NEW NORTH KOREAN LEADER; SAME OLD HOSTILITIES

NORTH KOREA’S NEW LEADERS
LASH OUT AT SOUTH KOREA AND ALLIES

Seoul (Reuters) - North Korea sounded a bellicose note in its first communication with the outside world since the death of leader Kim Jong-il, saying its confrontational stance against South Korea would not change and labeling its opponents “foolish.”  Since Kim Jong-il died on December 17, the outside world has been watching to see whether his son Kim Jong-un, aged in his 20s, would stick to its hardline “military first” policies that have seen the isolated nation move closer to nuclear weapons capacity.  “On this occasion, we solemnly declare with confidence that foolish politicians around the world, including the puppet forces in South Korea, should not expect any changes from us,” a broadcaster on state television said.

She was reading a statement from the National Defense Commission, the top body in the militarized and impoverished state under Kim Jong-il.In a break from the black mourning clothing worn since Kim Jong-il’s death, the broadcaster wore dark red clothes and almost shouted her defiant message.  North Korea has a long history of using bellicose phrases against the South, especially since the conservative government of Lee Myung-bak took office in 2008 and ended a policy of engagement with the North.  It has threatened to turn the South’s capital Seoul into a “sea of fire” on numerous occasions and repeated that rhetoric again on Friday.  South Korea’s government did not formally respond to the comments from the North.

Many had hoped that North Korea would change their foreign policy with the rise of Kim Jong Un, but this message from North Korea’s powerful National Defense Commission show no flexibility: “The sea of bloody tears from our military and people will follow the puppet regime (South Korea’s government )until the end. The tears will turn into a sea of revengeful fire that burns everything.” Revenge and hatred are the kind of emotions that affect our present and future.

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US? 

The last thoughts determine the conditions and nature of the next birth. This is what the sages have said about the phenomenon of death.  The last dominant thought in our mind at the time when we just drop off to sleep can often be the thought that dominates our mind the next morning.  It is for this reason that we are advised to sing the Divine Names of God or hymns at the time of death in order to focus the attention of the dying person on holy and noble thoughts.  It is needless to add that if the soul departs from the body with thoughts of anger, hatred, jealousy, worry and fear, or in a state of great mental turmoil, then such thoughts and agitation will be carried over and immediately experienced in that realm also.

Dr Stephen Knapp (Śrīpad Nandanandana dasa) :
“Curing Depression with Spirituality”
http://www.stephen-knapp.com/
http://www.stephen-knapp.com/curing_depression_with_spirituality.htm