i am becoming increasingly concerned about the lack of understanding the korean government has been displaying about the north korean nuclear crisis. perhaps the recent announcement by moody's will finally hit those bumbling optimists who are sending the korean economy into the path of potential freefall. they will surely have to work out that this is not the time for undue complacency?read moody's moody report on korea.

what's really scary is the fact that this downgrade seems to have taken everyone in the korean government by surprise! do these people know anything about economics or finance? seems unlikely. there are a couple of articles i see reflecting this surprise -'kamikaze' credit downgrade (in korean) and 'the north is aggressive'-the real reason for the downgrade (in korean).

(n.b. the real feeling of the articles do not translate into the english articles uploaded (surprise, surprise) hence the reason for the korean links)

call me arrogant, but i don't see what north korea has done to deserve such blinkered trust as that put in it by the korean government. i'm not saying we go back to the days when you had anti-communist cartoons shown on each anniversary of 6.25, but really, when the blokes in japan still print out articles rejoicing in the embrace of their dear leader, who sat up all night one night when it rained (someone should have explained to him what monsoon season meant), surely we need to remind ourselves of the reasons for the DMZ's existence. you need to read the world's most hilarious 'news' site.

today is going to be korean government bashing day (tomorrow, it's blair's turn). take the ridiculous situation we are facing with the president elect, mr. no. i have been trying to work out why he is suggesting this crazed move of the nation's capital. i think i know why now - the link below leads to the association against the move of the capital, a japanese organisation which is fighting the very same idea in japan that mr. no is proposing to inflict on korea. o ye of little originality - is this all korean politicians can be?

read about japanese-koreans in a tiz about moving .