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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)
chicago mafia, I suggest you read what I write fully before you start to criticize me. I have no idea why you wrote what you did.
ka
Monday, August 05, 2002 at 10:38:31 (PDT)
ka,
No no. China is still the world's 2nd largest economy.
USA defense spending is like 380 billion in 2002.
Japan spends about 37 billion in 2002.
China is planning to spend 17 billion on defense in 2003.
So an addition billion thrown around in foriegn war does not come cheaply to the Japanese.
And looking at these number one can clearly see the Chinese are a peace loving people in a developing nation. And not some tyrannical superpower with expansionist views, the USA media likes to portray.
Let's keep the numbers straight and relevant. No point in continuing the debate if we are using past numbers.
AC Dropout
Monday, August 05, 2002 at 09:50:54 (PDT)
ka,
Let's take one issue at a time here. Trying to extrapolate what I believe from one issue to the next is a fruitless task. Just ask and I will tell you my opinion.
Iraq and the Gulf War. There are fundimental issue of USA involvement in that war. The first being that we were defending monarchies from a democratically elected ruler. That is somewhat hypocritical. As for Iraq expansionist tendencies, well all nations go through them at one point or another. Is Saddam the devil's incarnate? Well that would be theologically impossible. Is Saddam against USA interest in the area? Sure he wants to raise the price of oil be getting a monopoly via military conquest.
East Timor. That isn't even in our radar map. If look at the history of the island nation of Indeonesia it is very violent. Once they settle down I'm sure they will be able to figure things out. Craps they think it was the ethnic Chinese that causing them problems and raped and killed them openly in the streets a few years back. They have issues to resolve.
I think you have to give NK a chance with their current initiative of political dialogue. If you were in a position of influence and openly kept doubting them on every move they make, do you think you would be fostering an environment for progress?
The mere fact that NK isn't dealing with a peasant revolt and splintering in their government means basically that they are stable enough to remain in power.
AC Dropout
Monday, August 05, 2002 at 06:28:33 (PDT)
To Ka
You were appalled toward Ahn Jung-Hwan?
You know its World Cup Bro. At the World Cup everything goes out the window. Simply if you cannot digest the true reality of Soccer. For example, Korea kicked ass Italy. You shouldn't watch World Cup.
from Chicago
Chicago Mafia
Friday, August 02, 2002 at 20:27:03 (PDT)
Hmmmm,
I think the best chance for any kind of reunification would occur if s. corea started distancing itself from the US, and looked toward russia as a mediator in all of this craziness. The bottom line is China and the United States aren't interested in a corean unification (not too hard to figure out), but Russia however might look favorably on such. One cannot deny close relations between, and the influence that the former Soviet Union had on the north coreans (i.e. Stalin and the onset of the korean war, weapons, etc.). It would seem that they are in the best position to talk some sense into the the north corean regime. Also it helps not having a mine laden DMZ on the Russian-North Corean border (to the best of my knowledge). Economically, russian-korean ties may prove mutually beneficial (in terms of resources/manufacturing/services), and historically, I think Russia always had an interest in the past in the korean penninsula, perhaps for its warm water ports, which it lacks.
With the russians in the picture, it may not be as hopeless a situation as once thought on the penninsula, if s. corea plays its cards right. Gotta work with what you have! and the US need not be the only player in this game.
kimchi devil
Friday, August 02, 2002 at 13:23:27 (PDT)
AC, Japan is the 2nd largeset economy in the world with the world's 2nd largest defense spedning for it's so-called "Self-Defense Force." One biillion dollar is chump change nowadays as far as carrying out military operations. But like I said before, I think the Japanese wound up paying more than 1 billion. In anycase, you are still wrong if you think that the Gulf War was "purely" an American war. Why? US of A isn't the only nation that is starving for oil. But you consistently fail to admit this because you have a rabid bias against the USA. I mean, when Iraq invaded Iran you probably blame that on USA and some how Saddam Hussein is as innocent and virginal as your idealistic view of the world. For example, the Kuwatis were ecstatic when we intervened on their behalf. But I guess this little fact is unimportant to you. the war is only about IRaq and USA because Kuwait is a meaningless country to you--you have a tendency to marginalize any country you discount as "unimportant" and hence display your radical ethno-centric view of the world.
As far as East Timor, I'm pointing out the fact that we abandoned the East Timorese. They didn't want to become part of Indonesia. But you think this is the correct move. If anyone invades China, I wonder if you would hold the same opinion--for example if Taiwan in a suicidal bid for world conquest, invaded china.
I agree with you 100% our on-going treatment of native americans are intolerable. But this doesnt' justify your marxist bent.
I'm sorry to say, but there is no real reason to belive N. Korea is "reforming" at all. I don't think you are looking at the subtle details of the new N. Korean policy. They haven't abadoned price fixing--they merely changed the prices. They also made the de facto decentralization of north korean economy more legit. Is this really reformation? North Korea is still unwilling to discuss reducing it's conventional forces even for say, the removal of U.S. forces from Korea. Go to the Doctors without Borders website and you find many testimonies from North KOrean defectors who claim that they never received international food aid. Now of courese, you might believe Doctors without Borders as a heinous Capitalist bourgesie organization, but if you truly belive that.. well... you know, I heard that North Korea offers free medical care for mentally handicapped... by the way, doctors without borders pulled out of north korea, because north korean government wouldn't let them monitor their relief activities.
ka
Friday, August 02, 2002 at 11:15:59 (PDT)
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