David’s Weblog

1. How has the international media responded to North Korea’s missile launch?

The international media received North Korea’s missile launch with various emotions.  First, while it seems to deride North Korea’s military capabilities, it also acknowledges that North Korea’s regime and threats are still powerful enough to scare other big countries like the US and Japan.  Japan has threatened to retaliate if North Korea’s missiles risk damaging Japan.  Overall, many  countries are cautious about North Korea’s missile launch.  They do not want to immediately attack and threaten N.K. for its missile launch, because they fear that this may cause more tension and increase the chances of a North Korean missile attack.   However, foreign countries are also careful not to completely ignore North Korea’s missile launch, because doing so may result in a stronger North Korean military.

North Korean Missiles

2. In what ways might international perceptions of North Korea impact how the world views South Korea?

I feel like North Korea’s fearless attitude toward its missile launches can either harm or benefit South Korea’s image.  In the international view, South Korea might seem like the rich counterpart to North Korea that is unable to retaliate when North Korea threatens to test its missiles and nuclear weapons.  Even though it is economically and politically much more stable than North Korea, it cannot disrupt Kim Jong-il’s regime because it might be under attack.  Although some views might perceive South Korea as the victimized country, other countries might criticize South Korea for not taking a more aggressive stance on North Korea’s reckless actions.  It’s true that President Lee Myung Bak has been more firm than his predecessors about giving large sums of money to North Korea, but the rest of the world might not think that South Korea is doing enough.

3. Has anyone ever asked you “which Korea are you from, North or South?” What does that question reveal on the part of the speaker?

I have been asked the question, “Are you from North or South Korea?” before.  Whenever I get asked that question, I feel like the person who asked me that doesn’t know anything about the country I live in, and I am reminded that while living in South Korea defines who I am, the rest of the world is still ignorant of the geography and politics of the country I live in.  To them, North and South Korea are nearly the same thing, and they are unaware of the political divide that exists between the two nations.  I also feel like people who ask this kind of question are ignorant and are not interested in the news and current events.

When I first saw this documentary, I was shocked that there were “schools” for North Korean children that escaped to the South.  Although I have lived in South Korea for almost all my life, I was never aware of this fact until I saw this video.  Many of the students in these schools appeared to face a “culture shock”, where they were simply overwhelmed by the difference in lifestyle between the two Koreas.  In North Korea, the students explained how they were restricted from doing things they wanted.  However, in South Korea, their lives were completely reversed.  The kids could shop whenever they wanted, had freedom of speech, and could go visit anywhere they wanted at anytime.  Another aspect of the culture shock was that the North Koreans were unfamiliar with technology and the internet.  It was ironic how teenagers (around my age) had to be taught how do use the internet and operate cell phones.  The students inability to use technology showed how under developed North Korea is in comparison to other countries.

Although North Korean refugees have more freedom in South Korea they had to sacrifice living with their family.  It was inspirational and touching to see how the refugees optimistically hoped for a reunification between North and South Korea and wished to see their parents when they visited the DMZ.

The DMZ

The news article “How Hard Is It to Fire a Rocket?” questioned how threatening North Korean missile launches were.  Many people tend to think that North Korea is a major threat that is capable of firing deadly missiles.  This article, however, asks the readers to rethink whether or not North Korea is actual an “international threat”.   Many people fear North Korea because of their capability to fire nuclear arms.  However, their most recent missile launch failed miserably, showing that North Korea may be “bluffing” about their ability to start a nuclear war.  The article basically described the difficulty behind successfully launching a rocket and analyzed whether North Korea was capable of doing so.  According to the report, although N.K does not have the economic base to manafacture a rocket, it can still construct one by smuggling.  Despite the fact that North Korea can construct a rocket, the nation is not developed enough to guide a rocket to a certain destination.  For example, North Korea managed to build and start a satellite launch, but failed to guide the satellite to its destination.  This demonstrates that although the country can successfully build rockets, launching the rockets is another story.

North Korea's Rocket

In the end, the article concluded that North Korean missiles are capable of bombing near by countries such as South Korea or Japan, but cannot harm U.S territory as of now.  Therefore, the fear of North Korea bombing the U.S with nuclear warheads is an irrational fear – until North Korea further develops their technology.

