Yongpyong buying marijuana

__________________________

📍 Verified store!

📍 Guarantees! Quality! Reviews!

__________________________

▼▼ ▼▼ ▼▼ ▼▼ ▼▼ ▼▼ ▼▼

▲▲ ▲▲ ▲▲ ▲▲ ▲▲ ▲▲ ▲▲

Yongpyong buying marijuana

This post combines the original two posts into one and includes photos. The original posts are here and here. Reputed to be one of the best daytrips out of the city, it lived up to its reputation. If you visit Seoul and only have time for one daytrip, this is a great place to go. Opened in , the village is the grandest of all the folk villages dotting South Korea. Many of the employees dressed up as peasants and in hanbok traditional Korean dress also live there. The route to the Korean Folk Village two hours south of Seoul is not well marked, and finding northbound Interstate 1 heading north is not easy. We missed the Giheung exit off Interstate 1 on our way to the village and ended up driving past it to Osan. We backtracked on an arterial road that paralleled the freeway. We thought that a restaurant with a lofty-sounding name representing the entire country had to have delicious food, but it turned out to be a cafeteria-style , massed-produced food operation with a limited selection and mediocre cuisine. All the restaurants near the entrance looked the same. At least the friendly help took a liking to our young son! Live and learn. Koreans, like many peoples around the world, at one time carved ancestral totems out of wood. The ones in the village reminded me of the totem poles made by the Native Americans and First Peoples of the Pacific Northwest , although these totems were bit more free spirited no pun intended. Korean totems can be whimsical and a bit chaotic with laughing, asymmetrical faces. They also follow the curvature of the wood and occasionally lean. We walked to the ceramic village, where I bought my first kimchi pot a ceramic jar used to make kimchi , not kimchi -flavored marijuana. As the national dish of Korea, kimchi is held in high regard in Korea. No meal would be complete without a side dish of spicy and sweet cabbage, radish, or cucumber kimchi. The Italian restaurant where my wife and I occasionally dine in Seoul serves sweet pickles as a substitute western restaurants in Korea often serve sweet pickles in lieu of banchan , or side dishes. Mine is not too big, perhaps one gallon two kiloliters. To do that, you would need to buy at least a gallon drum! Although I overpaid for the jar, I was happy to buy one from the shop where it was made. Knowing its source gave it character and an identity. We made our way through the village and visited a replica of a typical traditional Korean peasant farm. We stopped to watch two elderly women in hanbok making silk. One woman boiled silkworm cocoons, killing the larvae, separating each from its cocoon and casting it aside, and helped another woman unravel silk from the cocoon. The second woman spun the raw silk thread around a spinning wheel. Watching them produce silk was fascinating. In an open area in the middle of the village, we came upon some traditional Korean games, the see-saw and arrow throwing. In a simulation of the ancient Korean game, some locals tried to throw three-foot long sticks into narrow jars. Arrow throwing is akin to the western carnival game of throwing balls through holes on a backboard. The Korean see-saws were thick planks of wood straddling sacks of hay. My son enjoyed giving it a try. Daddy put his foot on the plank and bounced him up and down. He laughed and held on for dear life as daddy rocked him. He then took over and did it himself. I loved the atmosphere of the open-air market filled with traditional buildings and workers dressed in peasant clothing. At that moment, contemporary Seoul seemed far away. We wandered along the far bank of the river through a group of farmhouses modeled after those found on Jeju Island made of volcanic rock. For the first time, my son saw farm animals that he knew well but had never seen before—rabbits, chickens, pigs, goats, and geese. His eyes lit up when he saw the real version of animals he had read about in books and saw as toys. He especially liked the rabbits. Unfortunately, the geese were unruly. We stood about ten feet from them until four decided to come after us. We backed away quickly and moved out of their territory. That would have been a lousy end to a beautiful day. I enjoyed trying some of the rudimentary milling equipment, a gristmill and hammermill. It made me thankful that I buy my bread, rice, and pasta at a store. After wandering through replicas of old Jeju Island farms, we ventured into an open area where a Korean acrobat on a high wire performed a delicate balancing act. He did a fabulous job defying gravity, bouncing up and down on the rope, sitting on it, straddling it, and balancing himself on top. He balanced himself grasping only a handkerchief in one hand and a large white fan in the other. He used the fan to control his balance, waving it slowly, then feverishly to bring his body back into equilibrium. Dressed in a white traditional costume, he wore a black Korean-style hat reminiscent of a Korean sage. I enjoyed his performance. We then headed to the Manor House, where we witnessed a traditional Korean wedding. The condensed ceremony that took place in the main courtyard highlighted some of its interesting aspects. As the ceremony began, the groom took his place to the east of the wedding altar and faced west, sitting cross-legging awaiting his bride. Symbolic foods lay atop the altar, waiting to be parceled to the bride and groom. An old sage to the north of the altar faced south and read the vows from a wedding book. A few minutes later the sage called for the bride to come. She left the Manor House and descended its steps, entering the courtyard with two female assistants. They escorted her to the altar and helped her kneel on both knees to the east so that she faced towards her future husband facing west. As the sage chanted the wedding vows, assistants offered food and drink