Today, my column puts together three small pieces I wrote about the issues that caught my attention this week. They were previewed online and partially revised for print. ― ED.
By Oh Young-jin
So Donald Trump and Mike Pompeo did try to give a copy of a CD containing Elton John's "Rocket Man" to Kim Jong-un, North Korea's leader.
The U.S. president has admitted that his secretary of state had it on his orders during the secretary's Pyongyang visit but Pompeo didn't have a chance to give it to Kim because he refused to meet him.
"They didn't give it, I have it for him, they didn't give it, but it will be given at a certain time," Trump told reporters at the White House.
His admission about the gift has settled much of the brouhaha after the Chosun Ilbo report of it before Pompeo's visit. But some loose ends remain.
First, a CD, whatever its contents, will most likely not be a good gift for Kim. Contraband CDs containing K-pop and other features of South Korea's upscale life have long been smuggled into the North, helping North Koreans know about life outside the pariah state and making them disillusioned about the miserable existence they have there.
North Korean defectors and human rights advocates have been sending balloons containing CDs and dollar notes to the North. No surprise if CDs feel like a thorn in Kim's side.
Second, Kim may like oldies but John's song dates back to the early 1970s. Kim is in his mid-30s. So Trump, 72, may like the song but Kim likely does not. That is called the generation gap.
Third, Trump called Kim "Little Rocket Man" in derision, so sending the song as a gift is not just a bad joke but juvenile. The Western sense of humor should be restrained in dealing with the North.
Trump said he has the CD with him and plans to give it to Kim "at a certain time."
Does that mean he plans to meet Kim soon?
Then, he would better off leaving the CD at home. The "little gift" he said he has for Kim should be something Kim likes, like a basketball signed by some NBA players other than Dennis Rodman.
SsangYong doubletalk
President Moon Jae-in and Chairman Anand Mahindra, the Indian owner of SsangYong Motor, agreed to disagree but managed to keep their discord from embarrassing each other.
SsangYong said Wednesday it would review demands by fired and laid-off workers following Moon's request to Mahindra.
"Since our chairman committed himself to a review, we will conduct one to find the best solution for both sides," its spokesman told The Korea Times. "But there appears little that can be done immediately."
The two met during Moon's visit to India.
"There are two demands: One is about rehiring the fired workers, who number over 100, and, if not, a fixed schedule to hire over 1,000 workers who want to be rehired," the spokesman said.
The official line is that the two sides have agreed to hire them as work increases and the financial situation improves, but "now we have done our part as agreed but the situation is not good enough to positively accommodate President Moon's call." Negotiations at SsangYong were suspended in June.
In India, Moon told Mahindra: "There remain some problems despite the agreement between labor and the company. So please pay attention to it."
Mahindra replied that the management in Seoul will take care of the problem. Indeed, the management is trying but with no determination or sense of purpose.
Defense minister's view on women
Defense Minister Song Young-moo has faced calls to step down over sexist remarks. And it is not the first time.
"Women should behave and be extra careful about what they say," Song said in a meeting Monday. Ironically, the meeting was a gathering of military counselors on sex crimes in the armed forces.
The presidential website for public petitions has been abuzz, with one petitioner asking President Moon to fire Song.
"Minister Song is passing the blame for sex crimes to women," the petitioner said. "It is a typical secondary punishment of the victims."
Song's remarks came on the heels of sex crimes in the military: A rear admiral was taken into custody for allegedly raping a female junior officer and an Army division commander was fired for sexually harassing a subordinate. The Monday meeting was held to send a message of zero tolerance against sexual misconduct.
Song got into trouble last year when he said, "The shorter a talk before a meal and women's skirts, the better," during a lunch with soldiers at the Joint Security Area (JSA).
Rep. Ha Tae-keung, of the opposition Bareun Party, captured the zeitgeist of the moment when he said he wanted to see a woman fill the role of new defense minister.
