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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 Clueless:
Some you think very lowly of women, poking fun at Radcliff...
The ROE was written by the Kim administration, not the US. It governs ROK policies, not ours.
You truly are clueless.
And FYI, 2 versus 7 boats is meaningless. The fact still remains that the NKD shot first...
Japan has been pretty peaceful. While they may have your arrogance, like you, they are a paper tiger. Their economy is in the crapper, and they are growing too old for war. You are kind of like you, who make a big fuss on the Internet but is in real life a 130 lbs, 5'3" twerp.
Annapolis-Harvard Law Grad
Wednesday, July 03, 2002 at 18:37:11 (PDT)
AC, why are you digressing again about China? I mentioned China to point out the fact that China has shown wisdom in not engaging in arms build up and focusing on economy unlike North Korea--the country you claim is "forced" into military buildup due to America's machinations. I don't understand what your point is about China. You seem to be just stating some observation which does not enhance or weaken your overall argument--because you don't really have a stance at all; you seem to aspire to be the ultimate devil's advocate on every posts on goldsea.
AC, you are not thinking rationally. If I held a gun to your head and said, "vote for me or die!" would you say that you actively chose to support my political power? Or would you say, "no, the fact that I didnt' voice 'nay' through my valiant and glorious death, means that I full heartedly support your cause." AC, South Koreans threw molotov cocktails and fought the national police from city block to city block until Chun Doo Hwan/Noh Tae Woo had to yield to the voices of democracy. This hardly seems to me, that South Koreans were united in stance for a military dictatorship. You over simplify everything. What about North Korea? The government controls EVERYTHING. Would you be so brave to fight against the system, if you do so, you face a certain and horrible death, not only for yourself, but also for your family? You don't think about this type of stuff, because first, you think western news about political prison camps are baloney, and also because you don't read any news pertaining to North korea. So you must rely on your own closed-off view of the world. Do you know that 22 million North Korean people are classified/stratified according to Party loyalty? You think that North Koreans choose to live without non-government media? Yes, sometimes a large group of people often do irrational things. But if their life is at stake, it's hardly questionable their irrational actions, if an irrational leadership demands absolute loyalty. But of course, you think this is a trivial point, because you continue to think that north korea is on the same moral level as south korea, because there is no good and evil in your world view. In other words, you don't really find the executions of thousands of north korean people morally questionable. Look you even glorify histories most crooked and vile individuals. Please tell me what good those guys did. I'm so curious what you are going to say. Even Chinese people don't like Mao. Heck even russian peoople hate Stalin. You think Cambodians like Pol Pot? You say you are worldly. I don't think so. Many North Korean people truly believe in good socialism. But the government censors any western criticisms about it's downfalls. You support censorship, because you think capitalism has nothing to offer them. You think the people of North Korea must be spoonfed information by the elite of North KOrea--you are in fact no progressive, you are an elitist. You do not trust the masses.
As for your theory about NK/SK clashing, like I said, you are resorting to flimsy conspiracy theories here. Because you don't look at details, this is possible. North Korea has done many other irrational things in the past. This wouldn't be the first time, but you can't see it because you refuse to read North Korean websites. Because you are too lazy. Then you blame me for having biases, because I read North Korean newsites.
All you argument is based on counterfactual speculations. It has very little weight. You have absolutely no idea. South Korean military is controlled by the U.S. when there is a resumption of hostilities. Why? You don't realize the local situation in the Korean peninsula, because Korea does not interest you. You think a bunch of Korean college graduate who were forced into military service would just "love" serving under an American officer? Kim Dae Jung changed the protocals for engaging north Korean to prevent escalation of warfare, this is what harvard grad was talking about. You can find out about this type of info from south korean newspapers. (but of course you don't read them, because they are propaganda to you.) It was not U.S. of A., because George W. Bush is more right winged than Nobel Peace Laureate Kim DAe Jung. South korean military is not allowed to fire a single bullet until they make an announcement on speakers, then dance around the water, make a warning shot, and then they can open fire. You think North Korea does this? bullshit, they do whatever the hell they want. They have consistently done this--but you ignore this. it's because you have a double standard--north korea can never do wrong, but south korea is always up to no good.
Personally what I think happened, is a disgruntled nut on the north korean side opened fired, but Kim Jong Il won't admit it, as he never admits wrong. but who knows? maybe he just wanted to kill people. test out some new ammos.
North Korea has not reacted positively at all to the Sunshine policy. Kim Dae Jung should continue it anyway until the end of his term--he doesn't have much time left anyway. But I do believe a much harsher stance is neccessary. Make Kim Jong Il crap in his pants, do more Team Spirit exercizes. Blow up wayward north korean military ships from south korean waters. But I am against the cessation of cereals to North Korea. Food shouldn't be linked to Kim Jong Il's madness.
Some analysts have pointed out that simply paying off the "ransom" to north korea is better than all out warfare. Normally this is true. But North has consistently shown it's willingness to resort to military show of force. In such case, an equal show of force is neccessary.
oh, and you also miss the point about the ship that Japan is investigating. If Japan sent in a disguised fishing boat to North korean water, armed with a missile, would you simply say, "oh it's a meaningless act." See? you have a double standard. It is known that North Korea sells drugs and uses counterfeit U.S. dollar in Japan. Also they have a tendency to kidnap Japanese nationals. But all this is meaningless to you because www.asahi.com or www.yomiuri.com or www.mainichi.com are all bunch of capitalist liars, giving us free-market propaganda. well, I seriously wonder what news you do read? Maybe the NY post?
ka
Wednesday, July 03, 2002 at 09:42:23 (PDT)
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