Seoul Has A Change Of Heart

It seems that officials in Seoul are starting to re-think the harsh tone they've been taking with North Korea. There's even a call for reunification midst one of the most tense periods between the two countries in a decade.

From The Korea Times article:

'"When we say national security, words such as confrontation or face-off tend to come to our minds. I think now is the time for us to chart a security strategy that can usher the nation into reunification," he said.

Lee put priority on reunification, not confrontation, at a time when tensions are mounting on the peninsula.'

That's interesting for sure and there are at least two issues at play here. One is that not one of the allies involved supports a war. And any counter-attack would most likely provoke one. The second is that Lee Myung-bak is at an incredibly low point in his political career.

He initially came into office with the "tough on the North" outlook. But after an attack, when I would imagine he could cement that issue, he turns the other way. Let's just say his time in the office is winding down, and a re-election is impossible.