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ASIAN AMERICAN ISSUES
Impact of Corean Unification
(Updated
Tuesday, Apr 1, 2008, 05:52:33 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 (Korean for those who prefer the colonial spelling) 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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Discussions posted during the past year remain available for browsing.
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WHAT YOU SAY
[This page is closed to new input. --Ed.]
Ny^+^boy,
You wrote, “China does have its unique role in this human evolution story and I believe the best is yet to come.”
On this point, I must agree with you. China’s greatest legacy to mankind is its ability to set-free an entire population from the tyranny of God and religion. Whereas the rest of the world believes that God created Man, China takes the position that it was Man’s delusion that created God. In the past, Confucianism and Daoism were the moral philosophies of China, and equally importantly, of the Korean Peninsula, as exemplified by the symbols on the South Korean flag of today. In fact, the Korean people today are more Confucian than the Chinese. Throughout China’s long history, the Confucian elites have always taken the position of skepticism and disbelief on theistic religions and foreign religions such as Buddhism, which came by ways of India.
In contrast, the sum totality of Western Civilization since the days of the Roman Empire has been a long, delusional, millennial wait for the First or Second Coming of the Messiah, intra-spaced by bloody sectarian conflicts between the various believers of the Abrahamic faiths, all of Middle Eastern origin. Even today, the singular mission of the Christian West in life is to prepare the world for the Tribulation and the return of Jesus Christ by aggressively spreading the Word of God throughout the world.
During the last 200 years, the Korean Peninsular has been the scene of immense bloodshed resulting from the introduction of foreign religions. At first it was the Christians missionaries and their converts that were massacred. Then, it was the Japanese who imposed with much human depravity and brutality their Shintoist belief that the Korean people are sub-humans. The cult of Kim or Juche based on the belief that Kim is God along Christian religious techniques resulted in the death of millions of Koreans during the Korean War and thereafter. While under American influence, entire sections of the South Korean people were programmed to become lunatic Christians and fanatical anticommunists. Some 313,000 Koreans served as mercenaries for a mere $45/month (while their American counterparts were paid $450/month) during the Vietnam to kill fellow Asians with a depraved heart. Many of these Korean mercenaries came back dead, and even today, thousands of them are suffering gruesome death from Agent Orange poisoning, for which they will never get a dime in compensation, unlike Australian, American, Canadian, and New Zealand veterans who have received compensation. More recently, we see the systematic depravation of the North Korean people by ways of trade sanctions, the cut-off in fuel aid, and the refusal to sign a non-aggression treaty by the Americans because, in part, of Kim Jong-II’s refusal to accept Jesus (and in effect, America) as his personal Savior.
2002 has been a very special year for the Korean people: the World Cup 2002 and the Busan Asian Games 2002. From a historical and geopolitical point, it has been a crossroad, as a monumental choice was given to the Koreas: either the Koreas go with the “Axis of Religious Nuts”(America’s Bush, Britain’s Blair, and Israel’s Sharon) who terrorize the world with their weapons of mass destruction, or the Koreas go with the secular sanity of China with the truth of science, archaeology, the laws of nature, and history already on China’s side. The Korean people have voted with their hands and feet literally speaking. Hundred of thousands of North Koreans have already walked into China to escape the insanity of the cult of Kim. In December 2002, South Koreans elected Roh Moo Hyun, an atheist to be their next President. In 2002, China (including Hong Kong) surpassed the U.S. as South Korea’s No. 1 trade partner. And for once, South Korea is now telling the Americans what to do, such as whether to apologize for a vehicular accident and whether to negotiate with North Korea.
Do not get me wrong; I am by no means anti-American. I cherish America’s democratic values, free market economy, and the rule of law, and in time China will incorporate all of these virtues. America once had a clear separation of state from church. That all changed in the year 2000, when the U.S. Supreme Court Justices, decided 5-4 along party lines rather than with the rule of law and ordered that the re-counting of votes in Florida be stopped, ultimately permitting George W. Bush to win the Presidential election. Since then, the Christian religious right has captured the House, the Senate, the executive and the judiciary, and has steered America on a religious crusade to Armageddon in the mad hope that Jesus will come back to Earth to start a dictatorship where there is no democracy, freedom, or the rule of law.
I Ching
Thursday, February 06, 2003 at 23:12:45 (PST)
[199.183.33.88]
AC Dropout
Trying to have a dialogue with you, eduated at Bx Sci and all, is trying to drink molasse through a straw. You do have a perculiar lefty bent. hehehe
I have read the Bible - several times.
