Jimmy Carter, Faux Pas in Korea.

 Former American President Jimmy Carter and other members of "The Elders" arrived in Pyongyang, North Korea, Monday, April 25, to seek better understanding between  North and South Korea. Carter and The Elders hoped to inspire some compassion, in awareness of an ongoing lack of food in the North. President Carter, (Democrat, served as president January 20, 1977 - January 20, 1981) was hoping to establish some agreements that South Korea, in spite of recent violations and attacks from Pyongyang, would become more humanitarian, in his view, and provide the North with aide in the form of food, fertilizer, and similar needs.

President Carter seems unaware of the seriousness of the current stand-off on the Korean Peninsula. South Korea has indicated it would be prepared to supply aid, and to recommence negotiations with the North, but that none of these steps will be taken pending the long-demanded apology from North Korea for recent violence aimed at the people of the South. On March 26, 2010, North Korean forces attacked and sank the South Korean Military Vessel Cheonan as it sailed in the Yellow Sea to protect crab fishermen and 46 lives were lost. On November 23, 2010, North Korea shelled the South Korean Island of Yeonpyeong in retaliation for the South participating in military exercises with the United States; exercises that North Korea viewed as provocative. During these exercises, ordnance was fired toward the North, although at a distance such as to make impact impossible.

At issue in both of these acts of violence, was the matter of the 38th Parallel. We recall that following the long and bloody Korean War, with the US and the UN fighting alongside the South Koreans and the Soviet Union on the side of  the North Koreans, who were also supported by Peoples Republic of China, many of the participants to the cease fire and halting of hostilities sought a continuation of a line of demarcation on the Korean Peninsula; a line dividing the South from the North. The line was originally established following World War ll, but not recognized by the North.  When Japan surrendered in 1945. American administrators set the 38th parallel line. At that time, Soviet troops occupied the North alongside North Korean military and citizens.

That line at the 38th Parallel was devised with a demilitarized zone on either side. The North Koreans, and aging North Korean  President Kim Jong Il have never recognized the 38th parallel line of demarcation. In explaining to the world and to history his reason for the aforementioned attacks, Kim Jong Il accused the South, and the United States, of attempting to establish a “tacit acceptance” of the dividing line. Kim is set in his ways, and unlikely to alter his thinking. But at the same time, the people of the North are hungry, have  a poor economy, and desperately need grain and fertilizer from the South or some other agency. To exacerbate an already bad situation, we know that President Kim Jong Il is trying to establish nuclear weapons capacity for his county. North Koreans are proud, and haughty, and have declared a hatred for America.

Article Author: John Lake

John Lake was known for years in blogging circles as “BigBadJohnny”. The fearless crusader took on any and all comers; no politician or any corporate conglomerate was immune to his sword. Now at BlogCritics, he has expanded his writing efforts to …

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