Commentary
China Rises - McClatchy Newspapers
Kim Jong Il and the Olympics
Posted by Tim Johnson
Wed Jul 23, 4:49 AM ET
There’s more speculation — and I reiterate that it’s just speculation — that North Korea’s Kim Jong Il might pop in for the Beijing Olympics.
Kim, after all, was given a formal invitation to the Games by none other than Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping on June 18.
Here’s a column from OhMyNews.com in South Korea that suggests that the North Korean ‘Dear Leader’ may see a Beijing jaunt for the Opening Ceremonies as a worthwhile political gambit:
Kim might join the group of world leaders in Beijing if he finds that his appearance at the world sports feast would be useful, and China-mediated talks with US President George W. Bush could generate the atmosphere and dramatic momentum for terminating the Communist state's diplomatic isolation. In addition, Kim's short encounters with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda may lead to direct talks immediately. In other words, it means that North Korea is no longer alone in the world and that the grave decision Kim makes toward reform and openness will certainly save North Koreans from suffering a recurrent tragic famine. The Games can be used to hedge Kim's political risks by joining them. These gambles can be tremendously lucrative.
Many North Korea experts here in Seoul, however, point out that Kim, who is 68, is unlikely to make such a high-risk political and diplomatic gambit due to his paranoid fear about security. Their analysis might be more correct than my passion for the North Korean leader's participation in the ceremony.
OhMyNews isn’t alone in passing along this speculation. Singapore’s Straits Times newspaper noted a few days ago that rumors were widespread in Beijing that Kim might show for the Olympics.
Kim is notoriously paranoid about security. He almost never flies, preferring his specially built bulletproof train. So there’s plenty of reason to think he wouldn’t come.
But then, it’s delicious to think about China trying to figure out seating in the Bird’s Nest Olympic Stadium for some 80 heads of government and state, including President Bush and the “Dear Leader,” a man he clearly loathes.
