Ban Ki-Moon’s Image Makeover?

Already, Ban can see that what was popular in Seoul won’t cut it in the General Assembly.  In the rest of the world, North Korea is a pariah.  Besides, the man is highly sensitive about what bloggers say about him.

“Taking the advantage of the U.N. Secretary-general’s authority and the U.N.’s functions, I plan to make the utmost efforts to actually improve the human rights situation in North Korea,” he said.

Citing reports from U.N. human rights envoys and related non-governmental organizations, Ban pointed out that North Korea’s human rights condition shows no signs of improving. “In some fields, it is worsening. I am seriously concerned about this situation as South Korea’s foreign minister and the the next U.N. secretary-general,” he said.

Human rights organizations, including those in which I’m involved, have been pressing Ban hard on human rights, and  they fully intend to keep pressing.  Ban is already trying to distance himself from the Roh Administration’s approach to the issue.

The 62-year-old veteran diplomat said he will stay politically neutral in handling the North Korean nuclear crisis and other issues.  “I am a Korean secretary-general, not Korea’s secretary-general,” he said. “The post requires strict political neutrality.”

Although Ban was probably the only career civil  servant in this administration who  wasn’t a hard-core activist, radical, infiltrator, or sleeper agent, he was their mouthpiece.  I’m beyond expecting Ban to be principled.  At this point, I’d settle for pliable.