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ASIAN AMERICAN ISSUES
Impact of Corean Unification
t's been over a decade since the Iron Curtain came crashing down in Europe. The Bamboo Curtain is little more than a quaint phrase. Yet the Cold War remains very much alive on the Corean peninsula.
Across a 186-mile DMZ glare opposing armies collectively totaling 1.7 million. By all reckoning the Pyongyang regime should have become ideological roadkill following the collapse of communism. Instead, it remains an impregnable roadblock to the economic integration of East Asia, the world's fastest-growing region.
How can an economic nonentity be such a roadblock?
Consider its location at what should have been the crossroads of East Asia. With 56% of the peninsula's land mass, North Corea separates on one side the world's greatest market and labor pool (China) and the biggest reserve of natural resources (Sibera) from, on the other, two of the world's leading technological and manufacturing nations (Japan and South Corea).
But for Pyongyang's intransigence Seoul would already be linked by railroads and superhighways to Beijing, Moscow, Berlin, Paris and London. All those cities would also be linked to Tokyo via a bridge across the 126-mile strait dividing Shimonoseki from Pusan. The savings in shipping cost and time alone could amount to tens of billions of dollars a year. Such a trans-Eurasian land link would accelerate the cultural and economic integration of not only East Asia, but the world. In the process, the Corean peninsula would shed the burden of financing the world's most heavily fortified frontier and become the center of the global economy.
That's the vision dancing before the eyes of farsighted statesmen and business leaders pushing for the political leaps of faith needed to keep Pyongyang taking its unsteady baby steps toward opening North Corea.
But skeptics and pessimists abound. Even a loose confederation with the North would only burden and destabilize South Corea's economy and political system, they argue. For decades to come the impact on the global economy would be entirely negative as investors and customers begin shunning the uncertainties, denying capital and trading partners to hundreds of world-class Corean manufacturers. The ultimate result, argue the naysayers, would be to throw a monkey wrench into an alignment that has allowed three decades of strong growth for East Asia.
What is the likely impact of Corean unification?
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WHAT YOU SAY
[This page is closed to new input. --Ed.]
(Updated
Wednesday, Jan 22, 2025, 06:38:55 AM)
ac, ac, ac.... I get such good hearty laughs when I read your posts, I sincerely thank you. Really, pleasure is all mine. You continue to make argument without showing any signs that you really think through the issues at hand. In fact, you continue to use logic, but ignore factual evidences--all your argument is based only on flimsy circumstantial conspiracy theories.
You blame NK famine on poor weather. This has been true since before the unification of the Korean peninsula under Shilla monarchy. Many people in the world who live in similiar climate do not starve--Eastern Europeans and Central Asians(minus afghans). But notice that Zimbabwe(nice weather over there) is facing a devastating famine? Why? Please think for one second why North Korea has no fertilizers for agriculture and no oil for farm machinary. In fact, why doesn't North Korea have farm equipment? But you make a very good point that North Korea has a lot of military equipment. Has the U.S. invaded North Korea? no. (unless you believe DPRK official website, but i doubt it since by the way you write, it's obvious you never once, read any dprk news) Since the vietnam war, U.S. only likes to get involved in wars they know they won't suffer heavy casualties. North has more artillery, more fighters, more soldiers then south korea. And if you were truly worldly, you would know full well that military conscription is very unpopular in South korea.
You blame the demise of Soviet Union and North Korea on the arms race with the U.S. which is good. But think for one second how China did not engage in this arms race, and how well it is doing. But you cannot, because you have a tunnel vision of the world. Because of your irratioanl hate for anything american, somehow the poor policies of North KOrea is the direct fault of the great puppet master United States. I really hope you don't live in the U.S. It angers me to think that you could be my possible neighbor.
knowledge is indivisible for you huh? That's funny, because I notice that you always go into philosophy when you don't have anything substantial to say about North Korean economy. I should really study your post, it would really help me to learn how to debate without knowing the subject matter.