to the betrothed couple. They ate chestnuts, a symbol of the yangban , or Korean aristocracy, and other delicacies. Prompted by the sage, the groom and bride stood and bowed to each other. Dressed in hanbok , they made a handsome couple. The sage pronounced the couple married, and the ceremony ended as quickly as it started. Having seen many weddings around the world, I enjoyed this unique depiction of an age-old tradition. Filled with amusements, modern architecture, and contemporary sculptures, it was much different than the rest of the village. We took our son on several rides. He had been such a good sport putting up with our wandering that we knew we needed to treat him to something he would enjoy. He first rode a roving mechanical dog. He had a great time. Once we finished and went home, he was out like a light. I was tired too and wanted to do the same but had to wait until home to crash. Our fun adventure at the Korean Folk Village wore all of us out. Edwards is a writer of books and stories in the mystery, thriller and science fiction-fantasy genres. He also writes travel adventures. His books are available as an e-book and in print on Amazon. He lives in Bangkok, Thailand with his wife Jing and son Alex. For more books or stories by M. Edwards, visit his web site at www. Contact him at me mgedwards. All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted without the written consent of the author. These suggestions are based on my experience when I lived in Seoul. The activities will give you a good taste of what Korea has to offer. My ranking is based on how fun they are and how close they are to Seoul. Walk along Cheonggyecheon , a canal walk just two blocks south of Gyeongbokgung off the main thoroughfare downtown, Sejongno. Shopping Seoul : Shop for souvenirs and good deals at any one of a number of open-air markets and shopping districts in Seoul. The most popular are Namdaemun , Dongdaemun , Myeongdong , and Insadong. For more traditional arts and crafts, try Insadong. Myeongdong is a trendy shopping area. Dongdaemun is less touristy and a bit off the beaten tourist path. Namsan Mountain Seoul : Take a cable car to the top of Namsan Mountain in the heart of Seoul for some of the best panoramic views of the city. N Seoul Tower is more functional than beautiful but has a great view. Explore the paths in Namsan Park and check out the frequent events held there. Then visit nearby Namsangol Hanok , a traditional Korean village in Pildong on the north side of the mountain, for a taste of pre-modern Seoul. Dining and Entertainment: The dining and entertainment options in South Korea are endless. Great Korean food is available throughout the country; the best international cuisine is in Seoul and Busan. Try something different than bulgogi. Have some galbijim beef ribs , bibimbap , or spicy takgogi along with kimchi and other banchan side dishes. For vegetarians, dine at a Buddhist restaurant. Wash it down with soju , a Korean rice alcohol that some say tastes like vodka, or baekseju , a sweet alcohol. Then head out for noraebang karaoke and sing your heart out with friends. Enjoy the nightlife in Hongdae , the bohemian area of Seoul, or trendy Gangnam. Seoul is a happening place in the evening. No visit to Korea would be complete without a tour of the de facto border between the two countries. The attraction also has a lot of kiddie rides great for children. A fun daytrip from Seoul. Seoraksan National Park: With great hiking and awesome views, Seoraksan is considered by many Koreans to be the most beautiful national park in South Korea. Visit a nearby hot springs to relax after a long hike. Seoraksan is not far from other great destinations in mountainous Gangwon Province, including Pyeongchang , future site of the Winter Olympics ; Yongpyong Ski Resort in Pyeongchang, made famous by the biggest Korean drama of all time, Winter Sonata ; and Odaesan National Park. Stay on the beach in the suburb of Haeundae and try the bokguk pufferfish soup — if you dare. If not, Busan is famous for its charcoal-grilled bulgogi. The most notable attraction in the area is Beomeosa , a Buddhist temple. The historic area is full of artifacts, including grassy burial mounds holding the tombs of the Silla kings and the Cheomseongdae Observatory. The area offers beautiful views of the Korean countryside. Numerous Buddhist temples and statues are hidden in the hills, and the Pacific Ocean is a half hour drive away. Jeju Island: A large island off the coast of the Korean Peninsula, Jeju Island is beloved by many Koreans for its beauty, warm weather, interesting rock formations created by volcanic lava flows, and a local culture unique to Korea. Spring is lovely, especially when the cherry flowers blossom in April and May. Summers in Korea are hot and humid, especially during the monsoon season, but the trees and flowers are in bloom, and the country is a sea of green. The country is ablaze with shades of red, orange, and yellow. Note: This is an updated version of an earlier entry posted in This update includes photos and some new destinations. He recently published a collection of short stories called Real Dreams: Thirty Years of Short Stories available as an ebook and in print on Amazon. The entry consistently ranks first, second or third almost every day in the number of hits it gets. Amazing staying power some blog entries have! Talk about staying power. The unwitting message I hope I conveyed is that Itaewon is not without its risks and that anyone who does visit keep in mind their safety first physically, financially and sexually. This blog entry is a check to see how popular this tantalizingly named post will be and whether it will rival the original. I expect it will also rank high in online searches. Most of the odd hits came from this post and the original. Scintillating definitely sells. Winters are cold, but the snow blankets the land with a brilliant white. Anytime of the year, Korea is naturally beautiful. Page 1 Page 2 … Page 62 Next page ».

