Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/kim-jong-un-invites-south-korea-s-president-moon-to-pyongyang-9947748
(Updated: )
SEOUL: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has invited the South's President Moon Jae-in for a summit in Pyongyang, Seoul said Saturday (Feb 10).
The invitation, delivered by Kim's visiting sister Kim Yo Jong, said Kim was willing to meet the South's leader "at the earliest date possible", said a spokesman for the presidential Blue House.
--
Let hope there is a breakthrough in eventual permanent peace in Korean Peninsula.
Let hope security assurance and peace deal can be sealed for both Koreas.
Let hope economic integration, business deal, investment deal, travel deal can be secured.
And finally, let hope the final denuclearisation can be secured in Korea Peninsula.
The invitation, delivered by Kim's visiting sister Kim Yo Jong, said Kim was willing to meet the South's leader "at the earliest date possible", said a spokesman for the presidential Blue House.
--
Let hope there is a breakthrough in eventual permanent peace in Korean Peninsula.
Let hope security assurance and peace deal can be sealed for both Koreas.
Let hope economic integration, business deal, investment deal, travel deal can be secured.
And finally, let hope the final denuclearisation can be secured in Korea Peninsula.
Ricky Lim ·
Ricky Lim ·
Singapore
Posted on:- 05 Feb 2018
Frank Lyon ·
Singapore
We can all hope for a peaceful and engaging Olympics this year with North and South Korea competing side by side. I do worry that north Korea is only sending a non-family diplomat as Kim sees them as expendable. I think it would be prudent to be very alert to any and all actions by the North in and out of South Korea.
Like · Reply · 4h
Ricky Lim ·
Singapore
I think we should not be too quick to 2nd guess that N Korea is not sending a non-family diplomat and hence is not sincere.
This diplomat is quite a high profile official.
Asia culture is quite different from the West - where what it seems unimportant move could be an important move. Thus reading too much into it may lead to misinterpretation.
So let keep a watchful eyes on the development with mindful breath - and hope that real breakthrough can come - if not now, hopefully in the near future.
It is very clear that N Korea, US, S Korea or Japan, China and Russia - not much less Asia Pacific Countries want to see a war breakout in Korean Peninsula --- because it hurts everyone.
Let's hope something can be work out - and eventually resolve the tension in Korean Peninsula and lead to denuclearisation.
Like · Reply · 1m
Ricky Lim ·
Singapore
"It is highly significant that a member of the Kim family is coming to the South for the first time in history," said professor Yang Moo-Jin of the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul.
She was likely to meet South Korean President Moon Jae-In and give him a personal letter from her brother, expressing his hopes for a successful hosting of the Olympics and desire to improve inter-Korean ties, he added.
--
See things can change.
Seems like N Korea does respond to social media.
Asia culture is quite different from the West - where what it seems unimportant move could be an important move. Thus reading too much into it may lead to misinterpretation.
Like · Reply · 1m
Singapore
Posted on:- 05 Feb 2018
Frank Lyon ·
Singapore
We can all hope for a peaceful and engaging Olympics this year with North and South Korea competing side by side. I do worry that north Korea is only sending a non-family diplomat as Kim sees them as expendable. I think it would be prudent to be very alert to any and all actions by the North in and out of South Korea.
Like · Reply · 4h
Ricky Lim ·
Singapore
I think we should not be too quick to 2nd guess that N Korea is not sending a non-family diplomat and hence is not sincere.
This diplomat is quite a high profile official.
Asia culture is quite different from the West - where what it seems unimportant move could be an important move. Thus reading too much into it may lead to misinterpretation.
So let keep a watchful eyes on the development with mindful breath - and hope that real breakthrough can come - if not now, hopefully in the near future.
It is very clear that N Korea, US, S Korea or Japan, China and Russia - not much less Asia Pacific Countries want to see a war breakout in Korean Peninsula --- because it hurts everyone.
