Trading insults?

For all its reported drabness, not to speak of that veil of secrecy that sometimes parts only to reveal stories of surreal realities, North Korea might just have come up with a brilliant idea that could have implications for global trade and how nations can diplomatically put each other down.

The communist state has apparently offered to pay off an old debt, not in cash but with ginseng. The debt was from the old shared communist-rule era, when Eastern Europe was under the shadow of the Russians, or the Soviets , to be precise. And, presumably in good comradely spirit, the Czech Republic had loaned some trams and heavy machinery worth around $10 million to the North Koreans. Since the world has generally moved on from that era, the Czechs naturally wanted to get their money back.

But cash, like food and other essential items we so take for granted, is obviously not quite to be had so readily in the DPRK. So, they offered to pay off the Czech debt with tonnes of the supposedly aphrodisiacally-inclined roots. One does not quite know if the offer, considering that ginseng is also supposed to be helpful in battling lethargy , impotence and senility, was a subtle, underhand snub as well. But perhaps the Czechs still remember the hard times, and didn’t quite reject the offer, or, evidently, detect sarcasm emanating from the Korean side. Thus, in a most matter-of-fact way, the counter-proposal was that the Koreans could pay back in metal. Zinc, to be exact.

Now, zinc too, it is alleged, has multiple usages. A cursory search, for example, will reveal that the metal helps the body fight infections, is good for male sperm production and is beneficial for maintaining a good memory. All of which, without much reading between the lines, seems to be pretty much the same area ginseng is supposed to operate in. So, what is that supposed to say about North Korean opinion of the Czechs, as well as the latter’s own selfperceived weaknesses? Trade as insult. And imagine if India and Pakistan got into the act!