Despite some of the drastic differences between North and South Korea, the goal of reunification looms large over both halves of the peninsula. We are already well aware of the political, economic, and cultural nature of these differences, and how a 60 year period of isolation has solidified them. What, according to the reading, are some of the different possibilities for reunification? Which ones seems more plausible? What are some of the items at stake?
It may help to think of other instances of reunification from history--consider Germany, and even the North and South United States to help you grasp the concept.
The South had gotten a more stable economy in all those time, and a better form of government. On of the possibilities of reunification was therefor that the South would absorb the North. Another possibility was the military annexation of the North. But the South rather wanted to collaborate in peace with the north. So the South proposed peaceful coexistance.
ReplyDeleteSome of the different possibilities for reunification are absorption, force, consensus, and trusteeship. The cost for Korea unification under unification by force is "to high to calculate". This also goes for unification by absorption. Absorption may cause a severe drop in the standard of living in South Korea. According to the reading, unification by consensus is has the same effect of absorption. Some of the items at stake include stability, common identity, and self-sufficiency. To be honest, I'm not sure which seems more plausible. .
ReplyDeleteI think the only possible circumstance to which there will be reunification is if North Korea and the "royal family" they have over there finally comes to their senses and realizes how desperate they are. The citizens of North Korea are treated terribly by police, there isn't a sufficient amount of water or food, and living conditions are horrible. If the North Korean "government" finally realizes how badly their people are suffering, maybe they will seek help from South Korea, but in my opinion that is highly unlikely. I hope it happens, but it is highly unlikely.
ReplyDeleteThe article touches on the four processes of unification: by absorption, by force, by consensus, and by trusteeship. Like the article states, the first two are quite plausible knowing the strength of the South Korean side. However, the things at stake greatly affect the ability for this to happen. One of these is the cost and casualty factor, with the article stating that with just a preliminary plan set in 1994 to attack the North, casualties could top 1 million at the "early stages". And the second two aren't as easy either. The article mentions all of the obstacles the two countries must face during compromise, such as finding a common identity, etc. Overall it seems as if there are too many negative outcomes of reunifying Korea. If it hasn't happened in the past few decades, I doubt it will happen in the future, no matter which method is chosen.
ReplyDeletewell there are definitely many possibilities, as the reading states, "If successful unification, including peaceful political change, economic prosperity, a stable society, and harmony without discrimination, cannot be guaranteed" but the most important part of this is that nothing can be guaranteed. Especially since the seemingly unspoken opinion of many, (outside north Korea), is that the north Korean government should not be as involved in the process of absorption, or however they decide to merge, simply because they've just become too weird in the eyes of the other nations that would force their help upon the Korea's and possibly even to the South Koreans, they've just been too isolated for too long to be able to come to an agreement which is where all the negative possibilities come in..
ReplyDeleteI think of the ways to unite the Korean peninsula (Absorption, force, consensus, trusteeship), Unification by force would in my opinion, be the way that would come about first out of the four. Both countries are allied with opposing countries so if these countries wanted to threaten one another, they would back up their side and go at it. I also think that the leaders of south korea and their action to wait for consensus to happen will not rewarded. The north is to far gone in my opinion and like the article said, the two half's are so different that it would be very hard to unite them under one common leader that both sides support.
ReplyDeleteAccording to tonight's reading, basically there are 5 ways of reunification, (Absorption like Germany; Force like us cicil war; Consensus like unsuccessfully carried in Yemen; Trusteeship like they had since 1945 that two halfselve of the peninsula administered by us and russia). Firstly, means like force would excluded due to astronomically unaffordable budget and causalities which may reach over 1 million at the early stage. Then, in case of absorption, it also may just exceed South Korea's national budget by around $500 billion not to mention that the drastically gapped social and psychological barrier that would be almost impossible to overcome. Just like the reading says, the consensus plan may just be almost the same as the absorption regime cause the astronomically economic and social difference like per capital income, total trading amount and international relationship. The last one's problem is both half selves of the peninsula's eager for self-determination, each side's
ReplyDeleteseemly uncompromisiable partisan interest and NK's brinkmanship with nuclear weapon development plan.
it's actually 4 means...
DeletePlus, i like the reading's way of describing the reunification as to work the chemistry and combine two different element as one. And the vocabulary "Astronomically" sounds smart.
There are four different ways of reunification that are discussed in the reading. These are: absorption, force, consensus, and trusteeship. It is very difficult to think of which one is most plausible because I find it unlikley that North Korea, being as ignorant as they have been for the past 6 decades won't find a reason to reunify. Even though there are plenty. Poor living conditions and not enough food supplies to start. So given this, the only way I think they would reunify is by force.
ReplyDeleteReunification is highly unlikely at the moment because North Korea are trying to prove a point that are powerful and stronger independent. Of course, this is entirely true as their people are suffering as a result of generations of poor leadership, and bad standards of living. North Korea will continue to try and intimidate other countries, especially South Korea, as we saw earlier this year. This is all just for show, and I don't think anything will happen in the short run.
ReplyDeleteAs other people have mentioned, the four different ways of reunification were absorption, force, consensus, and trusteeship, which all revolve around the underlying goal: stability. Of these, trusteeship is the least plausible given it is the source of the divided Korean Peninsula. Reunification by military force was far too costly, and would make it impossible to cover a common identity, so it was ruled out. A lot of debate is seen in the article regarding absorption and consensus, and it seems consensus was the preferred. The south wanted "coexistence, collaboration, and cooperation" with the North, although this mean of reunification was more difficult then absorption given the different social structures, economics, and political systems of the North and South.
ReplyDeleteAny sort of absorbing North Korea into one solid country is almost unattainable at this point in time without major aid from a world power, as Mikey said in class yesterday. The North is so far behind in industry and technology and agriculture, everything that you can really think of when trying to picture a growing society, North Korea lacks. There would have to be a major coming together between the two governments. While in the reading, it states that the south wants cooperation and collaboration, I do not think that the South wants to absorb the North into one country by any means. The South understands what an undertaking that would be.
ReplyDeleteIn term of items at state, the general well being of the North Korean public is one. Their consistent undernourishment, and general lack of human necessities such as electricity that is certainly a worthy cause. Assuming the populous of North Korea are willing. Although they have been quoted to death in previous blogs the perhaps most plausible methods to achieve reunification are Absorption, force, consensus, trusteeship to
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