The Straits Times, 7 July 2005

Yongpyong buying marijuana

North Korea has proven itself willing to take constantly but not actually deliver. When Kim Jong-un was a new leader, he was given the benefit of the doubt but he proved himself to be in the same duplicitous mold as his forebears. If North Korea is ever serious about improving relations then it should be the one to take the appropriate steps to create the conditions for fruitful negotiations. Recently, North Korea launched cruise missiles in one of its sad but predictable attempts to remain relevant on the world stage. Let me explain. One of the major reasons for the sudden collapse of The Soviet Union was economic. However, that was not the only economic issue. It was a confluence of economic pressures that caused The Soviet System to buckle and collapse. Instead of dignifying the endless North Korean provocations with inane diplomatic dribble or asking North Korea to stop, the provocation should be treated with the disdain it deserves. South Korea is playing into North Korean hands by always letting it determine whether to ratchet tensions up or down. When questioned by reporters about North Korea, President Moon should make it clear he has more pressing issues on his plate like the economy, jobs and corona than dealing with the gadfly North Koreans. He should refer questions regarding North Korea to a more junior member of his administration, preferably someone who is perceived as a bit off kilt, or even mad. Ignoring the North Korean and treating them with disdain is only one prong of the new approach. Even better would be to get Japan to fire off its own missiles in coordination with South Korea. A united diplomatic front would prevent the traditional North Korean policy of playing its neighbors off against each other. It should be made clear to North Korea that South Korea is willing to go into an arms race but there is one key difference, South Korean has the economic capacity to support a race. It took decades for North Korea to develop its cruise missiles, rockets and nuclear capabilities. There would be hemming and hawing by the international community but South Korea would be accepted as a nuclear power while North Korea would still be treated as a pariah. The North Korean people underwent untold privations to get nuclear weapons. They were held up to the North Korean as the prize for all those lean years. Were the years of privation worth it if South Korea could achieve the same thing in a year or two with no suffering? Of course, a nuclear arms race in Northeast Asia is not something China wants to see. However, if the choice becomes either a nuclear free North East Asia or an Northeast Asia consumed by an arms race, the obvious answer for China is a Northeast Asia where it holds the nuclear monopoly. But once you play your trump card repeatedly, it loses its effect. In previous centuries, white elephants were a status symbol in Southeast Asia. Monarchs were keen on possessing white elephants because they symbolized the power and justness of his rule while also signaling that the lands were blessed with peace and prosperity. Eventually, white elephants began to be given by monarchs to sideline their potential rivals. In more modern times, the term white elephant has come to mean an expensive project which fails to deliver or becomes very expensive to maintain. Prior to World War I, there was a revolution in naval warfare with the advent of the Dreadnought class battleships in During WWI, the Dreadnoughts accomplished naught for Austria-Hungary despite the enormous resources dedicated to building and maintaining the ships. By World War II in , Dreadnoughts, which required huge investments in technology, money, labor and men, were obsolete thanks to the advent of the aircraft carrier although battleships were still being built. At Pearl Harbor, the weakness of battleships was demonstrated because carrier-based planes could cripple much of the American Fleet while the Japanese carriers were hundreds of miles away. Following the war, Great Britain emerged from the war battered but still standing. In reality, its best days were behind it. However, the weapons did not prove as useful as anticipated as would soon be seen. The British and French were forced to withdraw by American and Soviet pressure despite Britain being in possession of nuclear weapons. Specifically, with Japan commissioning two aircraft carriers in and while China has also been on a carrier building spree. Korea feels that without this symbol of national prestige, it will look weak. However, this is not a race Korea should be entering. Simply looking at geography should highlight the limited use of an aircraft carrier for Korea. Aircraft carriers are mainly used for force projection and are best used in the wide open expanses of the ocean where they can hide in the vastness. One to be cruising the oceans, one preparing to cruise the oceans and a third undergoing maintenance and repairs after its voyage. Does Korea really want to expend resources on two more carriers which will have a limited usefulness when the primary threat South Korea faces is a land invasion from North Korea? From my readings on the issue, it appears the intended role is for the carrier to provide a mobile platform in case of a surprise attack on South Korean air force bases by North Korea. To me, that seems a pretty weak reason. Korea itself is essentially an unsinkable aircraft carrier. North Korea has recognized its weakness and used complex tunnel networks in its mountains to protect