[From Kwanghwamoon] Ignorance of N. Korea confessed

As many in South Korea know, the North Koreans call dog meat "sweet meat." Why is it called so? Only recently, I have come to learn the reason. It had been an order by the late leader of North Korea, Kim Il-Sung, "The dog is one of the most beneficial of the animals known to mankind. As such, we shall call the meat it provides 'sweet meat.'"

Having heard the origin of the nomenclature by an expert upon his return from a visit to North Korea, I felt a sense of shame. How could I, the one in charge of the political affairs desk, have missed such a fact for so long? With time, the sense of shame only grew. How much do we really know about North Korea and North Koreans even as we report about them?

Among various American reporters, there are many who write "articles of self reflection" toward the end of the year. The year-end columns look back at the news pieces they had written, whether the standard of accuracy and objectivity had governed. Such articles of self-reflection are more common with financial reporters. The reason simply being that much of their predictions concerning the stock market and the economy generally are judged at the end of the year.

Although a bit awkward, a reflective piece will be offered. Amid the rapidly changing inter-Korean relationship, how accurate and fair were the articles written about North Korea?

There had been a few cases of clear misinterpretation across the board, a rather forgettable set of articles.

During his visit to the United States in October, the second in command in North Korea, Jo Myong-Rok, had on a Western-styled suit for most occasions but chose to wear his military uniform for his visit to the White House. All South Korean newspapers interpreted the changing into the uniform as symbolic of the North "wanting to show the full support of the military for the improved ties between the two states."

It was a misinterpretation. To North Korea, the United States was still an enemy state, and the White House, the seat of imperialism. What other garb could the general of the North Korean army wear as he entered the heart of American imperialism? The military garb of Jo Myuong-Rok was a silent protest, a silent act of defiance, "Bah! Humbug! You imperialists!"

As the building of a relationship between the North and the United States began to accelerate, the automatic response of South Korean media was the outcry of worries about the potential alienation of the South. Such a fear of alienation, which has haunted South Korea for the past 40 years, can be summed up: As South Korea is not a formal party to the armistice, North Korea and the United States could enter into a peace treaty without South Korea having a say or interest in the process.

The legacy of the Cold War, the fear of alienation, once again reared its unsightly head when the U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright made her visit to Pyongyang in October.

However, such theory and logic have begun to give way. One of them is the theory of allies offered by Korea University Prof. Yoo Byung-Wha. In 1943, as the commander of the allied forces, Eisenhower concluded an armistice with the head of the Italian army in Sicily, Eisenhower did not merely represent the United States; he represented all members of the allied forces, and each member became a formal party to the armistice.

South Korea was a member of the U.N. fighting force as the Korean War raged on. The president at the time, Lee Seung-Man, relinquished command of the Korean army to the U.N. commander in chief, Gen. Douglas MacArthur, with full acknowledgment of the U.N. Accordingly, South Korea is a formal member of the armistice with North Korea. We ourselves must adhere to this theory for others to do so, as well. There is no need for South Korea to pity itself.

These probably are not the only misinterpretations and downright fallacies arising from ignorance or bias. At times, even the numerous experts on North Korea are not of much help. Actually, there really are not any true experts on North Korea.

In the coming year, I hope to avoid writing another such article of self-reflection. I hope the same for others who write on North Korea.

Lee Jae-Ho, political editor