Barbara CROSSETTE
Something is missing from the statistical charts and maps of Covid-19 in East Asia: credible data on the People’s Democratic Republic of Korea.
The country, North Korea as it is commonly known, has always been a singularly secretive state controlled since its founding in 1948 by a savagely brutal dynasty. It is also next door to China, where the new coronavirus emerged at the end of 2019.
COVID-45 by Nancy OhanianChris Martenson, who insists, convincingly, that he is apolitical, has been excoriating the Trump regime's response to the pandemic for months. For nearly as long, he has been holding up the Czech Republic (Czechia) as a model of effective response, primarily because of how quickly and effectively the government got the whole country to wear face masks.
The first infection by the agent of COVID-19, variously called 2019-nCoV or SARS-CoV-2, probably happened around December 12, 2019, based on the interviews in late December with a group of new pneumonia patients in Wuhan, China.
Unless “the fundamental economic question, viz., the question of the economic essence of imperialism … is studied, it will be impossible to understand and appraise modern war and modern politics.” – Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov (Lenin), 1917 March 15, 2020 By Stephen Gowans I wrote a book in 2018 book titled, Patriots, Traitors, and Empires: The … Continue reading Is Peace on the Korean Peninsula Achievable? →
In an article on the failure of Donald Trump’s impeachment, the author noted that the next marker which will determine the development of the situation on the Korean Peninsula may be the course and scale of the annual US-South Korean joint military exercises, which were usually held in March and served as the traditional ‘spring fever.’
On 10 February, South Korean media outlets reported that former North Korean diplomat Thae Yong-ho, who had defected to the ROK in 2016, was planning to run in the upcoming April 15 general elections, “as a member of the main opposition” / conservative party (Liberty Korea Party (LKP)).
Two weeks ago, on my travel blog, I explained why fear of coronavirus led to me cancelling a trip to France this summer. France doesn't have a coronavirus problem but I have a feeling it will-- we all will-- by summer. As you can see above, South Korea didn't have problem last week; but they sure do now-- a big surge in identified infections and a death of a man who has been hospitalized for more than 20 year.
A month ago, we published an article about Harry B. Harris, the US Ambassador to South Korea and a retired Navy Admiral, becoming the “the target of hatred” for pro-government and nationalist groups because of his unabashedly direct views.
Does research reflect global middle class angst, a uniquely Korean malaise – or mere talk?
Andrew SALMON
From afar, South Koreans might appear to be blessed among East Asians.
Citizens of a prosperous democracy that has birthed a hero-to-zero national success story, world-beating corporate brands, a futuristic infrastructure and the glitzy K-pop universe that is beloved across the region, they boast enviable looks, lifestyles and quality of life.
