PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) – While the world watched the latest round of saber-rattling between Washington and Pyongyang, North Korea staged a massive rally and military parade Saturday to mark the 105th anniversary of its national founder, Kim Il Sung. There weren’t any nuclear tests or ballistic missile launches to mark the day. But concerns the rising tensions could lead to a real conflict were on the minds of many Koreans on both sides of the Demilitarized Zone.
The Associated Press talked to residents in Pyongyang and Seoul to get a feel for how the people at the center of the storm see the situation.
Of course, not all interviews are equal.
In Pyongyang, residents are careful to choose their words when speaking with the media, especially foreign media. Keeping on message with the government’s official line is expected. In Seoul, residents are accustomed to a media that can be both cantankerous and crucial to the survival of their democratic leaders.
Put them together and this is the contrast: