Asian Studies

    The British plays an important role in Indias history. While the English venture in India started as early as 1600, following the formation of the English East India Company, the extension of the British formation in the country could be traced during the 18th century (India, 2002).  This involvement could be broken up into points the first t mid-century and the other at the end at mid-century.

     At the start of the British involvement, the focus was mainly for trading purposes. The establishment of the company was proof of that. However, as the British presence expanded, the British merchants found themselves with increasing yet undefined power in India.  By the middle of the 18th century, Britain and France had started to battle for colonial supremacy (Goff, Moss, Terry, Upshur, 1993). Indias location, linking the East and the Europe, made the country a big prey.  By 1760s, the British had won over France (1993). Thus began the countrys extension of British power.  By 1765, the British Empire had had India as a territorial dominion. This meant that British had started to exercise its political power in India, with the state now intervening with affairs of the East India Company (India, 2002).

    Towards the end of the century, British had control of not only the province of Bengal but also the other states, to Delhi and even some parts of southern India.  By this time, the extension of the political power had exerted into a social, economic, and military kind. The British administration had started to introduce measurements which they thought would benefit the India. This includes correcting Indian practices viewed as wrong by Western standards like sati or burning of upper-caste widows alive on their husbands funeral pyres  (Goff, Moss, Terry, UIpshur, 1993).  Used to the idea of political unity and lordship, the Indians took on the British ways, admiring them for being more successful.  However, the old ruling class did not easily adopt the British. 

    The Mughal Empire, at its heyday, was noted for its rather resourceful and centralized organization, focusing on a wide array of personnel, money, and information devoted to the service of the emperor and his nobility.

    The success of the Mughal Empire could be attributed to the swelling commercial and cultural tries of India to the outside world. After all, the 16th and 17th centuries expanded Indias trading with European and non-European trading companies in the subcontinent (McNall Burns, Ralph, Lerner, Meacham, 1986). Aside from the military conquests that ensued during the Mughal Empire, one prominent feature of it, particularly during Akbars reign was the establishment of a cogent administrative structure as well as a clear policy, enabling the Mughal Empire to have an established foundation (1986).  In addition, the Mughal Empire was also responsible for a revenue system that proved advantageous towards both the peasants and the state.  In the same line, the Mughal society, under Akbar, experienced the development of a coinage system (1986).

    However, the centralization measures were also the start of the downfall of the Mughal Empire.  Everything was controlled by the Emperor, even the shipping fleets, and this ultimately led to resistance and rebellion in some people. There were also growing tension between the Muslims and the non-Muslims. Soon, political and decentralization took place, resulting in the decline of the Mughal empire.
     Political and economic centralization is beneficial if all ties strong, meaning there is a strong sense of interdependence among all aspects of society.  However, when there are only few power- holders, there would really come a time when the majority would react and insists their independence.   The start of the Mughal Empire was positive but its end decayed.  In hindsight, the Mughal Empire offered prosperity for the rich and hardship for the poor- in other words, it was doomed from the start. At its finest, it gave birth to Akbars administrative methods and a sound currency.

    By 1857, the British that absolute control over the Indian subcontinent- establishing an authoritarian system of government (India, 2002).  However, given Indias steeped tradition, the country had yet to fully embrace the British rule. In fact, the colony had witnessed social dislocation, the result of the gap between traditions and the new Western concept.  The Sepoy Mutiny on 1857 is an example of the growing conflicts between the Indians and the British.

    The cause of the Sepoy Mutiny was rooted in military parlance.   The British had started to supply breech-loading Enfield rifles, which had to be bitten off before putting n (India, 2002). The ammunition was of mixed beef and pork, which offended both Muslims and Hindus (2002). Naturally, the Sepoys did not want to use this and although the British had retrieved them, the damage was already done and the seed of anger had already been planted.  This resulted in Sepoys killing British soldiers (2002).  This went on and turned into a full-scale revolt.

