Liking Dennis, and Donald too
So, what is the world to make of the Korean situation now that the north's Kim Jong Un and the south's Moon Jae In seem to have struck some sort of agreement on the way forward to peace in the troubled peninsula. As expected, the world immediately headed for division over the Korean "unification." But that is to be expected as the beautiful dance is simply too good to be true.
And yet, even the skeptics and cynics have to be told that what just happened is so much better than the happenings of just a few months before. They have to be told that it is so much better to hope for an uncertain peace than to expect the certainty of conflict and crisis. This is precisely why Kim Jong Un has suddenly become a very "lovable" guy. Because he was such a loathsome guy.
Of course the world should not fall head over heels over the recent developments. But guarded optimism isn't such a bad idea either. In fact, that is the way the world should proceed --with guided optimism. The world has to embrace any chance for peace, no matter how slim and improbable. A door slightly ajar is so much better than a barricaded gate.
For a moment, let skepticism and cynicism be set aside. Nevertheless, there is a need to satisfy the world's natural curiosity. And the biggest question out there is why did Kim Jong Un do what he did. Of all the theories and analyses that descended on earth, perhaps the most plausible was that one propounded on the BBC by a geopolitical analyst, whose name currently escapes memory.
At any rate, this analyst said that two things "probably" pushed Kim Jong Un into doing the unthinkable. One, the North Korean leader correctly surmised that US President Donald Trump was just little bit screwed more differently than are most leaders, making him extremely dangerous and entirely capable of pushing the button for no other reason than it is there. Two, the north's only friend and ally, China, had been extremely displeased at having its multi-faceted momentum interrupted.
This analysis is attractively persuasive, especially on the first point. Indeed, the world has never seen a leader with the frame of mind of a Donald Trump in recent years, with the notable possible exception of Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte. To say that both men are unconventional is a gross understatement. The two men are eccentric in a very dangerous way.
In the case of Donald Trump, it is truly believable that Kim Jong Un got really spooked at the possibility that Trump may indeed just push that button for the heck of it. As to China, that country has catapulted itself into a global leadership position incredibly without firing a single shot. Its economic, military, as well as political, standing has closed in, if not caught up, with that of America. And then suddenly there was North Korea. Naturally it was incensed and told Kim Jong Un.
There is, however, this unscratchable itch to throw in a little mischief into that mix. So please humor me if, underneath all the prior belligerence, Kim Jong Un actually harbors a secret admiration for Donald Trump. For a man to harbor such a liking for someone like Dennis Rodman as to actually invite him over for lunch not just once but twice, it is not too far off to imagine hitting it with Donald Trump as something to really work hard for.
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