Let's hope something can be work out - and eventually resolve the tension in Korean Peninsula and lead to denuclearisation.
Like · Reply · 1m
Ricky Lim ·
Singapore
"It is highly significant that a member of the Kim family is coming to the South for the first time in history," said professor Yang Moo-Jin of the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul.
She was likely to meet South Korean President Moon Jae-In and give him a personal letter from her brother, expressing his hopes for a successful hosting of the Olympics and desire to improve inter-Korean ties, he added.
--
See things can change.
Seems like N Korea does respond to social media.
Asia culture is quite different from the West - where what it seems unimportant move could be an important move. Thus reading too much into it may lead to misinterpretation.
Like · Reply · 1m
Posted on :-
08 Feb 2018 11:45AM
Ricky Lim · Singapore
There are 2 options for talk :-
(1) Put a stick in front of the table and say let's talk - else whack you with a stick.
(2) Let us talk - this issue has bug us for very long - and it is unpleasant and painful for both of us.
Let us talk to work out something.
Do you think N Korea will respond better to Option 1 or Option 2?
Think N Korea will respond better to Option 2.
Like · Reply · 1m
Ricky Lim ·
Singapore
Think that, US understanding of N Korea Asian culture will have helped to break the ice.
By extendling the olive branch, a soft approach will be better to get N Korea to talk.
Putting a stick in front and say let's talk --- may have turned off the mood to talk - because it may be seen as a coercion to talk.
It is quite unlikely N Korea is playing the card - of breaking up the coalition of US and SKorea - because they know it will not work.
US will still be able to carry forward the sanction and will still be able to carry out military strike.
Thus N Korea know that they will still talk to US ultimately - because it is between N Korea and US - that are in a "lock horn".
Removing the stick may help - and soothing up the climate - could help to precipitate talk.
That is, if US is able to rub N Korea the right way - a breakthrough could be possible - because Asian dislike to "lose face".
As N Korea has more to lose if time drags on.
Like · Reply · 1m
Ricky Lim ·
Singapore
Posted on :- 05 Feb 2018
The below opinion will still be useful.
----
Ricky Lim ·
Singapore
Asia culture is one that start slow, build trust, build confidence, start with something that seems small, a small step, do something that seems unimportant - and slowly move into something that is of interest to both parties.
This is unlike Western culture that go straight into the main topic and want immediate result - that is still cold, very sensitive and still unyielding - and if things don't happen as expected - try to use high-hand tactics. This will not work for Asia culture.
Hence, let S Korea Leaders lead the way in this - as they understand N Korea culture better than anyone do.
"Exchange of Heart" 交心 - is the crux that may lead to breakthrough.
Like · Reply · 1m · Edited
Ricky Lim ·
Singapore
When Mr Lee Kuan Yew visit China and meet the then Mr Deng Xiao Ping - "Exchange of Heart" 交心 - is the crux that lead to the breakthrough - that change China's heart to integrate with the World economically.
Think this could be possible if the "right key" is used correctly on N Korea.
Like · Reply · 1m · Edited
Ricky Lim ·
Singapore
We should take a cue on how China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos - break out from economic and political isolation to embrace the World and integrate with the World economically.
(1) China by "Exchanging of Heart" with Singapore and then open up economically and integrate with the World. China work with someone they can trust - which is Singapore.
(2) Vietnam work with Asean by joining ASEAN to open up economically.
(3) Cambodia, Laos work with both China and joining ASEAN to open up economically.
N Korea will have to work with "someone" he can trust - and do similar things like what China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos did.
08 Feb 2018 11:45AM
Ricky Lim · Singapore
There are 2 options for talk :-
(1) Put a stick in front of the table and say let's talk - else whack you with a stick.
(2) Let us talk - this issue has bug us for very long - and it is unpleasant and painful for both of us.
Let us talk to work out something.
Do you think N Korea will respond better to Option 1 or Option 2?
Think N Korea will respond better to Option 2.
