The fear is in Washington

I have just remembered the attitude of my folks to me, when I was packing my stuff for the journey to Korea.

"Ain't you scared? There will be a war soon!!! Are you crazy?!!!"

These are some of the most typical remarks. Not that someone is particularly protective about me, but yet, annoying comments were there.

When I applied for the visa, the embassy was empty. It was just after the panic raised by media after Kim Jong Il's attempted nuclear test.

The headlines screamed about rising tensions and possible outbreak of the war in Korea again after 60 years.

I ignored that, knowing that media are hardly ever right especially about far corners of the world.

After coming to Korea it has been some time before I dared to have an opinion about these issues.

Now I do have one and it is not a nice one, especially not for Reuters, AFP, AP and other agencies.

In my opinion the entire fear is created in Washington and spread around the world. No reporter actually sits in Seoul for years like it used to be in the old times, and does not cover events as he or she should.

If they had done their job properly, the world would know about South - North dialogue more, would know about reconciliation process, and would simply know about that North blackmails South each time there is a hunger or shortages. Would know about special economic zones and other things.

Where they can know about it then from? Yeah, you are right, from Wikipedia :) And from bloggers.

But I do have doubts if people can learn about it from Washington Post. Same for Frankfurter AZ, The Times and the others which would follow unsubstantiated psychosis of fear.

One thing pops up to my mind though? There are international troops in South Korea. Do they report what really happens? What do they say? To whom? How high can their reports reach? How is it interpreted?

Of course I do not claim that Kim Jong Il is not dangerous. The danger is there in the air and that is why each time North threatens South, Seoul aids them with economic goods, food and other things, especially because Korean chebols can become competitive on global markets having cheap goods in decent standard.

When will I read an up to date analysis in Western media...?