In fact, the one that was started back last century (1950) has never ended! It’s an armistice. A truce; it is not a treaty to end a war. So we have been at war with them for 59 years. Why is Seoul located so close to the border? You have probably heard that Seoul is only 40 miles from the North Korean border. Yep, just a short missile toss from the most militarized border in the world. Why is the South’s capital so close to the border? Well, we have to look at history for that; Seoul has been the capital for around 500 years. After the Japanese Occupation and Second World War two regimes sprung up on the Korean peninsula. The Communists to the North and a Democratic regime to the South (South’s regime turned out to be another dictatorship, but that’s not for today’s discussion.) So whoever controlled the ancient capital had or at least seemed to have a more legitimate claim to be the government of Korea. So the South Koreans were kind of stuck with keeping the capital here even though the Americans and others suggested they move the capital.

If North Korea collapses there will be millions of refugees crossing the border into China looking for food. South Korea has huge investments in China and the Chinese are concerned that if The North and South Korea reunify, South Koreans will pull their investments out of China to invest in the North. If South Korea takes over the North, China will have an American ally right on their doorstep. David C. Redman is an actor, writer, publisher and marketer living just outside of the ancient city wall of Seoul, S. Korea and within a missile toss of the North Korean border. He was a lead actor on MBC’s hit TV show ‘Surprise’ where he appeared in over 127 episodes.

When looking at the news articles coming out of North Korea it is clear that they are concerned with keeping the hopes of independent reunification alive. The tops news stories are entitled, “New Era of Reunification and Prosperity Will Come in 2008″ and “More Mass Rallies Held.” The first article explains that reunification is only possible is both sides are willing to join, this obvious statement does not include the fact that the many people in North Korea have wanted to be reunited to South Korea for a long time and it is the strict and corrupt government of the North that has been making this reunification impossible. One other story spoke out against the Japanese decision to shorten the chain of command for activating their anti missile network. The North Koreans have taken this as a threat and viewed it as Japan flexing their missile muscles.

Compared to news in the United States the articles seem very short and somewhat low on factual information. Furthermore the articles are repetitive when it comes to the issue of independent reunification. One other difference that the Korean news has from American News is that the Korean articles call on the people of the nation to continue struggling for peace, in America it seems there is no need, most of the time, to call on the people of our nation to struggle or for any other reason.

There are political slants in the North Korean news particularly in the article involving Japans decision to streamline their anti missile command chain. Until recently the Japanese defense minister had to get approval from the Japanese Prime Minister before they the Defense Minister could enact the anti missile defense, but now the Defense Minister can activate the anti missile defense by himself. This enables Japan to react faster to a missile attack against their nation. North Korea has taken Japans increased faster possible response as Japan getting ready for a preemptive strike. North Korea has taken a simple change in the line of command and twisted it into an excuse to accuse Japan of preparing for an attack.