Lee Myung-bak is admitedly pro-American and is friendly with President Bush and has vowed to take a harder line with North Korea. However, this election had little to do with Lee's pro-US stance or even North Korea, and more to do with the improving the sagging Korean economy. With the Korean economy front and center in Lee's campaign don't expect him to give to much attention to the North Korea nuclear issue or relations with the United States until his economic policies are implemented.

However, before Lee can implement anything he has to survive one last ditch attempt by the current ruling Korean leftist government to jail him. Earlier this year Lee was cleared of corruption charges involving a stock manipulation scheme he was supposedly involved in. A government investigation cleared him of all charges but just days before the election, with Chung trailing big time in the polls, the Korean President announced that another probe into Lee was being opened. To further show the desperation of the Korean left, liberal law makers in the parliament literally stormed the parliament building with chain saws and provoked a brawl with conservative law makers.

Lee is scheduled to take office in February thus the Korean left has until then to try to convict Lee of corruption and prevent him from taking office. If this happens another election would have to be called which would have no clear front runner and give the Korean left a better opportunity to retain power. Interestingly enough all these events unfolded after a visit to the Korean Blue House by the chief of North Korean intelligence was uncovered.

The election may be over but the fight for power isn't. However, if Lee Myung-bak does take office it will one more US friendly leader taking power of a major US ally which is a good thing for America.