We all know what US is and what it stand fors. What does China stand for?
nydcboy
Thursday, February 06, 2003 at 21:29:46 (PST)
[24.90.48.98]
Geoff DB,
Given the current momentum of the situation unless USSR and China really stand up and put up a real opposition I don't see a diversion to conflict in sight.
Japan and SK have been applying as much political preassure as possible in the past months.
USSR is owed a lot of money by NK maybe they will speak up in order to collect from this regime.
AC Dropout
Thursday, February 06, 2003 at 08:55:11 (PST)
[24.136.115.189]
AC Dropout,
My biggest fears are quickly becoming reality.
Can anyone stop this trend - US/NK brinkmanship?
Kim Jong II is a nut (but very smart). He'll fight the US and we'll have to spend alot of money, military might and US troops to put his regime down.
I watched a 60 Minutes presentation about North Korea and it's concentration camps last Sunday. It brought me to my knees.
Doesn't seem like South Koreans can do much to quell this nuclear crisis.
Geoff DB
GeoffDB02@aol.com
Wednesday, February 05, 2003 at 19:18:36 (PST)
[172.195.241.144]
Ny^+^boy,
"Bad arguement. Yup and we were all in caves before."
No it is a great case. Europes Dark Ages came right after the fall of the Roman Empire. It is just to illustrate the rise and fall of European nation. Contrary to popular belief that society always progresses continually upwards.
"Isn't market economy based on individualism and isn't this antithesis of what China is all about."
Philosophically speaking I don't see the corrolation of Locke to free markets. If you commenting on modern markets, then I would say you are slightly off the mark. Modern markets are highly regulated. As a society progress it puts regulations into various markets to effect it in manner they desire. Your assuption that China is somehow the antithesis of individualism just reflects how USA propoganda has brained washed you.
Actually we have no clue what western dogma you are referring to. USA first huge jump into modern wealth was the cotton trade and the black slavery used to gather cotton. Our second big jump into modern wealth was being the arms dealer to both sides of the European conflict call WWI. Our third big jump into wealth was being once again a banker and arms dealer to Europe in WWII. Our forth big jump was our shady dealing in the Cold War. Our fifth big jump was the .com age, where we tricked our own people.
If you haven't realised the Bible is one of the most entertaining reads from a soap opera point of view, I guess you haven't read much of the Bible. The book is full of extramartial affairs, hookers, and stuff to make decent people blush.
AC Dropout
Wednesday, February 05, 2003 at 09:12:09 (PST)
[24.136.115.189]
AC Dropout
> China surpass the west...why not?
Yes, there were some great technological advances in the past.
> It did it before when the west fell into the dark ages.
Bad arguement. Yup and we were all in caves before.
But. Isn't market economy based on individualism and isn't this antithesis of what China is all about.
China does have its unique role in this human evolution story and I believe the best is yet to come.
We know what the western dogma is and that it has produced teh great wealth we have today. The US of A, without a bit of irony lays claim to being the leader of mankind's Vision Thing. What is China's counterpoint to it?
> a whore who shares the same name as his mother
That's not funny at all. You should have some sense of respect.
Ny^+^boy
Tuesday, February 04, 2003 at 23:29:59 (PST)
[24.90.48.98]
ka,
The USA started the trade sanctions against NK since the 1950's. It has used it influence to continue these sanctions to this day.
Since the rest of you post is incorrectly based on this assumption. I have no idea what you are talking about.
Actually the largest arms dealer in the world is the USA. So if someone does pop a cap in your butt it's probably USA made or licensed.
AC Dropout
Tuesday, February 04, 2003 at 09:32:06 (PST)
[24.136.115.189]
I Ching,
I would have to agree with you that there is an unhealthy dose of sexuality in Christian faith.
Take for example the death of Christ for human sin. During his predetermined death, who does the story focus on... a whore who shares the same name as his mother. ^_^
Not to mention cannibalism in Christdom...drinking the blood and eating the body...
Yao Ming is a saint in the Chinese Media. I wonder how the Chinese will react as Yao gets more Americanized and fall into the trapping of celebrity life in the USA. Will he keep his girlfriend in China? Or will we see a Nordic feature woman next to him in the future. Or will the Chinese just laugh it off, cause all great Chinese men have always had extramartial affairs throught history and today.
Perhaps is NK and SK send more athletes into the NBA, they will closer to unification. ^_^
AC Dropout
Monday, February 03, 2003 at 14:37:57 (PST)
[24.136.115.189]
NY?BOY,
China surpass the west...why not? It did it before when the west fell into the dark ages. Nations rise and fall all the time.
