New York Philharmonic in North Korea Report 1

Feb 28 2008. This is a public service news report. I hope PBS does not mind including global audience to their audience.

Sorry for small picture size. But what is reported here more than makes up the picture size. Most video clips of the performance that I saw did not have enough information on the North Korean audience reaction which I wanted learn about. [But I found this later. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEdCovYObZQ&feature=related ]

This report makes up that part.

Naturally, a very positive response. That is really no surprise to anyone. Real question is: why did this not happen earlier?

The US should have started this approach 50 years ago. Of course, the Cold War would have made it a bit difficult then. But why not in the post Cold War era, especially when South Korea itself changed its anti-communist policy to engagement. G Bush's foreign policy was the key obstacle. North Korean leadership, of course, is not blameless.

But I believe it is easier to improve the relationship with North Korea by "us" being more magnanimous than threatening. I believe it is best to approach NK as a big brother counselling a problem younger brother. You get better result this way.

You do not do that by threatening or hurting their pride. Help them come out of the cold.

Contituned in Part 2.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• NewYork
• Philharmonic
• North
• Korea
• DPRK