Who can forget these famous words uttered by British PM Neville Chamberlain, waving a piece of paper he signed with Hitler, “An Anglo German Declaration” on 30th September 1938, also known as “Munich Agreement.” In less than a year, Hitler invaded Poland and France and Britain declared war on Germany. Some sceptic compares the declaration by North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un to make Korean peninsula a nuclear free zone and to live in peace and harmony with South Korea, empty words not worth the paper it is written on, of no more than ironic value! Scrutinizing Kim’s past history, his ruthless elimination of anyone who may pose slightest threat to his regime, including murder of his half-brother and uncle, makes it difficult to trust such a tyrant. No one can doubt that Kim is the World’s most enigmatic and ruthless leader.
Then Kim is no Hitler and North Korea is certainly no Germany, one of the mightiest nations in Europe. Even after WW2 devastation, Germany is today work-horse of Europe and one of the richest nation on earth. Sometimes we may wonder who actually triumphed in WW2! Now that Kim has cemented his position as “The Supreme Leader” in charge of “Workers’ Party”, perhaps he may be ready for peace, progress and to improve living standard of his long suffering people. Kim was educated in Switzerland where he spent some fruitful time. So he is familiar with Western democracy, capitalism and the high living standard people in the West enjoy, compared to his own country where people struggle to put three square meals on the table. He is also aware of South Korea’s economic might, freedom and democracy.
It seems South Korea’s President Moon Jae-in believes that it is possible to have cordial relations with Kim, especially after his declaration that he would close nuclear testing site in front of “International Observers” and will never use nuclear weapons against South or even US. Perhaps meeting between Kim and Trump will clarify the situation one way or another!
Bhupendra M. Gandhi
By email