If you read the work of Zionist, they are probably the worst group of terrorist that walked into the Middle East during the 20th century. Not to mention a healthy dose of UK screw ups which is how Isreal came to be after WWII.
AC Dropout
Monday, February 03, 2003 at 14:30:12 (PST)
[24.136.115.189]
AC, your facts are wrong again.
You said, "The funny thing about the NK nuke program is that we forced the NK into it by threatening to drop a nuke on NK. We further complicated the situation by blocking normal trade of fossil fuels with them. Of course they need to find a fast alternative fuel source. So in effect NK is "killing two birds with one stone" by reviving their nuke program."
First, US does not enforce a trade sanction against NK. NK does in fact send out ships to engage in trade with other nations in the world, including the middle east. So how are we "blocking normal trade of fossil fuels with them?" I assume what you mean is that US has an obligation to send petroleum to Kim Jong Il under the 1994 agreed framework under Clinton, where we agreed to give Kim Jong Il "safe" nuclear power technology and oil. Considering North Korea also reneged on the agreed framework, US is not under obligation to send anything--that is ZIPPO for Kim JOng Il. Again, what do you mean by "blocking normal trade?" Heck, North Korea has been selling scud missile to Yemen, and you think Yemen pays for that with fantasy dollars? No. If you want to spin conspiracy theories, first get your facts right, my friend.
Only reason why North Korea has oil shortage is 1: there are no oil fields in north korea, do the math 2: Russia and China has stopped subsidizing free oil to North Korea. duh. (more like largely reduced aid) The fact that North Korea produces nothing that Yemen, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Iran wants except for Scud missiles is lost upon your limited mind. But for AC's communist defition of "normal trade", what he means is that Kim Jong Il, points a nuke at Seoul, US pays Saudi Arabia for oil, and sends oil to Kim Jong Il in lieu of hostage bargaining. Is this your definition of "normal trade?" I see that communists have a very different idea of "trade" then I do.
But of course, USA has no OBLIGATION whatsoever to have ANY trade with Kim JOng Il just as much as your favorite nation on earth China has no OBLIGATION to do any kind of trade with whatever other nation on earth. Does US control any strategic resource? No. We don't make OPEC's policies my friend. In fact we don't even control other resources such as diamond, platinum, you name it.
You said that we "forced" NK into going nuclear by threatening to drop a nuke on NK. Back in the 70's South Korean president Park CHung Hee initiated a secret nuclear weapons program against US wishes. THe reason was clear. Park was afraid that US would "leave" Korea, and also at the time North Korea was ahead of South Korea in terms of military power. The role is reversed in 2003. Today South Korea has greater military power, and North Korea probably lost her "nuclear shield" in the way of Russia and possibly China. Kim Jong Il has every reason to want a nuke--but how can you claim this is "America" forcing Kim Jong Il to have nukes? It really isn't such a problem far as USA is considered, that NK becomes nuclear. So what? As long as NK don't attack, then it matters not. What US is afraid of is, selling Yemen nuke tipped scuds. DO THE MATH!
One day radioactive waste my land on your head and on your family, because of your naivate.
ka
Monday, February 03, 2003 at 09:23:24 (PST)
[168.103.182.191]
tigger,
Bloody faith look to Democracy. USA killed Native American, Spainards, French, Brits and Blacks all in the name of "all men are created equal." hahahaha.
Our declaration should really read "All men are created equal when dead." hahahaha.
China's been mass producing nukes for ages.
The funny thing about the NK nuke program is that we forced the NK into it by threatening to drop a nuke on NK. We further complicated the situation by blocking normal trade of fossil fuels with them. Of course they need to find a fast alternative fuel source. So in effect NK is "killing two birds with one stone" by reviving their nuke program.
I think most people missed the point about Christianity's popularity. As with all things this popular on the planet, it needs to appeal to the poor masses.
The original key to its appeal was that it was not ethnically inclusive like Judism. The second key to its appeal was that all sins are forgivable.
Confucian teaching was only made popular by the ruling classes in the China over the ages. And further popularized by the teaching of Meng through the war period in China history.
I find the corrolation of Confucian teaching to religon more of a mis-interpretation by westerners. This goes back all the way to fact the first translations of Confucian works were translated by missionaries in HK. Confucian is probably more related to the Italian Machivalian's teaching summarized in "The Prince." A bunch of principle on how to run a society. Of course Confucius and Mencius works were more all encompassing because they even had thought about the nuclear family.
On the subject of religon even Buddist kill and call on their faith for justification.
AC Dropout
Monday, February 03, 2003 at 07:23:03 (PST)
[24.136.115.189]
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