its armed forces from bombing. Korea should recognize its limitations and plan accordingly rather than attempting to swim with the whales. An aircraft carrier might be a symbol of national pride but with the advent of anti-ship missile technology, the usefulness of aircraft carriers has diminished like the battleships of a previous era. Over the centuries, a positive development among international relations and domestic politics has been the increased respect of the sanctity of diplomats and political opponents from harm. In ancient times, diplomats were sometimes harmed or molested, but not always. In medieval times, the great khan of the Mongols, Ghenghis Khan, sent diplomatic and trade envoys to the Khwarezm Empire. They were killed by a local governor. The great khan sent another envoy demanding the ruler of the empire punish the responsible governor and make amends. The emperor chopped off two of their heads and sent the third envoy to report the tale. The Khwarezm Empire and the emperor were both soon ended by the scourge of god for the violation of diplomatic sanctity. In the times of the Roman Empire, political struggles usually ended in the slaughter of the opponent and his supporters. Think of the first triumvirate of Caesar, Pompey and Crassus. It ended in bloodshed. The junior partner in the trimuarative, Lepidus, eventually died of old age. When his death was announced, it took Romans by surprise that he had not been killed in civil strife decades before. In czarist Russian times, one claimant to the throne during the Time of Troubles was lucky to escape with his life to political exile in the desolate frigid wastes of Archangel. Other losers of political struggles were broken on the wheel, tortured, strangled or met other horrible fates. During the time of Stalin, millions of citizens were sent to the gulags but Stalin also destroyed every possible opponent in the Soviet hierarchy multiple times over. At the time of his death in , Stalin was preparing yet another purge against his supposed enemies. However, his death interrupted the planned purge and his successor was Kruschev. However, since then Russia has regressed. During the Cold War, spying was a natural part of the game. Spies would be captured and later traded away for spies captured from the other side. In North Korea, political opponents are still killed as was seen with the assassination of Kim Jong-nam, the half-brother to Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un. While in China, political opponents of President Xi Jinping have been driven from the party and imprisoned. On the flipside, you have seen a great political progression in South Korea. In previous decades, it seemed as if street fighting was the only form of political protest which would be heeded. In America, it seems that politics are regressing. President Donald Trump has threatened to imprison his enemies, made a statement which could be interpretated as asking for the second amendment people to take care of Hillary Clinton and has used the power of his office to harass his political opponents. Hopefully this proves to be a temporary aberration, just a Trumpian phenomenon which will not take root in the American political system. I would hate to see America on the same level as North Korea, China and Russia when it comes to the treatment of diplomatic and political opponents. God willing, America can keep it together a few more months and the trajectory to a shit hole nation can be arrested. Last time I wrote about the daily minutiae of my life in Korea, I was primarily concerned with taxis and bananas. I want to update you on those two issues which have driven me bananas for so long along with a couple of new issues which as an outsider on the margins of Korean society, drive me bananas. First of all, I must thank E-Mart for starting to sell two bananas at a time for won. It beats the single bananas at Starbucks for 1, and is much better than having to buy 10 bananas at once knowing I will throw half of them out. However, I wish the geniuses at E-mart would stop wrapping the bananas in plastic bags. I understand the desire to protect the bananas but I just wish there was some natural skin that could protect bananas in lieu of the plastic? The taxi driver initially welcomed me as my friend had a suitcase, but as soon as HBC was mentioned, he told us to get out. We proceeded to the police station, where the police, admitted that he was breaking the law but insisted I get out so he could go sit and wait along the main road of Itaewon for a long haul ride as my destination was to close. Last time I suggested arming elderly people with smartphones in order to ticket the numerous illegally parked cars in HBC. Thankfully this issue has largely been eliminated due to increased parking enforcement but I would like to see the Itaewon Police patrolling the main road along which Itaewon taxis park. Too often taxis just sit along the main road of Itaewon refusing service to customers causing congestion and slower service from those taxi drivers who are willing to pick up and drop off customers anywhere. If they refuse to take customers, they should not be allowed to sit idly by on the mainroad of Itaewon. Many expats, such as myself have ended up loving our time in Korea and stayed long behind our initial expectation of a year or two. However, E-2 Visas preclude myself from pursuing other money making opportunities in my spare time. If Korea is truly serious about improving its economy and making it more dynamic, then a natural step would be to