Like · Reply · 1m
Ricky Lim ·
Singapore
Think that, US understanding of N Korea Asian culture will have helped to break the ice.
By extendling the olive branch, a soft approach will be better to get N Korea to talk.
Putting a stick in front and say let's talk --- may have turned off the mood to talk - because it may be seen as a coercion to talk.
It is quite unlikely N Korea is playing the card - of breaking up the coalition of US and SKorea - because they know it will not work.
US will still be able to carry forward the sanction and will still be able to carry out military strike.
Thus N Korea know that they will still talk to US ultimately - because it is between N Korea and US - that are in a "lock horn".
Removing the stick may help - and soothing up the climate - could help to precipitate talk.
That is, if US is able to rub N Korea the right way - a breakthrough could be possible - because Asian dislike to "lose face".
As N Korea has more to lose if time drags on.
Like · Reply · 1m
Ricky Lim ·
Singapore
Posted on :- 05 Feb 2018
The below opinion will still be useful.
----
Ricky Lim ·
Singapore
Asia culture is one that start slow, build trust, build confidence, start with something that seems small, a small step, do something that seems unimportant - and slowly move into something that is of interest to both parties.
This is unlike Western culture that go straight into the main topic and want immediate result - that is still cold, very sensitive and still unyielding - and if things don't happen as expected - try to use high-hand tactics. This will not work for Asia culture.
Hence, let S Korea Leaders lead the way in this - as they understand N Korea culture better than anyone do.
"Exchange of Heart" 交心 - is the crux that may lead to breakthrough.
Like · Reply · 1m · Edited
Ricky Lim ·
Singapore
When Mr Lee Kuan Yew visit China and meet the then Mr Deng Xiao Ping - "Exchange of Heart" 交心 - is the crux that lead to the breakthrough - that change China's heart to integrate with the World economically.
Think this could be possible if the "right key" is used correctly on N Korea.
Like · Reply · 1m · Edited
Ricky Lim ·
Singapore
We should take a cue on how China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos - break out from economic and political isolation to embrace the World and integrate with the World economically.
(1) China by "Exchanging of Heart" with Singapore and then open up economically and integrate with the World. China work with someone they can trust - which is Singapore.
(2) Vietnam work with Asean by joining ASEAN to open up economically.
(3) Cambodia, Laos work with both China and joining ASEAN to open up economically.
N Korea will have to work with "someone" he can trust - and do similar things like what China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos did.
Kim Jong Un invites South Korea's President Moon to Pyongyang
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SEOUL: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has invited the South's President Moon Jae-in for a summit in Pyongyang, Seoul said Saturday (Feb 10).
The invitation, delivered by Kim's visiting sister Kim Yo Jong, said Kim was willing to meet the South's leader "at the earliest date possible", said a spokesman for the presidential Blue House.
An inter-Korean summit would be the third of its kind, after Kim's father and predecessor Kim Jong Il met the South's Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun in 2000 and 2007 respectively, both of them in Pyongyang.
After months of silence on whether it would even take part in the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in the South, which had their opening ceremony Friday, nuclear-armed North Korea has gone on a charm offensive, dispatching athletes, performers and Kim's sister plus other diplomatic delegates to the South.
Moon met Kim Yo Jong and the North's ceremonial head of state Kim Yong Nam for talks and lunch at the Blue House on Saturday.
"Special envoy Kim Yo Jong delivered a personal letter" from her brother stating his "wish to improve inter-Korean relations", said Moon's spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom.
She verbally conveyed Kim's invitation to Moon "to visit the North at his most convenient time", he added.
Moon has long argued for engagement with the North to bring it to the negotiating table over its nuclear ambitions, but did not immediately accept the offer.
Moon called for efforts to "create the right conditions to realise" such a visit, his spokesman said, urging Pyongyang to more actively seek dialogue with the US.
"It is absolutely necessary for the North and the United States to engage in talks at an early date," he cited Moon as saying.
