inflammatory rhetoric from Palin threatens to raise tensions between North and South Korea

[HipChick]

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2011/10/116_96469.html

Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin said she “looks forward to regime change” in North Korea while calling on South Korea to help the North when its regime is finally ousted.“Being under the thumb of a dictator, the first victims of his regime are his own people,” said Palin during a keynote address at the 12th World Knowledge Forum in Seoul, Tuesday.

Palin, who was the vice presidential nominee of the Republican Party in 2008, made the comment in a Q&A session with Ritz Kahn of Al Jazeera English immediately after her speech. The theme of this year’s forum is “The New Economic Crisis: Reforming Global Leadership & Asia’s Challenge.”

Regarding Palin’s remark, the Seoul government showed a cautious response.

Jo Byoung-jae, spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, said flatly “regime change is not a policy goal or the objective of this government.”

He said he is not criticizing Palin or her statement, but just stating as clearly as possible what the North Korea policy of Seoul is, adding, “I think it is safe to say that it is also not the policy goal of the U.S. government either.”

Palin’s statement drew attention as it came at a particularly precarious time for South and North Korean relations amid lingering tension on the Korean Peninsula.Kim Tae-hyo, Cheong Wa Dae’s deputy national security advisor, said Friday that North Korea could conduct a long-range missile or third nuclear test if ongoing preliminary talks with South Korea and the United States fail to restart the long-stalled six party talks.

The North previously conducted nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009, drawing harsh international condemnation and sanctions.

Tensions have persisted on the peninsula over the sinking of a South Korean warship in March 2010, and the shelling of a South Korean border island in November. Pyongyang has refused to take responsibility for the two deadly attacks that killed 50 Koreans, including two civilians.

While North Korea has called for an unconditional resumption of the six-nation talks, President Lee Myung-bak had demanded an apology from Pyongyang first.

[leftstreet]

1. Sarah Palin speaking at a 'Knowledge' forum

:rofl:

[HipChick]

2. Ironic isn't it?

[rugger1869]

3. +1

nm

[Amonester]

4. pale-in suddenly can see NK from her bathroom bowl...

Someone sane, please tell that other corrupt sh*tbag to shut the f*ck up before that waste of air gets us all blown up in fumes.

Thank you.

[Tx4obama]

5. I wish she would stay in Alaska and STFU. n/t

[MilesColtrane]

6. You might as well say, "Inflammatory rhetoric from pantsless old man on street corner to raise...

tensions between North and South Korea".

She's a nobody and has zero influence on world affairs.