Mick Hartley

Interesting times in Korea. The impeachment of President Park Geun-hye has now been ratified by the constitutional court, which means she's out…finished….done. The charges of corruption seem firmly based as far as we can tell, but it's all fairly murky. 

What's for certain is that the North Koreans, who've made no secret of their hatred of Park, are absolutely delighted. They've been following the story with barely concealed glee, and now they're crowing. It's a vindication, as they see it, of their continued campaign against "the traitor Park", who's always been hard-line on relations with the North. History is now moving their way:

It is the unanimous assessment of the nation that the miserable end of Park Geun Hye is a historic victory of justice brought about by the tremendous might of the people.

This time Park was judged and punished by people, not by any specified force or political dissidents.

The south Korean political history records lots of mass resistance, big or small, but never has there been such a case in which the people defeated injustice with candlelight of justice and won all-people victory by bringing down the pro-American conservative regime which boasted of omnipotent power.

It is our invariable stand that those who betray the nation and get hell-bent on following outsiders and confrontation with the fellow countrymen can not escape a miserable end like Park.

For the divided Korean nation, the best justice represents reunification and absolute truth lies in independence, reconciliation and unity.

Even a drop of blood dedicated to the nation out of patriotism is highly valued and remembered long but acts of treachery with one's back turned on the nation and fellow countrymen are bound to face curse and denunciation by the nation for all ages.

The U.S. and other riff-raffs who shielded human scum Park forsaken by the public will face the same fate as Park's sooner or later. This is a stern warning of the Koreans.

What excuses and compensation can the traitors make for the shameful and inglorious nature and blunder which caused such great chaos and utter confusion in south Korea no matter how shameful and regretful they may feel.

Those countries which used to utter honeyed words as "cooperation" and "partnership" just remained a passive on-looker to what was happening in south Korea.

This is the wretched end of the stooge whose existence is so worthless.

The south Korean society now stands at crucial crossroads of great changes.

The south Koreans won a victory in their anti-Park resistance but it is just a beginning in the actions for genuine justice and social progress.

Nothing will change fundamentally although scarecrow-like Park is brought down, and the new independent politics, new democratic society and new dignified life so much desired by the south Koreans do not come of themselves.

The south Korean people should totally throw overboard the reactionaries of history with the zeal and courage with which they brought down the citadel of pro-U.S. and pro-Japanese conservative forces with the might of justice and unity and work hard to carve out a bright future of new world and reunification and prosperity where their dreams and ideal come true.

Treachery will end in inglorious death and final victory is always in store for the righteous and brave people.

Their vision of a Korea united under the banner of Songun – their undying dream – must surely soon be realised.

Sadly, they have good reason to be happy. The most likely successor to Park is the liberal Moon Jae-in:

Moon, who has a substantial lead in the polls, does not share Park’s hawkish views and would represent a return to a more conciliatory approach towards the Kim regime.

Last week he told interviewers that despite North Korea’s growing ­belligerence, the South must work with its neighbour.

“We must embrace the North Korean people as part of the Korean nation, and to do that, whether we like it or not, we must recognise Kim Jong-un as their ruler and as our dialogue partner,” Moon said.

If elected he wants to visit Pyongyang for talks, and re-open the Kaesong Industruial Complex. He's also, predictably, opposed to the deployment of THAAD, the joint US-South Korean defence system now being rolled out, much to China's displeasure. He would, in short, be a disaster for the prospects of a South Korea able and willing to see off the challenges of its totalitarian neighbour. Most significantly, the old US-South Korean alliance would very likely be heading for some sort of crisis.

Meanwhile, in Washington, there's a new untested President, of, shall we say, questionable competence….