Korean student: "Axis-of-Evil" statement not news in Korea
By Kerstin Goldsby

The repercussions of President George W. Bush's recent State-of-the-Union speech are being felt worldwide. Bush labeled three countries-North Korea, Iran and Iraq-an "axis of evil" because of their manufacturing, or suspected manufacturing, of unregulated weapons of mass destruction.

The speech prompted a wide range of reactions, from congenial to hostile. All three countries have decried the speech.

North Korea is known to have supplied several countries with missiles in the past. Suspicions have also run high of a nuclear program the country was trying to develop but has since discontinued.

Feb. 28 Bush visited South Korea as part of a six-day tour through Asia. He visited with President Kim Dae-jung and affirmed the mutual respect the U.S. and South Korea have shared for some time.

These friendly and public talks were to address the good relations between the nations and demonstrate U.S. support of South Korea, directly contrasting with the President's comments toward North Korea.

Holim Roh is a junior at Oral Roberts University and is the son of Byung Cheun Roh, a Full Colonel in the South Korean Army. Byung merely chuckled when Holim asked him about Bush's recent visit. "Numerous leaders visit South Korea, and Bush's visit was not out of the ordinary," Byung said.

According to Holim the "axis of evil" statement, while the latest salvo in the verbal battle between North Korea and America, really changes nothing.

"[Bush's] statement is not even news," Holim said. "America has made such a big deal out of what Bush said. [North and South Korea] don't care what America says."

Indeed, as much as the media has hyped up the import of Bush's statement, little has changed in the political climate in both halves of Korea. The North has been hostile toward the U.S. for the past 50 years, and there has been no sign, even before Bush's statement, of any warming in its attitude.

Conditions between North and South Korea are equally frigid. According to Holim, the North and South have never made peace and are still at war. "It is a full-scale war. But since it has been so many years, the younger generation simply doesn't care or worry about it. The North continually invades-they send secret submarines and spies and have dug holes so tanks and other military stuff can invade [South Korea]," Holim said.

As a result of this state of war, Holim explains it is mandatory for male citizens to spend two years and two months in the military upon turning 19.

"The South Korean government is always prepared for war," Byung said.

Due to the political climate, Holim states the Republic is growing because it is open to ideas and does not suppress its people as the North does. Supplies in the North are used for the military and are taken from the people. Holim notes that the North Korean government is corrupt and anti-American. "[The Korean government] brainwashes people to hate American pastors and doctors."

Civilians in North Korea are starving as well.

"The North Korean people don't have enough food. Civilians are suffering to death and don't have power for war. Whatever the North has, it's just military weapons, but not the manpower," Holim said.

Hopes for reunification are still a distant vision. Holim believes it will definitely not happen in the next decade. A communist country and democratic country cannot peacefully unite. But perhaps it will happen some day.

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