Former UK ambassador to Pyongyang John Everard has just launched his book “Only Beautiful Please” at a talk to the Korea Society. He caused a stir by saying North Koreans don’t like the Chinese, which links in with something the defector Kim Joo-il said in a letter to the FT in September 2010:
North Koreans are very poor, but they are very hostile to foreigners, not only to the US and Japan, but also to China. The class does not matter. They all think in the same way.
Ordinary North Koreans and the ruling class are deeply humiliated by Kim Jong-il’s begging to China. Considering this strong nationalism, it is unlikely that North Korea will be China’s satellite no matter who becomes his successor.
Here’s the presentation:
Related links:
- Coverage at The Marmot’s Hole | Chosun Ilbo | Brookings Institute
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