At the moment of his greatest personal triumph, South Korean President Kim Dae Jung once again demonstrated his magnanimity. "I return all my honor to the people and the citizens of the world, who love democracy and human rights," the president was quoted as saying after he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize last week. The international liberal and democratic family is overjoyed that one of their torch-bearers has been chosen for this highest of international accolades. But -- and this has been generally overlooked in these days of jubilation and euphoria -- there are also some who have been disappointed by the Korean statesman recently. I am not referring to the partisan foes who, for party political and other petty reasons, would have preferred the prize to be given to someone else. I am referring to political activists who believe in the very same basic principles and values that Kim has championed for most of his political life.

A case in point that has been widely publicized in the South Korean media is Seoul's refusal to permit the Dalai Lama to visit the country. It may be assumed that it is not a rejection of the main beliefs and values embodied by the Dalai Lama that prevents the government from grant the Nobel Peace Prize laureate of 1989 an entry visa. Rather, Kim is concerned that a visit by the Tibetan leader may anger the Chinese leadership in Beijing, which he correctly believes holds one of the strategic keys in the overall North Korea strategy. The handling of the Dalai Lama case is just one example of how, in the world of realpolitik, political principles are thrown overboard for the sake of superior political considerations.

Another example brought up in discussions with Korean friends and colleagues may be found in the government's apparent willingness to turn a blind eye to the state of political affairs and human rights in North Korea. Even though his political enemies have tried more than once to portray him as covertly sympathetic to the communist regime in the North, there should be no doubt that Kim Dae Jung has very little empathy with the dictatorial order in Pyongyang. Many pieces of evidence may be found in Kim's writings and speeches to substantiate this view. On the other hand, it is difficult, if not impossible, to find any public statements openly criticizing the horrifying political conditions in North Korea dating from the time after Kim moved into the Blue House. Some Koreans say they are bewildered that their president is on the one hand engaging in political campaigns to promote democracy and human rights in distant Myanmar and Indonesia, while on the other hand he does not utter a single word about violations of the human rights of the Korean people in the north of this divided nation.