Brave new Korea? Pyongyang bluntly rebuffs Seoul’s appeaser-in-chief

Brave new Korea? Pyongyang bluntly rebuffs Seoul’s appeaser-in-chief

Special to WorldTribune.com By Donald Kirk SEOUL — South Korea President Moon Jae-In’s idea of a brave new world for Korea, North and South, dissipated in storm clouds soon after he presented his vision on Aug. 15, 74th anniversary of the Japanese surrender and the end of 35 years of Japanese rule. No sooner had […]

L-G-B-T-Q-say-what? Find out what it means . . . for the longterm survival of humanity

L-G-B-T-Q-say-what? Find out what it means . . . for the longterm survival of humanity

Special to WorldTribune.com By Donald Kirk SEOUL — From Africa, through the Middle East, and on to Asia, the masses of much of the world have got to be amazed by the “sexual revolution” in the United States and where it’s leading American society. Homosexuality exists everywhere, in any culture or country, but the initials […]

Hong Kong, democracy and the theory of cognitive dissonance

Hong Kong, democracy and the theory of cognitive dissonance

JSpecial to WorldTribune.com By Donald Kirk [Editors’ Note: Cognitive dissonance is the mental discomfort (psychological stress) experienced by a person who holds two or more contradictory beliefs, ideas, or values. When confronted with facts that contradict beliefs, ideals, and values, people will try to find a way to resolve the contradiction to reduce their discomfort. […]

South Korea’s president seeks to align his country with North Korea and against Japan

South Korea’s president seeks to align his country with North Korea and against Japan

Special to WorldTribune.com By Donald Kirk SEOUL — Anti-Japanese sentiment in South Korea is approaching the level of mass hysteria. President Moon Jae-In sees it as a unifying force that will draw Korea’s disparate political forces in common cause. How can rightists go on waving those Korean and American flags, calling for a hard line […]

South Korea-Japan animosity risks strategic alliance

South Korea-Japan animosity risks strategic alliance

Special to WorldTribune.com By Donald Kirk TOKYO ― Korean and Japanese relations have plunged to their lowest depths since the Korean War, and there’s apparently no reconciliation in sight. The governments in Seoul and Tokyo are engaged in a game of dare and double-dare in which each tries to out-threaten the other with hurtful measures […]

Brexit: Why other parts of the world second that emotion

Brexit: Why other parts of the world second that emotion

Special to WorldTribune.com By Donald Kirk LONDON — You’ve got to admire the Brits for one thing. They sure are proud of their ancient heritage as citizens of a “tight little island” that has always stood aloof from Europe. Historically they’ve fought against the Romans (Hadrian’s Wall), the Normans (1066 and all that), Spanish (Sir […]

After G20, President Trump could visit DMZ; Will Kim jog down for a photo-op?

After G20, President Trump could visit DMZ; Will Kim jog down for a photo-op?

Special to WorldTribune.com By Donald Kirk SEOUL — Summit fever is upon us. The mere idea of two leaders sitting down and talking suggests the ultimate panacea. Surely they can come to terms once they look each other in the eye and work out all those terrible differences. That’s the fantasy as Donald Trump wraps […]

Why North Korea needs to say sorry before any ‘peace treaty’ is signed

Why North Korea needs to say sorry before any ‘peace treaty’ is signed

Special to WorldTribune.com By Donald Kirk Advocates of a “peace treaty” with North Korea believe, unanimously, that such a treaty would serve some real purpose other than provide the North with ammunition for withdrawal of U.S. forces from South Korea and closure of U.S. bases. The slightest scrutiny of history should make painfully clear that […]

Dreams of democracy: China and South Korea

Dreams of democracy: China and South Korea

Special to WorldTribune.com By Donald Kirk The vision of a brave new world in China three decades ago was captivating, exhilarating proof at last that democracy could prevail in an outpouring of revulsion over Communist dictatorship. Alas, it was not to be. The hypnotic image of reform, of the forces of right defeating evil, yielded […]

Transcending the politics of historic hostilities for strategic goals

Transcending the politics of historic hostilities for strategic goals

Special to WorldTribune.com By Donald Kirk WASHINGTON ― President Trump’s visit to Japan carries a message for South Korea as much as anywhere else. It’s time to call a halt to outpourings of anti-Japanese sentiment. That’s not to say South Koreans should bury their bitterness over the decades of Japanese rule, the slaughter of Koreans […]

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