Dr. Strangelove

Maslow's Pyramid (also known as Maslow's hierarchy of needs)

The bottom of Maslow’s pyramid is physiological needs, which are the basic necessities people need in order to physically survive.  For example, food, water, and shelter are all physiological needs because it is impossible to survive without them.  The next level of the pyramid is security, which is protection people need in order to secure their physiological needs.  The third level is love and belonging.  This is the care and appreciation people need in order to feel that they are a part of the world.  For instance, have a close relationship with family members and friends can bring love and belonging.  The fourth level is esteem, which is confidence and the feeling that one has a desirable role  in his or her life.  Getting respect from others and feeling proud about one’s existence are the basic aspects of this level.  Finally, the very top of the pyramid is self actualization, which is when people are able to reach their full potential by doing things that are beyond what is required to survive.  In self actualization, people begin to question about the reasons why they live and try to do things that involve deep thinking, creativity, and problem solving.  Artists strive for self actualization because they create aesthetic works that are not essential for survival, but show the maximum potential of humankind.

According Maslow’s Pyramid, food is a physiological need (it is impossible to survive without it), while morality is a part of self actualization.  Since physiological needs come before self actualization (it is on a lower level on Maslow’s pyramid), morality should not exist for people who are starving to death, because self actualization has very little importance when one does not have food and physiological needs.  In other words, physiological needs have a higher priority than self actualization, so morals do not matter for someone who is starving.

In addition, the novel Aquariums of Pyongyang supports the idea that morals do not exist for people who are starving to death.  In this novel, the narrator mentions how some prisoners at the Yodok concentration camp were called “snitches”.  These people intentionally report prisoners that break rules in order to get more food.  Although snitches know what they are doing is immoral and harms other people, they cannot do not care about this at all, because all they are too concerned about their physiological needs – especially food.

The first article is called “North Korea to Test-Fire Long Range Missile” and talks about how North Korea may plan to develop missiles that can reach Alaska and other U.S territory.

The United States and its allies, including South Korea, suspect that North Korea is planning to test a missile capable of lofting a nuclear warhead, not only against South Korea and Japan, but perhaps as far as the American states of Alaska and Hawaii. North Korea is thought to possess a hand full of nuclear bombs.

The importance of this quote is that it shows North Korea is not only a threat to countries in Asia, such as Korea and Japan, but is also a threat to countries overseas, such as the U.S. If North Korea successfully develops long range missiles, then the whole world would be under the threat of nuclear attacks and North Korea’s nuclear program would become an international issue rather than a local one.

The North Korean government is belligerent in the best of times. But North Korea’s threat of what is essentially war against its neighbors as well as the United States suggests a new level of aggressiveness. North Korea has stated that it has placed its military on alert.

The fact that North Korea is becoming more aggressive and threatens war more often shows that the nation is more willing to engage in military combat and is no longer quiet and isolated the way it was in the past.  Even though many countries do not know exactly what is going on in the North, more countries now want to communicate North Korea in order to settle out issues about war threats and nuclear attacks.  In one respect, North Korea is becoming more international and is involved in more foreign affairs due to its military aggression.

North Korean Missiles

The next article “North Korea allows cellphone network”, talks about cellphones being allowed in North Korea – a rather controversial topic.

Egyptian telecom company Orascom Communication launched a mobile network in the North Korean capital called Koryolink in December, on a long shot that its service can succeed in one of the world’s poorest and most reclusive states.

The fact that North Korea is allowing a cell phone network in the country indicates that the nation is becoming more open to the outside world and might communicate with other nations more often.  Although this article states that the cellphone network currently does not allow calling people in other countries, this may change in the future once North Korea expands their cell phone network.  Many are suspicious about this new cellphone network and believe that their is an ulterior motive behind allowing cell phones – such as using the phones to monitor citizens.  However, I think that North Korea is actually trying to industrialize and develop the nation by introducing cellphones.  If this is the case, then North Korea is becoming a more international country and is trying to improve its communication network.

Analysts have questioned the government’s motives in bringing cellphone service to the country. Some say Pyongyang has begun a more aggressive move to modernize its ailing economy as a way to attract foreign investment.

According to this passage, one possible reason for North Korea’s allowing cell phones is that it can help develop the nation and improve the nations economy by attracting foreign investment.  As of now, North Korea’s economy is in the drain and many people cannot even afford food and basic physiological needs.  Therefore, the North Korean government might interact with outside countries more often and become more “globalized” in efforts to improve the country’s terrible economy.

The last article, “North Korea reopens border to South Koreans”, talks about how North Korea “reopened” its borders for South Korea by allowing Sourth Korean workers and cargo trucks pass through the border in order to allow South Koreans to work at the industrial complex in the North Korean border town of Kaesong.