unleash the creative energies of its expat population instead of limiting opportunities. As long as E-2 visa holders are able to fulfill their main job duties, then they should be free to pursue other ventures. Many people who would consider staying in Korea decide to leave because of the limited opportunities imposed by the E-2 Visa. If they can turn their hobby into a business, then why limit them? This should be allowed, especially to those who have lived in Korea for an extended period of time. Instead, many foreigners refuse to start a registered business or operate in a gray area, robbing the Korean government of tax revenue. Korean kids are being done a disservice by being limited to conversational english. Kids need to have more than the ability for playground communication, or conversational English. What is also needed is academic English; specifically. I just had to get all of this off my chest. One thing which struck me very early in my stay in Korea was the periodic cleaning up of trash on school grounds and neighboring areas. I think it is great as this fosters a sense of community and responsibility amongst the children for their neighborhoods. It also gives them the ability to empathize with janitors and other people on the lower stratum of society who must clean up daily. Having to pick up the trash and litter generated by other students I would imagine quickly turns littering into an action which will bring about peer pressure to prevent. I would be periodically punished with having to walk around school picking up trash but it was never a school wide effort. The act of picking up trash was used as a punishment instead of as a moment to teach empathy and responsibility. Furthermore, you have people like the White House Advisor, Stephen Miller who would intentionally create a mess in High School and leave his trash for others to clean up. Instead of empathizing with people who have lower status jobs, he justified his actions as being necessary to create jobs and work for the janitors at his high school. He is truly a little shit with no empathy or understanding of those outside of his bubble of privilege. For that, I do admire what Korea is teaching their youths. I wish America would imitate some aspects of the many wonderful things I have seen in Korea. Tribute is a term associated with a supplicant-master type of situation. To my mind comes ancient China and its surrounding tributary kingdoms. The vassal kings would send tribute to China but in return would receive gifts of far more value. All in all its not a terrible proposition for the weaker party. The reason I write of tribute today is because its underutilized in society. If paying tribute is properly used, the dividends far outweigh the costs as was the case with ancient China. In Korea, foreigners are viewed with some suspicions as Korea is a homogenous closed society. A lot of emphasis is placed on connections, bloodlines and relationships. Initially this cost me some difficulty as the people in authority at a club I would visit viewed me wearily. Now, what I speak of is my little area of Itaewon, specifically UN club. He asked me how I managed to get in free every week and I said tribute. He scoffed at this notion as being beneath him. Long story short, I could go in and out at will and occasionally get free drinks while Damien was stuck paying 10, won and no free drinks if he decided to go in. Now how did I manage to get in free to this club all the time? I will call it tribute. When I first came to Korea, I fell in love with public drinking at convenient stores. As was often my style early on in my Korean adventure, I was sitting outside of UN club drinking. I refused to pay to get in as by nature I am not a club guy and I just needed to wait until my friends came out. I ended up talking to the security guard Patrick, and realized he was divorced and had a son. I told him I would be going to the states and I would pick up a toy for his son. Initially, he probably assumed that it was just drunk talk but sure enough when I returned, I brought his son a remote controlled car. What is my input? Very minimal because I cook anyways, and I am usually drinking nearby the club entrance anyway. What is my return? Free entry to the club which normally amounts to 10, won, the occasional free drinks, getting to meet girls entering the club due to my association with the club and the backing of the security personnel if any hypothetical situation were to occur. All in all, not a bad return. Even after he left the club, he introduced me to his replacement and spoke highly of me. Those are mainly financial gains. On the other hand, I can say I have made a genuine friend. As he changed jobs, he asked for my facebook account and in all sincerity asked me to stay in touch. My point is, invest in relationships and it pays off. In the long run, I have saved hundreds of dollars in club entrance fees and drinks by fulfilling a few simple tasks, helping and bringing the occasional dinner along. However, Damien refused to go that route and was stuck paying 10, each weekend. Knowing this, it is not unreasonable to believe Kim thought Trump would seize at any deal, even if it were substandard. The deal offered by Kim called for the easing of sanctions in return for the made-for-TV spectacle of the destruction of an aging nuclear site. This site was only a small piece of the North Korean nuclear infrastructure. Kim gambled wrong in believing such a spectacle would prove irresistible to Trump. Despite my previous criticism of Trump, I