North Korean Nuclear Test

I've received a few email messages asking how people here are responding to the North Korean nuclear test. It's a little surprising to me that the majority of South Koreans I know are unconcerned. More or less, they don't worry about North Korea. One friend explained to me that people in South Korea have lived with the threat of North Korea for so long that worrying about it would simply paralyze them. I asked a couple Korean friends what they think about the nuclear test. One hadn't heard about it and didn't have an opinion. The other said it was a little scary but not enough to make her do anything differently.

The expats I know seem more concerned. The Korean stock market fell yesterday, immediately after news of the test was released, and the won, which had been quite strong, dropped against the U.S. dollar. Some people ran to the bank and sent their money home before it goes lower, but that's the most drastic action I've heard anyone take.

Here's the statement the U.S. Embassy in Seoul sent out to the American expat community:

"On Monday, October 9, U.S. and South Korean intelligence services detected a seismic event at a suspected nuclear test site in North Korea. North Korea has claimed it conducted an underground nuclear test, but these reports are unconfirmed. The U.S. Embassy in Seoul is monitoring the situation closely and has been in continuous contact with South Korean government officials. As of the evening of October 9, the Embassy has received no information from South Korean officials or any other source indicating that there are health dangers that pose a risk to any areas in South Korea. The U.S. Embassy in Seoul continues to operate normally and to provide services to the public during regular business hours. In the event of any type of emergency, the Embassy will notify the American community immediately."