The communist nation shut its border on March 9, calling 12-day U.S.-South Korean military exercises a threat to its safety. But on Tuesday, North Korea normalized visits by South Korean workers and cargo trucks to an industrial complex jointly run with the South, Yonhap said.

This quote shows that North Korea is now more lenient about the strict division between North and South Korea.  Although only workers and cargo trucks from an industrial complex jointly run by South and North Korea are allowed to pass the DMZ, this is still a very major event, because it indicates that North Korea is becoming more international by allowing people from other countries to do construction and industrial work in their country.  This also emphasizes how North Korea is trying to open up and work with other countries in order to improve their devastating economy and their poor infrastructure.

“The North Korean side sent us a letter of approval [reopening the borders] this morning,” the news agency quoted Unification Ministry official Lee Jong-joo as saying. The letter did not explain the North’s reversal, Lee told Yonhap.

Although the North has become more international than it was before, it still remains a very mysterious country.  The passage above shows how North Korea will not state its reasons why it has decided to suddenly reopen its borders.  The fact that North Korea is very inconsistent and unpredictable when it comes to making policy makes it a very secretive and isolated country.  In this case, the North is constantly closing and the reopening its borders with no apparent reason, so South Korea feels very isolated and separated from North Korea.

The North Korean border before it recently "reopened"

Sun Mu the "Faceless" Artist

What specific details from his artistic style seem noteworthy?
I found Sun Mu’s use of sarcasm and irony in his artworks very noteworthy.  This is mainly because his use of irony and sarcasm often creates humor in his art.  For instance, the “Happy Children” painting shown below uses irony to show that North Korean kids are very unhappy, despite the fact they are portrayed as smiling children.

"We are Happy Children"

Also, his drawings often parody Kim-Jung-Il and mock North Korea.  His painting “Kim-Jung-Il in Pink” (shown below) pokes fun at a famous dictator who is normally portrayed as being cold and serious.

"Kim Jung Il in Pink"

Therefore, Sun Mu’s artistic style of creating drawings that incorporate both humor and serious political issues make him unique.

The work of artists ties in with political issues between North and South Korea, because it symbolizes the tension between the two countries.  In addition, art can show how North Korea is corrupt and that political reform is required in order to eliminate all the problems communism causes.

Artists definitely have a role in raising public awareness, because their artwork can show the harsh realities and injustice in this world.  For example, Sun Mu’s North Korean propaganda paintings show how the North Korea’s government uses propaganda to manipulate people and make them think that they are living in a wonderful country.  In many ways, artwork is more effective at creating awareness compared to other forms of media (such as news articles), because it can send messages through emotions and feelings rather than words and facts.  This can even lead to a dialogue on reunification by inspiring people that there should be no borders and no vast differences between two countries that share the same history.  In fact, Sun Mu’s name even represents the reunification between North and South Korea.  “Sun” means line in Korean and “Mu” means without.  Therefore, “Sun Mu” means “without lines”, which symbolizes reunification between the two Koreas.

What tools are available?

There four main tools available in my college QuickStart.  They were called My Online Score Report, My SAT Study Plan, My College Matches, and My Major&Career Matches.  The online score report told me what questions I got right or wrong on the PSAT and analyzed in what areas I have to improve in.  The SAT study plan offered review and practice questions for the SAT and also gave tips on how to score higher on the test.  Finally, the college, major, and career matches gave me a list of recommended colleges and provided in-depth information on my major (engineering) and careers related to it.

How do the tools work?
Each of the tools are displayed on four buttons on the QuickStart page (shown below) and clicking on one of these buttons gives access to the tool you want to use.

College QuickStart

What tools were useful?
I found the Sat Study Plan very useful because it provided sample SAT problems and gave concise, but important points on what areas in math, reading, and writing are tested on the SAT.  It also provided good test taking tips, which can help boost my score.
Also, the Major&Career Matches tool was very helpful because it gave me a detailed explanation of what engineering (my probable major) is like and what kind of problems engineer must try to solve.  In addition, it recommended the high school courses students planning to major in engineering should take.

What could be improved for future releases?
I think that QuickStart could do a much better job at coming up with college matches because I was very disappointed when I saw my matches.  The College Board did not recommend any schools in the U.S, but mentioned schools from other places, such as Canada and the U.K.  This was completely unexpected, because I had assumed that the College Board knew that I was planning to attend a college in the states.  Therefore, the College Matches in QuickStart could have been improved by having two different types of college matches – one for colleges inside the U.S and one for colleges outside the U.S.

