Week 4 Zoom Session Takeaways

[Len Krieger]

These are the notes and things I learned during the week 4 zoom session based on some of the questions I and my classmates asked.

President Trump mistakes with numbers when he stated US spends to much in SK claiming it was 5 billion spent instead of 1.25 billion in 2018, SK didn’t want to offend Americans by correcting him.

Ryugyong Hotel is made of concrete and rebar and was not coducive to making elevators go straight, so NK put elevators on exterior. NK, they won’t tear it down, because it might be considered a sign of admitting defeat. I also found it interesting, they do get some sort of use for it by conducting laser light shows.

A lot of Kim Jong Un and his dealing socially is staged to show good face, and not always an accurate depiction of what he or his regime is like behind the scenes.

NK needs China as an ally and they provide Kim Jong Un with new cars like the maybach and luxury goods through government officials and if not them through Chiese nationals.

North Koreans also flee into China, or to a third country for asylum, China are still worried about NKs nuclear capabilities as a nuclear state, and found it interesting that Russia has presence since they share a 10 mile border.

I.O.C has to approve all aspects of countries participation for Olympics, NK and SK couldn’t enter together, and half of the South Korean hockey team got booted to make room for North Korean players and the coach of the team was not even Korean.

The one talking point Jennifer made that stuck with me was, the US likes to have "hand in every pie around the world" which couldn't be more correct, seeing how almost everytime you turn on the news you hear about the USA delving into foreign affairs in other countries instead of working on and focusing on eternal issues our country is currently facing (food insecurity, debt, gun control, unemployment, etc.)