Korean interpreter saves the day

THE MEDIA OFTEN PUBLISHES STORIES about blunders committed by translators or interpreters that cause international embarrassment.

But this post in DPRK Studies, titled What Roh Actually Said to Bush in Sydney, describes how a quick-witted Korean translator may have prevented international embarrassment by soft-pedaling some statements made in front of television cameras by South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun to American President George Bush.

Mr. Roh is dismissed by some Japanese observers as an “NGO president”, which I think is the perfect description.

One also could add “third-rate demagogue”. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s efforts at rapprochement with both China and South Korea after the deterioration of relations during his predecessor’s term paid off with China; relations between the two governments are gradually growing stronger. One result was that in April, Premier Wen Jiabao became the first Chinese premier to address the Japanese Diet. During his speech, he gave credit to the Japanese for apologizing for their wartime behavior, and thanked Japan for their financial assistance and support for Chinese modernization efforts.

In contrast, when President Roh met Prime Minister Abe, all he wanted to talk about was comfort women. Mr. Abe rightly concluded the man wasn’t worth taking seriously

While the Chinese may not be high-minded, they are pragmatic. Whereas neither can be said of President Roh.