will give credit where credit is due. He made the right move by leaving the summit rather than get suckered into a shoddy deal. The early departure echoed President Ronald Reagan when he simply walked out of a summit with former Soviet Leader Mikhail Gorbachev at Reykjavik in From the looks of things, it appears that Kim has proven to be a feckless negotiator as were his father and grandfather before him. Prior to their first summit, Kim announced the destruction of the nuclear testing site at Punggry-ri as a show of good faith. Furthermore, American intelligence officials believe that between the two summits, Kim continued building weapons and expanding the nuclear infrastructure of North Korea. Upon coming to power, he promised the citizens of North Korea that they would never have to tighten their belts again. The lack of relief from the most stringent sanctions North Korea has ever experienced puts Kim in a bind as he has failed to deliver. Now, reports are coming out that North Korea is preparing the launch pad at Sohae for missile tests in the wake of the failed summit. This launchpad was supposed to have been previously dismantled or demolished. Time will tell if this is just a ploy to pressure Trump to make concessions or if North Korea actually follows through in order to put the spotlight back on itself. It can choose to maintain the slightly improved relations as seen by the a cessation of joint military exercises between South Korea and the United States, its own stoppage of nuclear and missile testing along with the halting of vitriolic rhetoric from both sides. This would not destroy the atmosphere that has allowed for negotiations and summits to have taken place. Negotiations between lower level officials could still continue. If it launches the missile in a provocative move, then the likely countermove would be the resumption of joint military exercises coupled with attempts to emplace even tighter sanctions and the escalation of rhetorical warfare. It would bring us back to where we were a year ago before the warming of relations in the build-up to the Olympics. If that is the case, then the most recent round of negotiations will have come full circle. Every other negotiation for the past 30 years has followed a similar trajectory. It is time to begin to think of a radical approach to dealing with North Korea as the traditional approach of negotiations has proven fruitless time and time again. So far, Kim has managed to play his weak hand to successfully in seeking an end to the most stringent sanctions North Korea has ever faced. Kim gave President Trump what he wanted, good optics. This came in the form of the release of Americans held captive in North Korea; the first ever meeting between a North Korean leader and a sitting American president, along with the end of missile and nuclear tests. These actions have given President Trump the ability to claim success in dealing with the threat posed by North Korea. The lack of negative headlines emanating from North Korea continues to allow positive proclamations when in reality the situation is less than stellar. It is evident in the recent announcement of the discovery of 13 secret missile sites. The discovery means attempts to positively portray the destruction of one missile site back in July must be viewed in another light. On Nov. This cancellation came a day after midterm elections in the United States in which the Democrats seized control of the House of Representatives. Perhaps it was a coincidence, perhaps not. While Kim gave Trump positive optics, playing his short game to his advantage, he has taken a different tack with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. With President Xi, Kim has played to his ego. The year of saw Xi become the paramount leader in China and in he did away with term limits. Limits had been instituted in China in when Deng Xiaoping introduced them to prevent a recurrence of a destructive leader along the lines of Mao Zedong. Since this abolition of term limits, President Xi has tried to present himself as the third big man in modern China, following Mao and Deng. In , Chinese-North Korean relations came under strain. The uncle controlled the coal trade with China and had links with the Chinese leadership. These strained relations opened up North Korea to the most stringent sanctions it ever faced as China showed its displeasure by not utilizing its veto in the U. To improve relations with Xi, Kim has played to his ego. September saw the end of the Mass Games in North Korea. This is the manner in which Kim Jong-il and Kim Il-sung were also shown. So far, the two leaders have met three times and Kim even made a symbolic, but brief visit to South Korea when he passed over the Demilitarized Zone DMZ. President Moon has been busy portraying Kim as a new generation of leader, who is eager to pursue economic reform in his impoverished country and that current negotiations are completely different from those in the past. How many citizens remain in the gulags of North Korea? Has Kim expressed remorse or sorrow, or apologized for the various heinous acts North Korea has committed against South Korea by his predecessors? Kim is in the same mold as his father and grandfather, ruthless. He has shown this ruthlessness by executing his uncle due to his stature and independent power base in North Korea which made him a potential rival along with the assassination of his half-brother who, however unlikely, could have been a rival contender for the position of Supreme Leader. In poker, one is often