Washington has long insisted the North must show a willingness to denuclearise before any negotiations -- which Pyongyang says it will never do.
Source: AFP/rw
Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/kim-jong-un-invites-south-korea-s-president-moon-to-pyongyang-9947748
Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/kim-jong-un-invites-south-korea-s-president-moon-to-pyongyang-9947748
Olympics: Don't mention nukes - South Koreans learn how to talk to the enemy
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10 Feb 2018 04:54PM
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PYEONGCHANG: When a hotel on South Korea's east coast was asked at short notice to host nearly 280 North Korean visitors, the problem wasn't finding enough rooms.
It was to learn how not to offend them.
Within days of the request, the roughly 150 staff of the four-star Inje Speedium Hotel & Resort were attending sessions on North Korean words and manners, one of which was taught by a professor who used to teach defectors from the North.
Their guests, who checked in on Wednesday (Feb 7), are North Korean cheerleaders who have come to perform at the winter Games in Pyeongchang, about 80km from the border, one of the world's most heavily militarised frontiers.
Since the Korean War ended in a truce in 1953, the two sides have grown culturally and linguistically apart, deepening the political gulf that had initially separated the poor, one-party state in the north from the rich, democratic south.
First rule: in the presence of guests, do not refer to their leader, Kim Jong Un, by name, or certainly do not mention his nuclear and missile programmes.
And do not even point at badges depicting the North's former leaders which are pinned to every North Korean visitor's chest. In fact, call them "portraits", not badges.
That is some of the advice Kim Young-soo, a professor at Sogang University in Seoul, gave staff at the hotel.
"The two Koreas may have the same ethnic background, but have gone totally separate ways for such a long time without barely any interaction, so there can be misunderstandings over trivial things," he told Reuters.
A separate one-page cheat sheet provided by Inje Speedium to its staff points out that North Koreans do not use English words like shampoo and conditioner, which are used in the South.
The North also has words for food and everyday necessities that sound completely different to those used in the South.
The sheet included word comparisons for commonly used goods and services, a hotel official said. For example, vegetable is called "chaeso" in the South and "namsae" in the North.
"Our training, which included the lecture as well as our one-page guidelines, was aimed at preventing any potential conflicts that could arise from cultural differences," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue.
LOST IN TRANSLATION
Ahead of the Games, which formally opened on Friday, South Korea's government distributed guidelines to organisers, listing do's and don't's when they meet North Koreans, an official at the Pyeongchang organizing committee told Reuters.
North and South Korea speak the same language based on the Hangeul alphabet, but differences have emerged since the 1950 to 1953 conflict which left the two sides at a technical state of war.
The differences are particularly challenging for women ice hockey players from the two Koreas who were asked just a few weeks ago to compete as one nation, the Canadian head coach of the joint team, Sarah Murray, told a news conference on Sunday.
There are "three" languages in one team, she said, referring to English, South Korean and North Korean. South Koreans frequently used English words not understood by the northerners.
"For our team meetings it is going through to English to South Korean to North Korean. So the meetings take three times as long," Murray said.
The team has compiled its own "dictionary" of different ice hockey terms to better communicate with each other, she said.
Choi Bok-mu, a fitness club manager at the Olympics athletes village in Gangneung, said he had not experienced any problems communicating with North Korean athletes, despite them speaking in a markedly different accent.
"Is it really that different from speaking to someone from another region in South Korea? I don't think so," said Choi, a volunteer who normally works as a fire station official.
Choi and other volunteer helpers at the Games were urged to avoid the topic that another Olympics guest, US Vice President Mike Pence, has been eager to address in his public remarks ahead of the opening ceremony: North Korea's arms programme.
"We've been told not to talk about nukes or missiles before we came here," Choi said.
Source: Reuters/zl
Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/olympics-don-t-mention-nukes-south-koreans-learn-how-to-talk-to-9947734
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