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ASIAN AMERICAN ISSUES
Impact of Corean Unification
(Updated
Tuesday, Apr 1, 2008, 05:52:28 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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WHAT YOU SAY
[This page is closed to new input. --Ed.]
DC Observer,
You may claim that people don't understand global geopolitics because they don't agree with your delusional-grandiose chinese elitist thoughts, however, it appears you don't either.
All you do is rant and rave about how China is so powerful that it'll will swallow up Korea, Taiwan, the Phillippines. Why don't you just add India, Vietnam, and Indonesia to your list? Hell, why not start adding every country in the world to your list? It's clear that you're nothing but a Chinese Elitist and Nationalist, hellbent on proclaiming China's dominance [if it ever actually happens].
See, you think the same way that the Japanese and the Nazi's did during WWII. They felt as if they had the innate qualitites to dominate other countries. Your beliefs are far from being geopolitical. Your beliefs are on the fringes of the right-wing.
Do you think the U.S. or Russia would allow China to devour nations as you proclaim it eventually will? Keep in mind Russia is a more powerful country, and that most of the Chinese Military's arsenal is comprised of outdated-Soviet era weapons. Russia would destroy China in a heartbeat if it wanted to.
CSAA
Tuesday, March 11, 2003 at 15:40:02 (PST)
[208.40.16.230]
A message from the Secretariat of External Propaganda of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
-A Prayer to Omonim-
Our Leader Dear from Paekdu came
Descended in celestial flame
With newly dawning day declared
The Third Sunrise would soon be there
Again on Paekdu's snowy peaks
A babe was born, with rosy cheeks
Descending on a brilliant beam
Which sprung from humble Omonim
A star of wisdom, pure and bright
To Party's Center he alights
Descending from Mount Paekdu's heights
To Party's Center he alights
Hail Omonim! Exalted Mother
A strong heart beats near Party's Center
With loving hands you do provide
Our daily needs, our Party's pride
O'er our battalions mighty roar
Your voice rings clear, we can't ignore
As you exhort our ranks to fight
The jackals who invade at night
Imperialists with ships at sea
Are no match for our unity
We'll strike the invaders with one hand
And drive them from our Glorious Land
In unison we sing this prayer
From all Koreans everywhere
Eternal is our Leader Dear
Our love for him burns bright and pure
A hundred million voices praise
The flag of unity we raise
The people's banner, red and blue
We dedicate our lives to you
The colors of our glorious banner
Our Revolutionary hammer
The courage of our Leader Dear
Instills our enemies with fear
Defend the Principle of Juche
Our enemies will go away
With heads hung low, in bitter defeat
As their prideful words they eat
A hundred million voices rise
And fill the thunderous mountain skies
With words of praise for our Party's might
That terrorize our enemies in flight
And where is Omonim, so fair?
Her keen eye watches everywhere
Her faithful heart beats clean and clear
As she remains aside our Leader Dear
Hail Omonim! Exalted Mother
A strong heart beats near Party's Center!
--S. H. Lee
Functionary Second Class
Secretariat for External Propaganda
Democratic People's Republic of Korea
S.H. Lee
Monday, March 10, 2003 at 13:18:39 (PST)
[63.164.145.161]
CSAA, you really don't understand the dynamics of global geopolitics. Just because a country (like Korea) is technologically advanced, has rich mineral deposits, potential for hydroelectricity, etc., doesn't mean that it cannot be dominated and engulfed by a huge, more powerful neighbor. In fact, these qualities of Korea make it an even more tempting target.
I am not saying this will happen overnight, but it *will* happen. Remember, Iraq invaded its smaller, weaker neighbor Kuwait in 1990-91, and it was only because of happenstance and luck -- the US intervention -- that Kuwait is not now fully integrated into Iraq as a province.
But the US (let us hope) would know better than to stand up to China over the relatively small nation of Korea. It is simply not in the US long-term or short-term interests to intervene in either the Korean situation or the Taiwan dispute. In fact, all things considered, it is emphatically VERY MUCH in the US long-term and short-term interest to simply let China gradually absorb both Korea (all of it, North and South) and also Taiwan.
Why, you ask? Simple. A continuation of these disputes is much more of a geopolitical threat to the US than a scenario where China takes control of the entire Korean Penninsula and Taiwan (and maybe the Phillipines, too.)
The Korean Penninsula would be much safer and less threatening under Chinese control because it would eliminate the wild-card of a rabidly anti-American North Korea ruled by a Stalinist clique, armed with nukes and threatening its neighbors and the US like a loose cannon. If China controlled *ALL* of the Korean penninsula, the systems of North and South Korea could be merged into a single peaceful entity. Yes, it would be a one-party state (like China), but China would easily permit Korea to maintain a thriving capitalist economy. Just as certain parts of China (like Hong Kong) are now, most of the penninsula would be largely Communist in name only. China would guarantee peace and tranquility on the penninsula. The threat to the US would be removed.
The same goes for Taiwan and maybe even the Phillipines. In fact, the Phillipines would be safer under Chinese control than it is now. China would take responsibility for containing the Islamic militants and terrorists in the southern Phillipines, etc. The problem would be China's, not America's.
Japan is perhaps the one country in East Asia that is probably better off -- despite its current economic mess -- maintaining its political sovereignty in the 21st Century. The reason is because Japan has a long heritage, highly educated and sophisticated population, strong democratic traditions since the end of the Second World War, and deeply-revered culture which is quite different from China's. Also, its population is much greater than any of the other countries except China.
It is clear that Korea (North and South) would be better off ruled as a province of China, that is fully integrated into China. I really, personally don't care if the Korean alphabet, language, and culture is lost because we have to get used to change in this world.
In 100 years, there will probably only be a few languages spoken in this world, i.e. Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese), Hindi, English, Swahili, Arabic, Russian, Spanish, Portuguese, Indonesian and that's about all. All other languages will just be learned in history books.
I say the first step toward getting rid of the "Korean problem" is to withdraw US troops allow China to march in over a 10 year period, if they sign a treaty allowing the residents of southern Korea to continue a free enterprise system. All the rest of it, the Chinese can administer.
DC Observer
Sunday, March 09, 2003 at 12:09:28 (PST)
[131.216.163.92]
Yehenala,
I think the talks must be multi-lateral between the US, China, South Korea, Japan and Russia.
What complicates matters are poorly stated diplomacy and China/Russia insistence that the US get ourselves out of a mess that we helped to incite.
You cannot state to the world that we believe that diplomatic means are still viable with NK and then order 24 additional bombers to Guam. That's inconsistent. That is duplicitous. George W. Bush is making unwise remarks. When a US president makes those types of inconsistent statements, it arouses suspicion, creates further instability and cause world leaders to wonder who's calling the shots. It raises questions about Bush's true motives. The international community begins to believe that, perhaps, we're not being forthright.
It's important to note that North Korean hostility is an Asian question. Who takes over if Kim Jong II's regime is dismantled? Do we bring in our own new US sanctioned regime? Can China and South Korea absorb North Korea's population after a devastating Kim Jong fall? These questions must be dealt with by other Asian countries in that particular region.
We cannot impose a pax Americana. US armed conflict in North Korea will lead to even greater uncertainty.
If our military is forced to act against NK, then it must be by conventional means. We, strictly, cannot afford to engage nuclear conflict in the year 2003.
India and Pakistan are just waiting for a legitimate reason to use their nuclear arsenal.
A US nuclear strike against NK will provide that legitimacy.
Geoff DB
GeoffDB02@aol.com
Saturday, March 08, 2003 at 17:26:40 (PST)
[68.164.176.104]
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