By Elliott Brack,
Editor and publisher, GwinnettForum
MAY 15, 2018 | President Trump likes to take credit for what he calls his successful dealings with the North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un. President Trump thinks of himself as a great negotiator, and deal maker, and told us that the recent changes in North Korea prove that he came out ahead with his dealings with North Korea.
Yet we beg to wonder if maybe Kim Jong-un didn’t get exactly what he wanted, and in effect, out-dealt our president. After all, Korea is a mighty poor country, and needs help from the Western world to modernize.
Just how backward is North Korea? Compare the two Koreas. Look at these statistics, taken from The Guardian’s Datablog:
These facts show what a robust economy there is in South Korea, and the lack of a vibrant economy in the North. The most telling fact shows South Korea exporting $552 billion of goods, compared to only $4.71 billion for North Korea. It tells us that North Korea produces little that the rest of the world wants.
Imports are similar. North Korea only imports $4 billion a year, simply because they don’t have the money (from exports) to pay for them. Meanwhile, South Korea has the money to buy imports of $514 billion a year, showing how viable South Korea is in world trade.
We all know North Korea is a closed society, not wanting the other worlds to penetrate its borders, and influence its people. Less than 0.1 percent of North Koreans are Internet users, while in South Korea’s 81 percent have access to the Internet. That’s another major comparison.
Life expectancy is 10 years better in South Korea, and infant mortality is 26/1,000 births in North Korea, and only 4/1,000 in South Korea. What does that say about the North Korean medical care for mothers, and by extension, to all North Korea’s people in health care?
In reality, North Korea needs more food, more money to buy other-worldy goods, better health care, and less military spending. Kim Jong-un, we feel, recognizes this, and also feels that if he doesn’t produce better for his people, even in his well-controlled country, there could be an uprising against his regime.
So North Korea builds up an atomic capability, threatens the West, then suddenly pulls back, offering virtually a peace dove. Now Kim Jong-un even says that he will reduce his atomic war capability, no doubt using that money saving to spend more on products for his country.
Then last week he released three American prisoners. He knows how to function beautifully in the public relations market, just before his meeting with President Trump in Singapore.
Kim Jong-un is taking these steps by making him and his country, compared with previous years, look good.
We suggest that the apparent softening of the North Korea position is done with a long-long range plan that seeks to improve dramatically that country’s position in the world. Kim Jong-un has suddenly appeared to be a more reasonable person. He’s doing that for a reason, and reducing the threat of war. He’s the driving force, now apparently ready to move to a more Western economy.
That’s good for everyone. In the long run, it may be best for North Korea more than any other country. The threat of nuclear devastation is reduced, and that’s good for the world. But Kin Jong-un is getting a lot. And President Trump thinks he got the best of North Korea?
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
Follow Us