But the most humourous thing you had to say I must say is, "Why do 22 million NK popularly support their party?" You consistently put words in my mouth. I never said 22 million of my compatriots on the north are the devil spawns. But you are seriously deluded if you think north korean censorship and juche ideology is what every korean has chosen for themselves. It's easy for you to make that conclusion, because you don't read any North Korean websites. (it's not hard to find. look it up on google) 22 million people popularly support their party? HAHHAHAHAAHa. Where are you getting this information, korea-dpr.com? Yes 22 million North Korean people popularly support the North Korean edict that bars them from traveling. Yes 22 million North Korean people popularly support the censorship that prevents North Koreans from listening to ALL foreign news sources. Yes 22 million North Korean people popularly support over 25% of their GDP to be spent for missile and nuclear technology while they go hungry. Yes 22 million North Korean people support using terror tactics against their south korean breathren. You are such a fool, ac. Why don't you just move to Pyong Yang? I hear that it's a people's paradise there. I'm sure you will give me a witty "philosophical" comeback to this--something like, "well the fact that they are communist means that they are all communists, blah blah blah. Knowledge is indivisible therefore, I don't need to substantiate any of my views with facts, blah blah balh. All your evidences are wrong, ka, because western news are all biased, blah blha blah."
You know AC, don't you think maybe kim jong il should ask south kroeans if he could fish in that disputed waters, instead of asking us with hail of bullets? no, because you think taht Kim JOng IL, being the son of God, Kim Il sung, does not need to answer for anyone. and of course U.S. because it's rich, must abide by AC's world view, that U.S. must give all it's wealth to everyone equally, and live a life of ascetic hermit. I really find your political views a simple joy to listen to. Where else can I listen to such comedy?
My friend, Kim Il Sung is dead. Since his death, his son has indeed brought a stabilizing force to North KOrea--North Korea is slowly and steadily seeing economic implosion. Population is slowly and steadily declining. People are jumping across the Tumen river in a slow and steady rate. I guess you are very impressed by the phenomenal ability of Kim Jong Il to keep his power in place despite these problems.
You know, I'm so tired of you picking and choosing whatever digression you want to go into, I won't bother to write a response about India Pakistan. For example, how you blame U.S. but dont blame Russia and don't blame China and so on and on. Everyone is a-ok, except U.S. Oh, wait, I guess I did respond. :P
ka
Tuesday, July 02, 2002 at 10:08:07 (PDT)
Is it true that North Korea is selling weapons to terrorist nations like Iraq and Iran? I hear that much of Iraq's biological weapons are made from NKorean know-how. That would be reason for the US to get involved militarily and disable North Korea's weapon making facilities. If the US do attack, I don't think China would support NKorea in a war if they are told that Islamic separatists are using NKorean weapons against them.
I seriously doubt that NKorea and SKorea will be unified peacefully given the present state of the two governments. My guess is that some reform-minded North Koreans in the military will stage a coup and stop the madness.
Ahn-son
Tuesday, July 02, 2002 at 02:46:00 (PDT)
AC Clueless:
"Well you know it is one those shoot first ask question later situations in SK view."
This is why you're an idiot. Actually, the latest version of the Kim government has been blasted for changing the ROE (go look up what that means) for the S. Korean military. They're now require to fire warning shots and broadcast all sorts of messages before even lifting a finger. It's hardly a S. Koreans who are adopting the shoot first, as questions later approach.
"The next nations on the list that are thinking of going nuclear are Japan and Iran. Japan due to PRC, Iran due to Pakistan."
Japan, maybe, although their population isn't as warlike as you would like. Iran is going nuclear not because of Pakistan, but because of Israel and a host of other factors, mainly because they want power and influence in the region. Nukes are one way to do it.
Annapolis-Harvard Law Grad
Monday, July 01, 2002 at 18:34:29 (PDT)
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