Name? Lee Min-bok
Westphalian identity? North Korean
Age? 63
Why is he in the news? Because of him, Kim Jong-un decided to cut all communication channels to South Korea and declare the country as an “enemy.”
Why do we care? At the Westphalian, we always emphasize the role of the individual in International Relations. Mr. Lee is a prime example of how actions by individuals can either cause international disturbances or be used as excuses to manipulate negotiations. So what did he do? Mr. Kim is one of about 50 North Korean defectors who sent balloons filled with leaflets attacking Supreme Leader Kim to be spread across the North. Why? Because he himself was convinced by a leaflet in 1990.
Why should you care? This is pretty wild. Have you ever thought about disturbing international affairs? Not with actual labour like sending leaflets to North Korea. But how about modern methods? You could try to make a TikTok account where you compare Xi Jinping to Winnie the Pooh? Or make a movie about Kim Jong-un with him dancing to Firework by Katy Perry.
Who else cares? Kim Yo-jong as she is in charge of the relations with the South and is seen as the driving force behind the changes in relations. After Pompeo’s remarks against China dreaming about another century of Western Glory, Yo-jong lashed out against him and the South concerning the leaflets. Four days later, North Korea cuts all communication. She’s obviously an influential individual in North Korea so you’d do well to remember her name, she will come up again in the future.
Any further comments? The matter of leaflets is a difficult one for South Korea. On the one hand, nobody wants senseless provocations towards the North that undermine the negotiation process. On the other hand, last time we checked, South Korea still believed in Freedom of Speech. Their commitment to this freedom explains their reaction: they do not like the leaflets because…they pollute nature. Sneaky move South Korea, sneaky move.
