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Sun, June 24, 2018 | 21:44

Opinion > Columnists > Andrew Salmon >

Is South Korea's only ally heading home?

Oh, irony of ironies. The United States Forces Korea _ USFK, which oversees 28,500 U.S. troops in South Korea _ is not under threat from a leftist South Korea government, nor from North Korean action, anger or hostility.

Andrew Salmon | 2018-06-18 18:36

What is behind Kim's play?

U.S. President Donald Trump has at last confirmed that the first-ever summit between North Korea and the United States is a go. His decision follows a diplomatic whirlwind.

Andrew Salmon | 2018-06-04 17:40

Could Korea restore royal family?

An estimated 2 billion TV viewers worldwide watched events in Windsor, the U.K., last Saturday as soldiers marched, carriages rolled, women wore ridiculous hats and the dashing Prince Harry of Wales wedded the attractive American thespian, Meghan Markel. Those are significant viewing figures, even by the standards of a Hollywood blockbuster or a global mega-sports event. I must confess I was not among them. Although I am British, I find weddings poor entertainment.

Andrew Salmon | 2018-05-21 17:12

'No thanks' to reunification; 'yes please' to peace

The success of the inter-Korean summit and the bromance ignited between Moon Jae-in and Kim Jong-un, have created an upbeat mood of hope nationwide. This is natural and understandable, but it has also led to euphoria. Persons ranging from provincial government officials to average citizens are calling for all manner of inter-Korean projects. Some are even talking excitedly about reunification.

Andrew Salmon | 2018-05-11 17:26

Possibilities peak as summits near

Some years ago, I wrote a book characterizing Korea as a “land of extremes.” The recent conversion of Kim Jong-un from belligerent nuke-wielder to apparent diplomatic peace-monger seems to bear out that contention.

Andrew Salmon | 2018-04-23 18:17

How to beat 'Blue House curse'

The curse of the Blue House continues its deadly cull. Ex-president Park Geun-hye has just started 24 years in the pokey; ex-president Lee Myung-bak _ in the cell next door _ is already wearing prison pajamas. He will soon, I suspect, face a similarly hefty sentence.

Andrew Salmon | 2018-04-09 17:11

Moon shines over Asia - and far beyond

President Moon Jae-in is casting a bright halo over Asia and across the Pacific. This is a surprise. When he assumed office, many (myself included) anticipated domestic action. After all, Moon's professional experiences, from soldier to lawyer to politician, have been local, not international. He has no diplomatic background, no foreign languages.

Andrew Salmon | 2018-03-26 16:33

Who deserves credit for summit?

So: A sitting U.S. leader will meet a sitting North Korean leader for the first time, ever. The promise is colossal; so is the risk. Regardless of how cynical you are about the end result, the summit alone will, if it happens (as seems likely), be a historic diplomatic landmark.

Andrew Salmon | 2018-03-12 17:41

Gangwon performs, Korea matures

I have just returned from four days reporting on the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, Gangwon Province. It was a revelatory trip. First impressions? Dodgy. I checked into the “hotel” I had booked online and paid 250,000 won ($230) per night for. It squatted down a side street in a red-light district. Yep: My hotel was a 70,000 won per night love motel with hotel aspirations. Still: it was clean, hot water was plentiful, and the TV worked sometimes. From there, it was all uphill.

Andrew Salmon | 2018-02-12 17:41

Bow to North Koreans - but don't bend

Pre-Olympic inter-Korean relations are galloping ahead at a breakneck pace. No sooner had North Korean leader Kim Jong-un offered a conciliatory message in his New Year's speech, than the Moon Jae-in administration responded. Squadrons of doves were unleashed over the DMZ; olive branches were thrust over the frontier. The alacrity of Seoul's response was appropriate, given the urgency of the broader situation.

Andrew Salmon | 2018-01-29 18:34

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