Oh Young-jin (foolsdie5@gmail.com, foolsdie5@koreatimes.co.kr) is the digital managing editor of The Korea Times.
By Oh Young-jin
 |
The U.S. president has admitted that his secretary of state had it on his orders during the secretary's Pyongyang visit but Pompeo didn't have a chance to give it to Kim because he refused to meet him.
"They didn't give it, I have it for him, they didn't give it, but it will be given at a certain time," Trump told reporters at the White House.
His admission about the gift has settled much of the brouhaha after the Chosun Ilbo report of it before Pompeo's visit. But some loose ends remain.
First, a CD, whatever its contents, will most likely not be a good gift for Kim. Contraband CDs containing K-pop and other features of South Korea's upscale life have long been smuggled into the North, helping North Koreans know about life outside the pariah state and making them disillusioned about the miserable existence they have there.
North Korean defectors and human rights advocates have been sending balloons containing CDs and dollar notes to the North. No surprise if CDs feel like a thorn in Kim's side.
Second, Kim may like oldies but John's song dates back to the early 1970s. Kim is in his mid-30s. So Trump, 72, may like the song but Kim likely does not. That is called the generation gap.
Third, Trump called Kim "Little Rocket Man" in derision, so sending the song as a gift is not just a bad joke but juvenile. The Western sense of humor should be restrained in dealing with the North.
Trump said he has the CD with him and plans to give it to Kim "at a certain time."
Does that mean he plans to meet Kim soon?
Then, he would better off leaving the CD at home. The "little gift" he said he has for Kim should be something Kim likes, like a basketball signed by some NBA players other than Dennis Rodman.
SsangYong doubletalk
President Moon Jae-in and Chairman Anand Mahindra, the Indian owner of SsangYong Motor, agreed to disagree but managed to keep their discord from embarrassing each other.
SsangYong said Wednesday it would review demands by fired and laid-off workers following Moon's request to Mahindra.
"Since our chairman committed himself to a review, we will conduct one to find the best solution for both sides," its spokesman told The Korea Times. "But there appears little that can be done immediately."
The two met during Moon's visit to India.
"There are two demands: One is about rehiring the fired workers, who number over 100, and, if not, a fixed schedule to hire over 1,000 workers who want to be rehired," the spokesman said.
The official line is that the two sides have agreed to hire them as work increases and the financial situation improves, but "now we have done our part as agreed but the situation is not good enough to positively accommodate President Moon's call." Negotiations at SsangYong were suspended in June.
In India, Moon told Mahindra: "There remain some problems despite the agreement between labor and the company. So please pay attention to it."
Mahindra replied that the management in Seoul will take care of the problem. Indeed, the management is trying but with no determination or sense of purpose.
Defense minister's view on women
Defense Minister Song Young-moo has faced calls to step down over sexist remarks. And it is not the first time.
"Women should behave and be extra careful about what they say," Song said in a meeting Monday. Ironically, the meeting was a gathering of military counselors on sex crimes in the armed forces.
The presidential website for public petitions has been abuzz, with one petitioner asking President Moon to fire Song.
"Minister Song is passing the blame for sex crimes to women," the petitioner said. "It is a typical secondary punishment of the victims."
Song's remarks came on the heels of sex crimes in the military: A rear admiral was taken into custody for allegedly raping a female junior officer and an Army division commander was fired for sexually harassing a subordinate. The Monday meeting was held to send a message of zero tolerance against sexual misconduct.
Song got into trouble last year when he said, "The shorter a talk before a meal and women's skirts, the better," during a lunch with soldiers at the Joint Security Area (JSA).
Rep. Ha Tae-keung, of the opposition Bareun Party, captured the zeitgeist of the moment when he said he wanted to see a woman fill the role of new defense minister.
Oh Young-jin (foolsdie5@gmail.com, foolsdie5@koreatimes.co.kr) is the digital managing editor of The Korea Times.
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