South Korea: I Have Been Given a Mission'

Chun ponders the North, and his own power

In just 15 months, President Chun Doo Hwan has consolidated his political grip on South Korea to a degree that nearly rivals that of his assassinated predecessor, Strongman Park Chung Hee. Two weeks ago, Chun's Democratic Justice Party swept to a healthy majority—151 seats —in the country's 276-member National Assembly. After formally taking office last August, the tough former general first tightened, then abolished martial law, launched an anticorruption campaign, and promulgated a new constitution. He spared the life of Dissident Leader Kim Dae...