Korean-Americans talk about missiles

Riverside Press-Enterprise ^ | 7/7/06 | Joyce Tse and Bettye Wells Miller

[NormsRevenge]

Some Inland-region Korean- Americans said Thursday that missile tests by North Korea this week are an attempt to force world attention on the starving nation.

But it's a dangerous game that is scaring relatives in South Korea and could backfire, they said.

"They're doing something crazy," said Roger Park, 54, of Colton. Park was born in Seoul, South Korea, and came to the United States 25 years ago. A brother and sister remain there.

"So many countries don't want them to test fire," Park said by phone. "They're still going to do it. That's a concern, especially for South Koreans. They are within range of so many missiles."

Park was one of a half-dozen residents interviewed. He and others said they believe North Korean leader Kim Jong Il wants to pressure the United States to meet directly with the Pyongyang government in hopes of getting aid.

Americans are focused on Iraq, which doesn't have nuclear weapons, and worried about Iran, which is developing a nuclear program, said Paul Pak, 31, of Corona. He moved to the United States when he was 4.

"North Korea hasn't had face-to-face talks with the U.S.," he said. "They're saying, 'Don't forget about us.' He wants to get some assistance. His people are starving. But he's doing it the wrong way."

North Korea probably has no intention of attacking anyone, said Kwon Soo Han, 46, a computer-science lecturer and systems administrator at Cal State San Bernardino.

"They're probably doing this for money, because they are struggling. They are starving," he said. "Their reaction is unacceptable."

W.J. Choi, 48, a Riverside tae kwon do instructor from Seoul, said he doesn't worry much about North Korea's weapons testing.

"I think they are just trying to demonstrate and negotiate issues with other countries, but they cannot attack the U.S., South Korea or Japan," Choi said. "They don't have enough electricity or economics."

Enoch Kwon, 15, of Corona, worries about his grandparents in South Korea.

The possibility of war between the two Koreas is frightening, he said.

"War would just create more problems," Kwon said. "Nothing really beneficial comes out of it. Just loss of life and economics."

Han of Cal State said he has spoken to relatives in South Korea since the missile launches. They weren't too worried, because they "trust in the United States" to achieve a peaceful resolution, he said.

Jennifer Lee, 16, who moved to Riverside from Seoul with her parents to study, said she is surprised at North Korea.

"South Korea has given so much money to help North Korea, and I think they are using that money for nuclear weapons," Lee said. "The money is being used on the wrong thing."

Pak said Kim Jong Il is unpredictable, however.

"He thinks he has divine powers," Pak said. "He saw the regime change in Iraq. He thinks the U.S. will go in and take him out."

Some Korean-Americans said the missile incident could delay unification of the two Koreas, a dream held by many Inland residents and their families back in South Korea.

"I think we still have a long way to go," said Choi of Riverside. He and others likened the division between North Korea and South Korea to the Berlin Wall that once symbolized a divided Germany.

Lee and Kwon said unification would be a mixed blessing.

"The good thing is maybe some people who have family in North Korea can be together," Lee said.

"We have to think: How would it affect our culture if North and South Korea unified, since they are both so different?" Kwon said.

Han said he hopes that reunification happens sooner rather than later. During major holidays each year, his father -- the only member of his family to escape the north during the war -- looks to the sky over North Korea and cries.

"Someday," Han said, "maybe their government will collapse, and Korea will be peacefully unified."

[NormsRevenge]

Mark Zaleski / The Press-Enterprise
W.J. Choi says he doesn't worry too greatly about North Korea's weapons tests. "I think they are just trying to demonstrate and negotiate issues with other countries, but they cannot attack the U.S., South Korea or Japan," Choi says.

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Mark Zaleski / The Press-Enterprise
W.J. Choi, 48, a tae kwon do instructor from Seoul, likens the division between North and South Korea to the Berlin Wall.

[martin_fierro]

Koreans-Are-Talkin' PING

[Inkie]

Right. One side is/was commie and poor and the other side is capitalist and rich. Two great examples. The evidence is in.

[Inkie]

South Korea better recognize that if it weren't for the U.S., they'd be in the same dire straits as their northern brethren. Let's hear a little gratitude please.

[JimSEA]

"We have to think: How would it affect our culture if North and South Korea unified, since they are both so different?" Kwon said.

A lot of ordinary people in the North are like cult members and will need some kind of deprogramming before they will be able to see the world as it really is. Sad.

[Constantine XI Palaeologus]

I agree, apparently a couple of decades ago, America was held in high regard, but nowadays, I get the impression that they see us as an impediment to reunification (despite unifying with the commies would be ridiculous).

Also, I see all their antics over sports to be quite irritating (soccer, speedskating--talk about holding a grudge).