told to play your opponent and not play your cards. Kim has done exactly this. He has managed to read each of his principal counterparts in negotiations and has managed to play his incredibly weak hand almost perfectly. The most stringent sanctions his regime has ever faced are loosening, relations with China are improving and there are increasingly divergent positions between the negotiating stances of the U. Well played supreme leader, well played. Recently, Canada joined Uruguay in becoming the second nation in the world to legalize marijuana. It is time for Korea to re-examine its relationship with hemp and marijuana since the Marijuana Control Act was put into effect under the leadership of then dictator Park Chung-hee. This act effectively outlawed the possession and smoking of marijuana while creating strict regulations governing the cultivation of hemp. Within Korea, the cultivation of hemp goes back before the common era. Fabric found in Korea dating back to 3, BCE contained hemp. Sambe was traditionally used in more recent times for Korean clothing. Although there is no evidence that can prove or disprove consumption of marijuana through smoking it, it is highly likely that ancient practitioners of Korean Shamanism partook in its ritualized consumption. During the Japanese occupation of Korea, hemp was grown commercially throughout the Korean Peninsula. Despite the long history of hemp cultivation within Korea and possessing a significant role within society, the plant was only outlawed in recent times. The illegalization of hemp and marijuana came in two phases coinciding with the increase of American influence within South Korea. The consumption of marijuana had become more prevalent during the s and early s. The increased consumption could be traced back to American influence in the form of the counterculture and hippies which emanated from American Army bases. Likewise, President Park saw the increasing usa of marijuana among the youth of South Korea as an opportunity. The result was the outlawing of marijuana and hemp and its portrayal as a threat to the fabric of society. Many musicians were made examples of in order to cow their followers into submission. Within America, attitudes toward Marijuana are shifting in favor of its decriminalization, allowance for medicinal purposes or even outright legalization and regulation as in Colorado. As the winds shift in America on the topic and the rest of the world, it is natural for Korea to re-examine its own relationship. With the legalization of marijuana in Canada, South Korea holds that any citizens who use marijuana abroad will be subject to punishment in Korea. This is a dangerous road which should not be trodden without careful deliberation. In Thailand, if one is robbed and posts on social media about the incident, then that person can be subject to punishment for the besmirchment of Thailand. Koreans would be livid at the treatment of Koreans in such circumstances as it goes against what an open society should stand for. The same should apply to Koreans who are punished for doing something which is legal in their circumstances. Kwon Yong-hyun, head of the Korean Cannabinoid Association, advocates for the use of medical cannabis to further the care of patients in pain. An estimated one in 10 youths aged between 15 and 29 are out of work. A radical approach to the issue would see the outright legalization of marijuana. It would immediately create a new industry overnight and would drive job creation via the new industry and the accompanying increased demand for services it would create. It has been estimated that 18, jobs were created in Colorado due to the legalization of marijuana. Colorado has a population of just over 5 million. Currently, many tourists go to places like the Netherlands, Canada, Colorado or other places where marijuana is tolerated if not strictly legal. The legalization of marijuana in Korea would create a new destination for tourists in Northeast Asia. Neither Japan nor China currently allows marijuana to be consumed legally. Korea would hold a monopoly for marijuana tourists in the region. As the world opinion on marijuana and hemp changes, it is natural for Korea to re-examine its relationship with the plant and drug. At a minimum, those who use marijuana abroad in legal settings should not be subjected to punishment. A middle road would be to allow for the use of medicinal cannabis and the easing of regulations governing the growing of hemp which holds a wide range of industrial uses and a THC count so low as to not produce a high effect if smoked. A radical approach would be for the regulation and legalization of marijuana. Last week President Trump announced that he was asking Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to cancel his scheduled visit to North Korea, citing the lack of progress made on the issue of denuclearization since his summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un back in June. Such a move is a typical Trumpian play because the concept of delayed gratification or the long haul seems to elude him. Such a cancellation is a move that plays into the hands of Kim Jong-un as President Trump comes off as the intransigent party. Negotiations, especially ones of this magnitude and complexity, will always have hiccups and obstacles but such difficulties are to be expected. They should never be used as an excuse to scuttle continued engagement with North Korea. By canceling the meeting, the U. This allows for the realization of the long-desired North Korean goal of