The conflict between North Korea and South Korea and United States has existed for more than five decades. The involved parties have tried to resolve this issue through dialogue and signing of international treaties, but in vain. Instead, the conflict seems to escalate day after day; an idea that has affects economic, social, and political development in the region. This issue has escalated enmity between the involved parties and their allies thus weakening regional integration and economic prosperity. The international community has raised its concern about this problem and has tried organizing peace conferences and dialogues with the intention of restoring peace and harmony in the region.
The conflict involving North Korea, South Korea, and United States erupted immediately after world war two ended and has evolved and escalated over the years. Before the war ended, Japanese government governed the Korean peninsula, which was later divided into South and North. The communists controlled the Northern region, while United States governed the southern part. In 1950, North Korea and South Korea became independent states, but they received great support from their colonial masters. One year later, North Korean launched an attack against South Korea, but United States intervened; a move that marked the beginning of cold war between the involved parties. In the recent past, North Korea has been accused of manufacturing nuclear weapons and planning reiteration attack against South Korea; an idea that contravenes the provision under proliferation and reunification treaty. Additionally, United States and South Korea have imposed sanctions on North Korea for violating this treaty; a move that affects North Korean reunification process.
The contention between North Korea, South Korea, and United States has taken a different course especially with recent declaration of North Korea “state of war” with South Korea. On March 27, the Korean Official News Agency reported that King Jing Un of North Korea had declared state of war with South Korea and its alliances; an issue that has evoked various reaction from members of the public and the international community. Based on this fact, North Korea embarked on testing its nuclear weapon in preparation for nuclear war against South Korea and United States military exercise. February 2013, North Korea performed its third nuclear testing exercise; a move that rattled the world. The international community imposed stringent sanctions as a way of punishing the country. However, On May 7 2013, it was reported that North Korea had removed its missile from the launch site; a move that has eased the tension in the region.
The caption, “North Korea removes missiles from the launch site,” has been aired in the media, social networking sites, and other communication channels worldwide. The media fraternity has aired and publicized this issue to the extent of blowing facts out of context.
Article Summary:
North Korea removes missiles from launch site: Us officials By Saturday Daily Newspaper Kenya: http://www.nation.co.ke/News/world/N-Korea-removes-missiles-from-launch-site/-/1068/1844610/-/format/xhtml/-/6jl4xi/-/index.html
Report from US officials confirmed that North Korea had abandoned its missile-testing plan by removing its missile from the launch site thus easing tension in the region. South Korean and United States officials had raised their concern about North Korea plan of testing its medium range Musudan missiles because the move would have triggered nuclear war. North Korea government had initially declared as state of war with South Korea upon further provocation from South Korea-US military exercise. North Korea had deployed its military troops along its Yellow Sea border with South Korea and ordered to deal with any form of military attack from its enemies. The move by North Korean government to remove its missiles came a day before President Obama had held his first summit meeting with the newly elected South Korean President; Park Geun-Hye. President Obama promised working with South Korean government in addressing rhetoric threats from North Korea. On her side, President Geun-Hye promised to end North Korean prevocational attacks using a military response.
North Korea “removes” missiles from the east coast launch site By Saturday Monitor Newspaper Uganda. http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/World/N-Korea--removes--missiles-from-east-coast-launch-site/-/688340/1844740/-/4il7wnz/-/index.html
On 7 May 2013, an US official affirmed that North Korea had removed its medium range missiles, which was located on east coast region; an idea that lowered tension and anxiety in the region. Report from South Korean Yonhap News Agency confirmed that North Korea had relocated the two missiles, but the new location remains unknown. Last month, North Korea had declared rhetoric threats against South Korea and US, which involved testing its nuclear weapons and missiles. The move to threat South Korea and US governments came immediately after North Korea had received a new Sanction from the International community for violating laws and policies against nuclear weapon. The news that North Korea had removed its missiles came a few hours before President Obama held a talk with President Park Geun-Hye of South Korea. Both Presidents aired their concern about North Korea rhetoric threats and their commitment towards strengthening their bilateral and regional ties.
Tension ease as North Korea removes missiles from launch site by Japan Times Newspaer:http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/05/07/asia-pacific/tensions-ease-as-north-korea-removes-missiles-from-launch-site/#.UaBzoGV3DIU
On Monday 2013, a US official reported that North Korea had relocated its missile from the eastern coast region after it had declared testing its nuclear weapons. The official stated that this move has lowered tension in the region. The act of backing up by Pyongyang implies that there is no imminent threat from North Korea because it will require time before embarking on war. North Korea had launched its plan of testing Musudan missiles, which had an estimate coverage area of 5, 640 Kilometers, on 15th April 2013: an idea that compelled other countries to take precautionary measures. Japan and Seoul improved their military defense along their boarders in an event of any launch from North Korea. On the other hand, United States deployed anti-missiles equipments and radar in the prone areas. Report from White House stated that US military commander had ordered his men to shoot any missile attack against US military base at Guam and any missile that threatened Washington allies. North Korea had developed short and medium range missiles, which can reach South Korea and Japan.
US: North Korea pulled missile from launch site by Robert Burns: Daily Local News: http://www.dailylocal.com/article/20130507/NEWS04/130509688/us-north-korea-pulled-missiles-from-launch-site
On Tuesday May 2013, a US official said that North Korea had taken a back step in its testing mission by pulling out its two medium range ballistic missile from the launch site. The US official reported this information on an account of anonymity because he was not allowed to discuss US intelligence matter in the public. The two-musudam missile had been set on ready launch state for a couple of weeks before the North Korean government pulled them out. It has not been confirmed where the missiles were taken to and the reason behind North Korean action. However, pentagon representative Mr. George Little affirmed that this removal of missiles by North Korean government shows a “provocation pause.”Robert reported that George little did not report further on the condition and status of the missiles.
