries is about as indoctrinated in Koreans as fan death, so you are probably right that it is taught in schools. I don’t think this myth will ever change no matter how ridiculous it may seem.
Reply
12:31 am on October 14th, 2007 8
And the myth is held regardless of political/social leanings. A pro-US and/or USFK Korean will tell you the same thing…
Reply