Korean reunification
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Korean reunification is a possible future reunification of North Korea and South Korea under a single government.
Division
Japan invaded and effectively occupied Korea, which had been independent throughout its 6,000 year recorded history[citation needed], from 1910 until 1945. After Japan's defeat in World War II, the United Nations developed plans for trusteeship administration of Korea. The 38th parallel divides the peninsula into two zones of administration: the Soviet Union to the north and the United States to the south. Cold War politics resulted in the 1948 establishment of two separate governments. In June 1950, North Korea invaded South Korea, beginning the Korean War. After three devastating years of fighting that involved the People's Republic of China, the Soviet Union, and the United Nations led by the U.S., the war ended in a ceasefire agreement at approximately the same boundary, with South Korea making slight territorial gains. The two countries never signed a peace treaty. Despite now being politically separate entities, both governments proclaim as a goal the eventual restoration of Korea as a single state. A unified Korea is a very important component of Korean national identity. A unified Korean team marched in the opening ceremonies of the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, and the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, but the North and South Korean national teams competed separately. There are plans for a truly unified team at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. In the 1991 table tennis world championships in Chiba, Japan, the two countries formed a unified team. Current statusEventual political integration of the Koreas under a democratic regime from the South is generally viewed as inevitable by all parties involved, except perhaps North Korea. However, the nature of reunfication, ie. through North Korean collapse or gradual integration of the North and South, is still a topic of intense political debate and even conflict among interested parties, who include both Koreas, China, Japan, Russia, and the United States. Some political analysts and many Koreans would say the process of reunification has already begun,[1] albeit at a very gradual pace, through the current process of reconciliation and economic cooperation between the two Koreas. On the other hand, current reality would seem to show otherwise, as the DMZ that separates the two Koreas remains heavily guarded and North Korea has yet to give up its nuclear weapons. Yet optimists point towards recent thawings in inter-Korean relations and unprecedented dialogue and cooperation between the Koreas as signs that, unlike in the past where Korea was caught between China, Japan, Russia, and the US, the Koreans are now taking reunification into their own hands. Reunification strategiesThe "Sunshine Policy"Supporters of the "Sunshine Policy" argue that sanctions and threats from the governments of the United States and South Korea have harmed, rather than improved, prospects for reunification. They argue that if the North Korean government does not feel threatened by South Korea or the United States, it will have nothing to lose and everything to gain from dialogue and engagement with the outside world, and will have no reason to build weapons of mass destruction. Many argue that the only alternative to dialogue is an unacceptable military outcome. The Sunshine Policy was introduced by the Millennium Democratic Party under President Kim Dae-jung, and is continued by the Roh Mu-hyun government. South Korea's Hyundai Asan played a major role in pioneering commercial links with the North. Korean Economic CommunityIt has recently been suggested that the formation of a Korean Economic Community could be a way to ease in unification of the Korean peninsula.[2] Lee Myung-bak departing from the Grand National Party's traditional hardline stance has outlined a comprehensive diplomatic package on North Korea that includes setting up a consultative body to discuss economic projects between the two Koreas. He proposed seeking a Korean economic community agreement to provide the legal and systemic basis for any projects agreed to in the body.[3] A hard-line policyOpponents of the "Sunshine Policy" argue that dialogue and trade with North Korea has done nothing to improve prospects for peaceful reunification, and have helped bolster the North Korean government, which is corrupt, undemocratic, and totalitarian. They feel that the North has no real interest in reunification, and is only trying to ensure its own survival. It is also argued that South Korea has seen little benefit from engagement with North Korea, despite the transfer of large funds to the North Korean government by President Kim Dae-jung. Many also believe South Korea should remain prepared in the event of a North Korean attack. The Grand National Party is in favour of a hard-line position on North Korea. Hard-line policy supporters also argue that the help given to North Korea only continues the regime of Kim Jong-Il and that leaving it alone will eventually bring the collapse of North Korea, thus allowing the country to be reunified under the Republic of Korea. North Korea's policyNorth Korea's policy is to seek reunification without what it sees as outside interference, through a federal structure retaining each side's leadership and systems. Both North and South Korea signed the June 15th North-South Joint Declaration in which both sides made promises to seek out a peaceful reunification.[4] International viewsChinaThe Chinese government's official stance is to support reunification under ‘peaceful’ means, although in reality reunification may have greater negative consequences to the Chinese[5]. North Korea served as a strategic buffer between itself and the U.S.-influenced Japanese and South Korean governments, and the collapse of a communist regime may spark distabilisation effects within its own borders[6]. A reunified Korea under current economic circumstances may deprive China from South Korean investment, which may have to be channeled to the improverished North instead. A potential mass exodus of North Koreans into Chinese territory is a major cause of concern for the Chinese government. The potential Korean claims to some areas of North East China are also seen by Beijing as a reason for trouble. JapanThe Japanese government has expressed its support for eventual reunification of the two Koreas under a democratic government. Still, the current state of Japanese abductees by North Korea continues to be an issue with the Japanese. A group representing the families of abductees have expressed their disapointment in the 2007 inter-Korean summit. [1] This situation is closely tied to Japan's disapproval of any attempt by the United States to remove North Korea from its terror list. [2] RussiaThe Russian government wishes for a unified Korea, as mass emigration from North Korea is an issue for the Russian government. Hurdles in the processCultureThe cultures of the two halves have diverged following partition, even though traditional Korean culture and history are shared. In addition, many families have been split by the division of Korea. EconomyEconomic differences between South Korea and North Korea also are a cause of concern. Korean reunification would differ from the German reunification precedent:
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