Critical analysis of the articles and the historiography of tomorrow
The role of the media in the contemporary society cannot be ignored whatsoever. Media acts as the purveyor of information where the members of the public raise their views, ideas, and opinion on serious issues facing the society. Authors and journalist use different writing and reporting techniques when presenting the information to the readers; an idea that make the reader interpret the information differently. The technique used by the author is influenced by several factors namely; goals and objectives, interests, cultural aspects, political affiliations and legal provisions. In this scenario, the four articles depict the different ways authors articulate their issues while reporting.
Similarities
Informative: The four articles are informative in nature because they have addressed this issue concisely and exhaustively. The authors have captured the attention of the readers by providing a brief overview of how North Korea mission to test its nuclear weapon has evolved and escalated its enmity with South Korea and United States. This aspect improves the reader’s understanding and internalization of facts. In the four articles, the authors have integrated views of other people with the sole intention of widening the perspective of the issue in questions. For instance, in the Saturday Daily Nation Newspaper of Kenya, the author has incorporated the interview between South Korean President and a US broadcaster reporter. In a similar vein, the author of Ugandan Saturday Monitor Newspaper has captured the interview of George little; the representative Pentagon. The remaining articles convey similar approach and trend in their analysis. Although the articles are informative, the Daily Local News of United States does not address this issue in totality. This is because the issue remains sensitive in the eyes of the American leaders and the media fraternity is not allowed to publish it further.
Use of simple language: The authors have addressed this issue using simple and understandable language; an idea that enhances readability and internalization of concepts. Reading the articles, one will realize that the authors have refrained from using jargons and colloquial words thus improving the reader’s understanding.
Differences
Emphasis on caption headings: Although the four articles share common aspects, they differ in the way they emphasis their caption headings. Normally, authors quote certain words in a caption heading with the intention of emphasis that particular word or phrase and attracting the reader’s attentions. For instance, the author of the Ugandan Newspaper has emphasized the word “Removes,” and mentions the exactly place where the missile has been removed from (Eastern coast). The authors of the remaining articles ignore to mention the eastern coast region where the missiles have been removed from; a move that enunciates that they did not value this place. The author of Saturday Daily Newspaper has emphasized the word US officials, which depict a cordially relationship between the two countries. Kenya remains a close ally of United States and share values and ideologies of its colonial masters. The author emphasis this words to show the credibility and worthiness of the source of information. This is a clear indication that ethnocentric perspective and national interest influence how media convey information today. The author has also ignored addressing the issue of the missiles because the article does not mention the type of missile North Korea used in its testing exercises. Although the readers remain with questions, but the author strives to maintain the Kenyan relationship with United States. The Japan Times Newspaper provides a mild caption about this issue. The author avoids using the word “remove” and, instead use “tension.” This affirms that Japan and United States do not have cordial relationship bearing in mind that Japan also manufactures nuclear weapon; an idea that United States opposes. This aspect promotes biasness in the media because the author has mainly focused on how Japan had prepared itself in case of an attack.
Based on these assertions, I have learnt that political, ethnocentric, and national interest influence the way media reports the information. The media is supposed to remain impartially, but it has failed to execute its responsibility without favoring one social group over the other. The media influences the readers to develop either positive attitude towards a given party or negative attitudes thus creating conflict and biasness. It is important for the media to remain impartial and profession in its obligation.
Works Cited
"North Korea removes missiles from launch site: Us officials ." Saturday Daily Nation. Version 1. Saturday Daily Nation, 7 May 2013. Web. 23 May 2013. <: http://www.nation.co.ke/News/world/N-Korea-removes-missiles-from-launch-site/-/1068/1844610/-/format/xhtml/-/6jl4xi/-/index.html>.
"N Korea 'removes' missiles from east coast launch site - World - monitor.co.ug." Daily Monitor: Home - Uganda News, Kenya Elections 2013, Uganda Elections, Breaking News, politics, Business, Travel, Health, Sports, News Paper, technology. Version 1. Daily Monitor: Home - Uganda News, Kenya Elections 2013, Uganda Elections, Breaking News, politics, Business, Travel, Health, Sports, News Paper, technology, 7 May 2013. Web. 25 May 2013. <http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/World/N-Korea--removes--missiles-from-east-coast-launch-site/-/688340/1844740/-/4il7wnz/-/index.html>.
Dean, John. "Tensions ease as North Korea removes missiles from launch site | The Japan Times." The Japan Times | News on Japan, Business News, Opinion, Sports, Entertainment and More. Version 1. The Japan Times | News on Japan, Business News, Opinion, Sports, Entertainment and More, 7 May 2013. Web. 25 May 2013. http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/05/07/asia-pacific/tensions-ease-as-north-korea-removes-missiles-from-launch-site/#.UaBzoGV3DIU
Burns, Robert . "US: North Korea pulled missiles from launch site - Daily Local News." Pennsylvania News - PA News | Daily Local News. Version 1. Pennsylvania News - PA News | Daily Local News, 7 May 2013. Web. 26 May 2013. <http://www.dailylocal.com/article/20130507/NEWS04/130509688/us-north-korea-pulled-missiles-from-launch-site>
