[Correspondent Diary] Bolton Seen in Hanoi, Bolton Seen in New York

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] February 28 last year. Hanoi, Vietnam. Numerous journalists from around the world were watching the second North Korea-U.S. summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un when suddenly someone appeared, surprising everyone. The journalist writing this article was also surprised. It was John Bolton, then White House National Security Council (NSC) advisor. There was a shared sentiment that he was someone who should not have been there. The outcome? Everyone knows it well.

There is always someone who gives off a bad vibe whenever they appear. It's not exactly that they are hated, but they just don't make you feel good. This has always been the case whether on TV screens, in articles, or when seeing their face in person. Former advisor Bolton fits that description perfectly.

Once responsible for U.S. national security, he is very small in stature. His physique is smaller than that of most East Asians. Although he has many nicknames such as a hardline conservative who only looks after America's national interests, an icon of conservatism, and a super hawk, his appearance is nothing more or less than that of a frail old man.

He even used 'tricks' to avoid being drafted into the Vietnam War. In our terms, he was a draft dodger. Although fictional, this is the exact opposite of Captain America, the leader of the Avengers, who overcame his small physique and volunteered for human experiments to participate in the war.

He has exaggerated his actions and statements as if trying to hide this past. When he visited South Korea just before being dismissed last year, his shoulders were tense. After years on the sidelines, he had taken a key position in the administration. He held immense power to push attacks against U.S. adversaries such as Iran, North Korea, and Venezuela, so it was understandable.

Businessman Donald Trump, after taking office, maintained the 'America First' strategy. He no longer wanted U.S. troops left on overseas battlefields. Although Trump often talks big, he never waged war anywhere.

When Trump appointed Bolton, who advocated for a preemptive strike on North Korea, there was great concern about their 'chemistry.' As the controversy grew, Trump personally emphasized that "(Bolton) promised to follow my orders," assuring there would be no problem with his appointment.

It has been almost a year since Trump fired Bolton for provoking North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un. Bolton, who had been quiet until then, has now returned as a precision cruise missile aimed not at North Korea or Iran, but at President Trump.

The attention of the U.S. and global media is focused on Bolton's memoir, "The Room Where It Happened - White House Memoirs." Major U.S. media outlets such as CNN, The New York Times, and The Washington Post, which have been at odds with President Trump, have been extensively covering Bolton's book, which they had previously criticized.

Former Defense Secretary James Mattis's memoir, also called the 'adult' of the Trump administration, was a big hit but not to this extent.

Why is that? Records written by adults use refined language and follow minimal rules. Moreover, Bolton's current image is that of someone trying to embarrass his former boss who fired him while just trying to make money. It raises doubts about whether he truly wrote the book for the country.

In November last year, U.S. media reported that Bolton signed a $2 million contract to write the memoir. At that time, impeachment proceedings against President Trump were underway in Congress. Had Bolton testified to Congress instead of writing, Trump might have already been a private citizen. Bolton himself acknowledges in the book that its contents could have been grounds for impeachment.

The mainstream U.S. view is that Bolton should have attacked Trump during the impeachment opportunity. The negative perspective is that he ignored the decisive impeachment chance and instead launched an offensive through a lucrative book. The publisher has already informed the court that hundreds of thousands of copies have been sold.

He even visited South Korea as an investment lobbyist shortly after being dismissed last year. Seeing this repeatedly, it's hard to think well of him no matter how hard one tries.

Bolton claims that Trump begged North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un and Chinese President Xi Jinping for help because of his reelection. Between Trump and Bolton, who presumably exposed national security and secrets to the public just to make money, who is more problematic?

At times like this, a Korean proverb comes to mind: 'Dotori Kijaegi' (Acorn measuring contest).

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.