Some good analysis below. Of course the north will try to influence the election. But I certainly hope the South Korean people realize what Moon's election might mean for north Korea. The Sunshine Policy of 1997-2007 did nothing for South Korea. Regime behavior did not change, the nuclear and missile programs continued unabated, provocations continued (some deadly), and all the South did was to fund the regime and save it from the internal pressures of its inability to feed its people. The north's support of Moon should be a powerful signal to true patriots in South Korea that his election will mean more of the same from the north and an increasing burden on the South to keep the north afloat with a renewed Sunshine Policy.
Some good analysis below. Of course the north will try to influence the election. But I certainly hope the South Korean people realize what Moon's election might mean for north Korea. The Sunshine Policy of 1997-2007 did nothing for South Korea. Regime behavior did not change, the nuclear and missile programs continued unabated, provocations continued (some deadly), and all the South did was to fund the regime and save it from the internal pressures of its inability to feed its people. The north's support of Moon should be a powerful signal to true patriots in South Korea that his election will mean more of the same from the north and an increasing burden on the South to keep the north afloat with a renewed Sunshine Policy.
V/R
Dave
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Election Intervention: A Question of Loyalty
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As expected, North Korea has mobilized its United Front Department this election season to try and
generate an ‘anti-Park Geun Hye’ movement in the South, but it has had little effect. Indeed, it is having
the opposite impact.
The reason is, of course, because the South Korean people can no longer be moved by North Korea’s
“do you want war or peace” claims, while Pyongyang’s attempts to boost opposition candidates do little
more than arouse hostility, if they arouse anything at all. For example, this time around it was Park Geun
Hye who got a ratings boost when North Korea attempted to raise tensions over the Northern Limit Line
in the West Sea.
Kim Young Hwan, a researcher with NKnet, commented on a recent TV show, “The North Korea variable
will not have such a big impact this year. The idea that North Korea is on the opposition candidate’s side
now rouses antipathy in the South Korean people. Eventually, it puts Park in a favorable position.”
In other words, although, months after the Cheonan sinking of March 2010, North Korea raised the
“war or peace?” choice once again, causing young centrists to lean towards the progressives in regional
elections, the effect North Korea can have on major elections is seemingly far less significant.
(Continued at the link above)
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