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ASIAN AMERICAN ISSUES
Impact of Corean Unification
(Updated
Tuesday, Apr 1, 2008, 05:52:46 PM)
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.]
The more NK keeps racheting up its one act show, the more pissed I'm getting at the Cowboy. Who said you had to be intelligent to win the White House.
Let's like GW is painting himself into a corner. He forgot the rules of engagement for superpower is different than a small town sherrif.
Basically he is gambling the lives of SK people with his policy. SK have every right to be pissed off - pissed off at the cowboy and pissed off that it gotta eat crow.
The new move by Roh to take responsibility and center stage is the only face saving way for Elvis and Cowboy to stand down.
Oh another thing, if we don't find anything in IRAQ to start a war over, GW is gonna need a new crisis, hopefully he GW won't shoot at the first thing that twitches.
Down boy, take few deep breaths and count to ten.
NYmeboy
Saturday, January 04, 2003 at 15:31:26 (PST)
[24.90.48.98]
AC,
SK's panzy PM is trying to play world politics by cooking up a plan that gives NK oil, guaranteed safety from the US, Russia and China. All the North has to do is give up their current blackmail project. No mention that they are restricted from creating future "secret" nuclear programs when the well runs dry. Who pays for SK's plan? The United States of course.
SK doesn't deserve to be rich, the Americans should leave and let the North take over.
SKs seem to be very treacherous. Who's going to buy SK goods (China?) if the U.S. restricts trade w/ SK because of their current backstabbing? America made them, and they can just as easily break them. Remember who bailed them out during the Asian currency crisis.
Ever heard the saying "War is good for business"? WWII and the cold ware are good examples.
Corean unification will weaken SK and put them back about 20 years. SK doesn't have as much money as Germany did to absorb 21 million wretches.
You'll know when America's ready to attack when they cut off food aid to the UN humanitarian program. NK can't fight if it can't use American food to feed its army.
huu76
Saturday, January 04, 2003 at 09:21:15 (PST)
[207.164.88.163]
GIVE AND TAKE...
Yes, the US helped South Korea during the Korean War, but don't anybody think that the US would get something out of it either by trade or power? There is no such thing as Free Food...
No country would spend millions of dollars to protect a country unless they get something back. Its logic. The US is the most powerful country in the world because it has bases all throughout the country to keep an eye on them. This is why US is the most powerful coutry in the world and the US will continue to be stationed. Many countries like Germany and Japan wants them out now because they don't want anyone over there shoulders and butting into their problems. The SK people are grateful for US protection. Its just the years of GI's raping and killing people in SK that keeps triggering bad rep for US GI's.
The US wants full control over other countries to...
1. for power
2. economic influence
3. WORLD POWER
Also, many SK people died in the Vietnam war in helping the US side and the SK people had to help the US because the US helped during the Korean War. Many thousands of SK people died too not only the Americans.
Whatever War... soldiers and civilians will die and that's why we should not even conceive of having a war.
I am for diplomatic talks rather the harsh and tough approach. No one wants WW3.
Lavienrose
Friday, January 03, 2003 at 22:29:53 (PST)
[32.101.149.141]
AC-
not sure what Elvis has to do with any of this (and, yes, I saw that Huu76 mentioned him first, so no need to point it out lah).
Anyhow, a lot of noise recently about North Korea. I agree with you - it is far past time that the US pulled its army out of Korea. It seems clear that the locals in South Korea do not want them there, and having them there does not further any of our political goals any more with the demise of the Soviet Union.
It is expensive to keep 500,000 soldiers there - it is time that we stopped propping up the South Korea. With no offence to Koreans, the US basically built their prosperity. As you pointed out in another forum, China has emerged very quickly with no help from the US government (in fact, with much antipathy).
It is time for South Korea to stand on its own.
Ai Ya
Friday, January 03, 2003 at 10:23:45 (PST)
[66.121.146.67]
Oh, I can't wait to see the damn DMZ fall down like the wall that divided West Germany from Germany!! If Germany can do it, so could both Koreas. The US and Japan do not want the Koreas to unite because they make money off of them by selling them tanks, and military equipments.
The scary part is which government system will take over? I pray not Kim Jung-Ill-head's regime! That guy looks freaky and loves to starve his people!!!
Coconut_Braddah_ohana
Friday, January 03, 2003 at 03:04:15 (PST)
[64.75.154.40]
huu76,
Since money is based on faith than once consumer confidence runs out...so does the money.
Elvis...okay. But he's dead and the Koreans are not happy with USA intervention anymore. Both North and South see USA as a liability now. Especially with Bush's axis of evil routine.
AC Dropout
Tuesday, December 31, 2002 at 11:57:43 (PST)
[24.136.115.189]
kimchi devil,
Cult Clone Children and North Nuclear Negativity.
I don't know whether to laugh or cry when I read the news about Korea these days.
AC Dropout
Tuesday, December 31, 2002 at 08:37:40 (PST)
[24.136.115.189]
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/2616475.stm
This is a BBC site that lists events in the current Corean standoff. You'll notice it's all crying and whining from NK while the rest of the world pretty much ignores them.
In about 2 weeks, they'll probably list Mr. Moo getting ready to cut the north a big fat cheque. After all, that's what weak kneed leaders do.
huu76
Tuesday, December 31, 2002 at 04:39:47 (PST)
[207.164.88.163]
Ka,
You have to admit that US/SK relations are much more equal and beneficial than those w/ Imperial Japan.
Yes US Army has bad PR, but did SK mourn when those 2 US Marines got axed on the DMZ about a decade ago? I really don't know.