driving a wedge between the two allies and enhancing its position vis-a-vis South Korea and the United States. Indeed, President Moon is pushing for rail links with North Korea which could conceivably be extended to Russia and China. It would be only a matter of time before South Korea would come to rely on such links giving the North leverage over the South in the future. Domestically, there would be a business crowd who would not wish to see any disruption to such links undermining the ability of Seoul to take a hard line. Such is one of the problems a free society like South Korea faces in dealing with Pyongyang. In the past, North Korea appealed to dissident students and leftists to stir up domestic opposition in South Korea; in the future it could be those making a profit. Furthermore, canceling the summit opens the door to the very thing Trump accused China of doing, specifically giving aid to North Korea to spite the U. S, president for the tariffs he has imposed on China. Beijing, for the most part, has been in compliance with U. However, if North Korea can present itself to the world as a reasonable negotiating partner, the door opens for increased Chinese engagement with it and less compliance with sanctions or to look the other way at violations. The U. Of course, as history has repeatedly shown, they will drag their feet on negotiations, and very likely, if any deal is struck, violate or break it at some future date. What is important is that the world sees North Korea acting as the feckless negotiator instead of the United States. Instead of canceling the summit, Trump should have hung out the prospect of a peace treaty formally ending the war as a carrot to draw North Korea into giving something up such as allowing the International Atomic Energy Agency IAEA to inspect its nuclear sites to determine the number of nuclear weapons it holds. Any peace treaty will not be drafted and revised in an instant, giving the IAEA time to do a thorough inspection. If America makes the negotiations of a peace treaty contingent upon allowing the IAEA in and North Korea refuses, then it will be seen as the party that is stalling and insincere which it has historically been. Engagement with Pyongyang should not be canceled so willy-nilly. The resumption of such exercises will paint the U. When America holds the moral high ground, its position in negotiations is strengthened as opposed to an arbitrary cancellation of a meeting which serves to undercut itself. Prior to their meeting, North Korea announced a unilateral cessation of nuclear and missile tests which help to ease tensions allowing for the two to meet. However, despite these actions, President Trump has refrained from any negative rhetoric and has instead been issuing positive proclamations. It is one of the few positive aspects of his presidency and would allow him to gloat over his predecessors in office who failed. This is analogous to the destruction of the cooling tower at Yongpyong in It gives Trump the ability to continue to proclaim positive steps in defusing the North Korean situation while not actually changing any facts on the ground. Likewise, these positive endorsements from Trump eased the pariah status of North Korea allowing for the easing of sanctions aimed against it from South Korea and China. So instead, he claims success and North Korea is happy to play along by refraining from tests which would be widely covered on TV and would threaten to end their tango. Any tests puts Trump on the spot and will be directly at odds with his recent positivity and force his hand. The two sides presented the talks in different lights. Pompeo referred to them as productive while North Korea voiced its displeasure in unleashing rhetoric accusing the U. Such meetings and rhetoric will likely continue to play out over the next months. North Korea knows it can play hard to get and wring further concessions from the Trump administration. Trump has built himself into a master negotiator who will loathe to actually admit failure or that he was duped. He will continue on as is unless confronted with overwhelming visible evidence to the contrary, namely a highly visible nuclear or missile test. President Trump, being an old man who will likely face a tough re-election, is happy to play up any positive news concerning North Korea for his short-term political benefit and ego. When a new president is in office, Kim could make up a pretext of supposed American animosity and restart the process anew. President Richard Nixon played the part of the madman, President Trump could very well be a madman whom Kim would not want to embarrass. Especially so after it became evident President Trump was entirely sincere in his willingness to invade Venezuela last year. North Korea is a geographic midget and an economic dwarf compared to its neighbors. In such a neighborhood as it finds itself, it is not likely it is willing to give up its weapons which it built over decades at great cost to itself. Their long game is to present the world with itself as an accepted de facto nuclear power. This takes time. President Trump is a useful stepping stone to this end. President Donald Trump, it has become evident that the two are playing different games. One is pursuing the long haul while the other is pursuing the short-term gain. Page 1 Page 2 Next page. Current events through a historical lens. Blog at WordPress. Subscribe Subscribed. Sign me up. Already have a WordPress. Log in now. Loading Comments Email Required Name Required Website.

Yongpyong buying marijuana