Pohang Prepares for War!
On April 19, at the dock for the exclusive use of the Pohang Coast Guard in Songdo-dong, Pohang, coast guard sailors are conducting a comprehensive marine drill in order to prepare for preventing a Japanese survey ship from entering Korean territorial waters off Dokdo.[image and text from Defend Dokdo]
After this plays out, the South Korean President and Japanese Prime Minister will have to find another issue to divert their respective public's attention away from domestic issues.
The Marmot, of course, has more time and interest to cover this issue than I will ever be able to muster: Flashpoint Dokdo.
More background can be found at these pages: Liancourt Rocks and Liancourt Rocks / Takeshima / Dokdo / Tokto.
I'll just say that few things give people a chance to make bigger fools out of themselves than does nationalism.
UPDATE: For disturbing evidence of my last point, see this photo linked to by the GI Korea Blog: An anti-Japan protester, Yang Bong-ho, stabs himself in the stomach with a knife to commite suicide demanding Japan abandon a plan to conduct a maritime survey near disputed islets, at a park in Seoul, Wednesday, April 19, 2006.
Redeemed by Our Savior, I work out my salvation with fear and trembling in Pohang, South Korea, where I live with my wife, daughter, and son and teach English at a science and technology university. Baptized a Methodist and raised a Missouri Synod Lutheran in Buffalo, NY, I spent six years as a guest of the Anglican Communion before being received by the Grace of God into the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church on the Feast of Saint Andrew, my patron, anno domini 2002.
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