What I can’t understand, in B.R. Myers’ words, is why commentators on North Korea fixate on the most superficial aspects of the regime, like ideology, and not on topics, like alliances or revolution. OK, that’s not sexy – actually I always thought revolution was inherently orgiastic. But, alright, B.R. Myers goes in hard for reunification in five years.

We are obliged to get in some questions on Korea — lets stick with the South. With U.S. influence in this region receding and an alliance with Japan seemingly eons away, where is a mid-level power like South Korea to turn for an ally in the face of China’s rise? What moves are they making in that direction?

I think South Koreans are increasingly aware that they cannot rely completely on the US for their security. Those few weeks after the Yeonpyeong Island attack were a turning point in this regard: the US government was wringing its hands, warning the South Koreans that live fire exercises might lead to war, and many people here started to wonder if their ally can be fully counted on. But on the other hand, I don’t see the South Koreans trusting any other power in the region to help them. Certainly not China; the Sinophilia that was so fashionable here in the mid-2000s has disappeared. Washington will always be Seoul’s main partner. I just think we will see more efforts by the South Koreans to bolster their own defenses.

If you were a betting man, when do you foresee reunification? And which side will have the best food?

I’m a vegan, so North Korean cuisine is much better for me; they don’t put dead animals in everything like they do down here. It’s not nearly as salty either! The best Korean food I ever ate was in Kaesong in 2008. As for reunification, I see it in the next five years. The “military first” regime in Pyongyang has to keep engaging in displays of military might in order to justify itself, and soon it’s bound to go too far.

As if Seoul doesn’t indulge in “displays of military might”? What was that little episode in the Gulf of Aden? Or, Naro? And, I’m leaving out sporting events. Also, has Myers forgotten Pyongyang’s ally, China? Just as the US wouldn’t tolerate any threat to South Korea, Beijing might even be less tolerant of an insult to North Korea. My only question is, would we ever know what happened to the North Korean official or general that resisted Beijing’s attempts to prop up the Kim regime in the name of “Juche” or Korean nationalism? I doubt we’d ever find that poor fool’s body.

But, I do agree, as a resident of Sasang in western Busan, with Myers about the East-West bias in the city.

Most foreigners might not realize it, but there is somewhat of a West-Busan, East-Busan divide here amongst the citizenry. Could you talk about that and efforts to bridge it?

It’s a much bigger divide than that between the northern and southern parts of Seoul. In Busan, if you go a little further west than Seomyeon, you might as well be in another city. It’s pretty bleak too, let’s not kid ourselves. I don’t understand why Busan pumps so much development money into Haeundae, and does so little for the west. I always harped on the subject while I was hosting “Let’s Talk Busan” on Busan eFM, and city or tourism officials would agree with me. But nothing changes. The “Let’s Talk Busan” studio itself has just been relocated from Sasang to Haeundae!

Obviously, some Busanites have richer friends than others.

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Filed under: Busan, Korea, USA Tagged: b.r. myers, busan, kim jong il, north korea, South Korea