Over the past couple of weeks, I received a few emails expressing concern over the relationship between North & South Korea, which had been receiving a lot of attention in the news. For those of you that aren't aware, on March 26th of this year, the South Korean's Cheonan warship was broken in two and sunk near the North Korean border. On May 20, South Korea officially accused North Korea of launching a torpedo to attack.
When I first heard about this, I thought it might be possible for the Korean War to resume (it is really only at a cease-fire, from what I understand). This thought was fueled primarily by the American news media (particularly CNN).
However, after talking this incident over with several of my Korean colleagues, I realized that very few (if any) of them were concerned about it. Of course, they were grieving the loss of the members of the Cheonan, but did not feel that their national security was threatened in any way. They are accustomed to the North making, as they refer to it, "empty threats." This attitude really surprised me last year when North Korea was planning to test their missiles. However, I can somewhat understand the so-called "complacency" of most South Koreans, since many of them have never really known life without the North throwing out threats.
I thought that the most recent incident with the Cheonan warship was more serious than all the other threats, though, particularly since 46+ soldiers lost their lives. However, several Koreans that I've talked to seem to think that the South Korean government may have even had something to do with the incident, since the timing coincided quite nicely with the most recent election (which took place last Wednesday). Numerous political candidates used the situation for their own benefit. Apparently, the subject of national security (and drama with North Korea) often comes up whenever election time is close, much to the dismay of my co-workers.
Honestly, I'm not exactly sure what to think. Like most Koreans, I don't really feel like my safety is in jeopardy. (Believe it or not, my trip to finally visit the DMZ was actually scheduled in the midst of all of the drama. I promise, it was not intentional!). Reading the American news definitely had me a little more concerned a couple of weeks ago. It is interesting that things seem to have died down in the news now that the South Korea elections are over. The thought of the South Korean government being behind the Cheonan incident is incredibly unsettling and I just can't buy it.
Regardless of who is responsible for the torpedo that allegedly caused the Cheonan to sink, as Christians here in Korea, we are continuing to pray for the re-unification of the North & South. In order for that to happen, I suppose some dramatic events may need to take place. I'm thankful that regardless of what happens, GOD is still ALMIGHTY and holding us in His hands.