Narrowing Your Choices
When I had to reduce my 5-5-5 college list in to a 2-2-2 list during my I-Search project, I found this article very helpful because it clearly explained what factors I must think about in order to trim my list of schools.  Firstly, I learned that the list of colleges I will apply to must come from my own interests and not what others think.  In order to come up with a satisfactory list, I must think about what schools will offer me courses and activities that I am devoted to.  In addition, a college’s size, setting, and location should also be an important factor in selecting colleges because the overall environment of school has an important contribution to the learning experience students have.

This article even helped define “reach”, “match”, and “safety” schools in depth by defining each one and explaining common misconceptions behind these terms.  For instance, there was an explanation that a safety school should not be a school that is just easy to get in, but should be a school one would love to attend to.  Similarly, a reach school should not be chosen simply because the school is prestigious, but because  it suits the student’s interests and career goal.

College Choices

New: Up-and-Coming Schools

I found this article very unique because unlike most articles that talk about prestigious schools and ivy leagues, this one focused an lesser known schools that still offer a very promising education.  The fact that this piece of writing went far beyond a meaningless ranking of the best colleges made it interesting to read.  It also had a large impact on choosing my college list for my I-Search project, because i suddenly began to consider schools that were not very “prestigious” but suited my interests perfectly.  Therefore, my mind was open to more colleges after I read this article because I was able to get rid of the misconception that one should aim for the “famous schools that everybody applies to.” When Mr. Schneider said that one problem in college admissions is that “everyone applies to the same schools”, this article shows that one promising solution to this problem is to apply to less famous schools that still offer elite-level classes.

Unlike most people at S.I.S, I am not a U.S citizen and I have never lived in the U.S, so I did not eagerly anticipate Obama’s inauguration.  However, I did end up seeing the inauguration live and I actually found it very interesting to watch.  For me, the inauguration was a symbol of a new beginning that would resolve many problems from the past.  With Obama’s leadership I believe think that many problems that have been plaguing the U.S, such as the economic recession and the Bush administration’s poor political policies will come to an end.  In a way, the feelings associated with Obama’s inauguration reminds me about the feelings people had during the new year’s resolution because both are optimistic feelings that try to forget about troubles from the past and try to look for hope and improvement in the future.

Obama at his Inauguration

The SATs

1. What do you think about this option? Should students have the option of hiding some scores and/or low scores?

I personally do not like the option of having “score choice” because it is unfair for several reasons.  First of all, it puts people who are not well off at a disadvantage, because they might not have the money to take the test multiple times.  Also, score choice can encourage students to take the SAT as if it were an “experiment.”  In other words, people will take the SAT as often as they can just to see what scores they can get or to see if they can be “lucky” and get a high score out of multiple attempts.  I fear that this kind of behavior will make college admissions more competitive, because many people will take the SAT multiple times but only send their top score.  This will make it impossible for colleges to determine whether a student achieved a high SAT score by taking the test only once, or five times.

2.What do you think about universities insisting that all scores be submitted as part of the application process, rather than just the highest scores?

Although many students may disagree with this, I think that all colleges should insist all scores instead of the highest scores.  At first, I was against schools that asked for all scores.  However, after reading this article, I realized that schools that allow students to use score choice are only making college admissions more competitive, because students will hide their low scores.  Students from low income families will be at a disadvantage when applying to schools that accept just the highest scores, because they do not have they money to take the tests many times.

3.In what ways might the option to hide score raise the stakes and make admissions even more competitive/stressful for students?

Score choice can make college admissions more competitive by raising the average SAT scores sent to colleges.  Since students are now allowed to hide bad scores, schools will now only receive top scores, making admissions more selective.  As I have previously mentioned, this new policy makes it impossible for colleges to differentiate between a student who took the SAT only once and got a good score, and another student who spent months studying and retaking the SAT five times.  The score choice can also cause students to spend more time prepping for for the SAT, because they can now take the test more often without worrying that they will get a low score.  This can make students’ lives more stressful, because they have to sacrifice more of their free time just for a higher test score.

4.Other thoughts/free response.

I think that College Board came up with this score choice policy in order increase their profits and to make their test look more favorable than the ACT.  Although the College Board claims that their reason for doing score choice is that it reduces stress from the test-taking experience, I think that the real motive behind score choice is to convince people to take the SAT more often, which increases the College Board’s profits (College Board is a for profit company).  Also, a lot of schools are now accepting the ACT, so the score choice might be the College Board’s “new weapon” that will change students’ minds to take the SAT instead of ACT.  Even though these controversies may not be true, they aren’t unreasonable because the SAT is starting to become less popular as more and more schools consider dropping the SAT or accept ACT scores instead.