Day 2

As we walked to the Korea Press Foundation past this temple, we came very close to where North Korea says it has its weapons pointed at a South Korean newspaper and other media for reportedly insulting its leader last month. Kim Hyun Ho, the Executive Director of KPF, says, with a smile, he's not too worried. He says North Korea is always making empty threats, and besides he says, they're usually not very accurate  anyway when firing weapons.

Here is our group inside the legislative building...from left:
Alan Silverleib, (CNN congressional producer) Erica Pearson, (New York Daily News immigration reporter) Peter Rowe, (Union-Tribune San Diego senior reporter) me, Richard Katz, (Editor The Oriental Economist Report-New York) Ross Reynolds, (KUOW-Seattle talk show host) and Matthew Kaulbach (Fox News producer)
We spent the afternoon hearing from political parties who are preparing for the upcoming presidential election in December.

The ruling Saenuri Party, and it's spokesperson, also a lawmaker, Kim Young Woo, (left) say social media will have a huge impact on the presidential election. However he does not believe it will decide the race. Earlier this year the government lifted the ban on the use of social networking sites in campaigns. Kim says politicians are trying to figure out how to use them effectively. South Korea has one of the highest Internet connectivity rates in the world, and more than 90% of the people have cell phones.

Park Ji Won, floor leader of the opposition party-Democratic Unified Party, was very instrumental in setting up the historic meeting between former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung and former North Korean President Kim Jong il in 2000. He doesn't know when another such meeting will happen between the current leaders, but believes the U.S. and others should back down on the sanctions and dialogue will eventually happen. Although he hasn't spoken to Kim Jong un, he sent a strong message to North Korea about the missile launch and said don't do it. Park is highly regarded by some North Koreans and they follow him on Twitter.