Navy makes move today on Jeju Island in South Korea

Posted by Bruce Gagnon

As recent experiences have repeatedly shown, increasing militarisation in the South has been quite successful at preventing North Korean belligerence, as well as bringing North and South closer together.
Following this brilliant strategy, the construction of a new naval base is under way on the southern island of Jeju, which will be apparently large enough to host permanently visiting U.S. warships.  No doubt that China is also thrilled to have more American belligerent potential so close to its coastlines.

And beyond geopolitics, what's missing from the equation is the impact that further militarisation has had on the average Kim on both sides of the 38th parallel.  From where we live, we won't have much trouble believing that northern Kim has been suffering in his garrison state, but we shouldn't dismiss either the hardships endured by southern Kim in the name of American-made freedom.  What can we expect around the new military base on Jeju Island?  A dramatic increase in prostitution, violence against women, traffic accidents, environmental degradation, trafficking, etc.  And who would be unpatriotic enough to protest after the killing of four South Koreans by the North Korean shelling of Yeongpyeong Island recently? 

The plan to construct this naval base well predates the recent exchange of deadly fire.  Like in South Korea and the U.S., it is bound to benefit the elite classes in North Korea, whose well-being and viability depend on the permanent state of tension between the two Koreas.  As for the commoners, they'll foot the countless bills.

You can read more about the people's struggle against this new military base here and here.

No, they won't be sent to a goulag, but is that the measure of our sense of ethics?