Nukes for all,
How about this for irony. China running to the UN whenever they need to attack the US's treatment of blacks/human rights, however China itself has no such laws for its own minorities.
AC,
Strange, I remember Elvis accusing the US of hawkish tactics before they mentioned they can fight a multi-front war. You forget that China/NK (stupid people in general) spit out crap irregardless of how much nonsense it is.
The US has mostly remained silent on NK, Elvis and China seem to be the only ones singing songs of "humiliation, decimate, mother of all battles, we good-you bad, our system works fine (as long as you ignore our poverty and the success of others)"
As an aside, the way the world economy runs, you can take as many loans at the World Bank as you want, especially when you're its biggest member. Ever wonder why Japan has more money in its reserves than it does national debt? Money isn't real anymore.
huu76
Tuesday, December 31, 2002 at 02:40:03 (PST)
[207.164.88.163]
ka,
The leftist "commie" Roh won the Presidential election. America lost. Both North and South Koreans now have the distinction of being the most anti-American people in Asia. Harvard University Professor Samuel Huntington is correct after all about the Korean people. Just wait until year 2003 comes around with Roh in power.
I Ching
Monday, December 30, 2002 at 22:29:37 (PST)
[209.232.23.252]
As grateful as I am for US protection, I think it time for the US soldiers to pull out of Korea.
SK should be able to eventually fend off any attack by NK, even if at the cost of few million SK deaths, devastation of Seoul and setting back K a few decades. But isn't that what self-determination and self-pride is all about? Let the Kroeans deal with their own problems?
The gamble is that NK wont' do it, of course.
And thanks a lot GW for that nice axis of evil rethoric to start off this new round of eyeballing.
nyhome4xmasboy
Sunday, December 29, 2002 at 17:01:17 (PST)
[24.90.48.98]
hmmmmm, it seems like there's some indications that this clone-aid baby was, ehem, "manufactured" in S. Corea. Can anyone verify this? Anyways, if it's all not a hoax, then it's definitely a good sign for corea's future... As long as Kim Jong Il doesn't blow everything up. naaaah. =P
kimchi devil
Sunday, December 29, 2002 at 12:26:16 (PST)
[152.163.188.228]
ka,
The USA is going crazy this time.
Whether or not the NK nuke program is for weapons or electricity or both is something we could have handled diplomatically.
If we continued building the light water reactor in the first place. We can at least stall.
But now we have forced their hand. And they are going to build it themselves. Which we will effectively have no say in.
Not to mention during the Clinton Era the Sunshine Policy did make headway. It did ease tensions.
But now if USA chooses to attack NK. Russia and China will need to agree. For that to happen the USA will need to give something to Russia and China. So now we USA citizens need to pay out extra money, to resolve a issue that was basically a non issue 2 years ago.
AC Dropout
Sunday, December 29, 2002 at 09:08:27 (PST)
[24.136.115.189]
Dhsin,
Who would run a single Corea? The generals of the north who are so eager to give up their power, or the free will of the people?
The West, Japan and Europe have their act together because they are democracies (some needed help). Sometimes (English/American civil wars) force is needed to attain it. Maybe the North needs a good swift kick.
As to what happened to Asia? Certain country's refusals to let the past slide are what's keeping it divided. There is a bit of American influence in their as well, but atleast the U.S. helps Asian countries agree that they want to be rich together.
huu76
Saturday, December 28, 2002 at 10:51:57 (PST)
[207.164.88.163]
ka,
And what propoganda would you like to come from the USA to smooth things over.
"We consider SK at least 2 steps above Guam and PR"
"Don't worry those girls are in heaven now. They got ran over by our avenging angels in green"
Yeah, and don't forget why the USA re-established the 38th parallel...the Chinese told them not to cross it in the first place. Talk about dumbasses in washington wasting my possible past tax dollars.
I don't know about you but when it comes to self determination the USA is not helping SK out very much in the past 10 years.
AC Dropout
Friday, December 27, 2002 at 19:08:55 (PST)
[208.59.247.9]
everyoneshouldhavenukes
And I guess you don't think it's even remotely hypocritical that North Korea has been calling U.S. an evil regime for years, even when during the same years, it was implementing a regime of terror. Next thing you know George W calls Kim Jong Il evil, and everyone have this hoopla like, "Nooo... Kim Jong Il is a nice guy!" Go figure.
I do agree that we should stop selling weapons in the mideast, but I wonder if you carry the same zeal for world peace when the Israelis and the Arabs start to buy their weapons from the Russians and the Chinese instead.
ka
Friday, December 27, 2002 at 09:46:19 (PST)
[168.103.180.35]
Man this is so typical. We consume everything we see on Cnn, and create opinions based on that which we have eaten...lies.
Look back at the past. Look further than the white people look. Look futher forward and look further behind. Corea was divided before, and it was strongest when it united. Based on this simple fact it is Korea's best interest to be united again. Take away the ideals of the leaders. The will of the people will prevail in time.
If NK and SK unite, North East Asia will become a hub of international commerce. This may even pave the way for further consolidation, integration of nations much like the EU.
China, N.Korea, S.Korea & Japan must forget about the past and recognize that they must come together in order to become a powerful force in a globally integrating world.
Peace, trust, goodwill and commerce will be the weapons that will elliminate any advisary.
America has has their act together, and the EU is moving to that direction. What happend to Asia?
dhsin
yellowdotz@yahoo.com
Thursday, December 26, 2002 at 14:32:36 (PST)
[63.206.138.204]
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