    But it was not only the simple Indians that had started to get on the spirit of the Indian nationalism. Several English educated young Indians had also gone on with the nationalism fever. These included Mahadev Ranade, who founded the Poona Public Society, a provincial political association and Gangaddhar Tilka, a journalist who went on to criticize the British rule  in print (India, 2002).  Special mention should also be given to Rammohun Roy, the man most Indians called The Maker of Modern India (2002). The mans idea of change was rooted in religious modernism that could go at up with the progressive movement that was influencing Western countries.

    With any colony, it is expected that at some point, the colonists would seek their independence. This was clearly manifested by the Indians during the British reign.  The seeds of revolution could come from uneducated people to the most educated. It just goes to show that change happens, that the environment helps in shaping up peoples thoughts and emotions.

    Starting out as a trading relationship, the Britain- India relationship turned into a colony relationship.  With the lines of contact blurred, the British managed to totally control India.   This writer agrees that the British rule, although marred by disputes, helped the Indian achieve modern nationalism.  India, as aforementioned, is a country immense in traditions, and during the British reign, they were able to gain ideas about social reform and popular sovereignty. In other words, the reign had a purpose although perhaps the British at the tie thought of only in terms of colony.  The Indians became aware of other cultures and ideas which only made them more nationalistic.  In fact, at one point, to show anti-British sentiment, the Indians refused to attend and consume British goods and schools. But at the same, they were opened to new ideas and reforms.  These included the aforementioned abolition of satti as well as the Age of Consent Act in 1892, which increased the marriageable age of girls (Goff, Moss, Terry, Upshur, 1993).  Furthermore, it had completely changed the nature of Indian upper-class society for not only did they want independence, they wanted independence that was modelled after the successful Western countries.

    In terms of the economy, the British were able to improve Indias economy through railroad development.  It paved the way for the countrys trading opportunities.  The British colonization also proved beneficial in terms of education. It used to be that Indian girls did not go to school. However, the arrival of the English changed that and in 1849, British missionaries established the first educational institution for girls (Goff, Moss, Terry, Upshur, 1993).

Answers to Questions
Book Overholt, William H. 2007. Asia, America, and the Transformation of Geopolitics. Cambridge Cambridge University Press.

What is the authors view of the future of East Asia
The end of the Cold War will usher a new age of confrontation and fear. The author offers the following scenarios (as to the future of East Asia)
Cold War institutions would remain in place. An uneasy balance between mutual economic progress and geopolitical competition is the likely result of conflicting political ideologies
There is a renewed Cold War. US-China military tensions will engulf East Asia. A US-Japan-Indian alliance against China will emerge. Taiwan will be drawn into the conflict
There is a partial withdrawal of the United States in the region. This could potentially entangle Sino-Japanese relations
Globalization will end. Reforms in China seem to indicate a vicious cycle of trade and investment protectionism. Stocks markets will collapse because of these policies.
What are his two most persuasive pieces of evidence for his views
The United States currently filed an economic complained against China in the World Trade Organization. The United States accused China of initiating protectionist reforms in the economy. In response to this complain, China promised to float the Chinese currency. However, China seems reluctant. In response, the US increased military aid to Taiwan
France and the Netherlands voted against the ratification of the European constitution (which will spell the end of globalization). The Doha trade round achieved nothing. In the US, advocates of protectionism are beginning to dominate the Congress.
Do you agree with the authors view of the future
The shifting of geopolitical alliances will occur in the future as this is a fact of history. Globalization however will not collapse in the next 50 years. Economic integration is the fact de jure goal of prosperity. Note that today, Europe is considered a single economic body moving towards political integration. The end of globalization is an illusion.

Being widely acclaimed to be authors masterpiece, Chikamatsus The Love Suicides at Amijima, directly confronts the question of what it means to die in love-suicide.  Along the lines of the play, Chikamatsu portrays this everlasting passion They swore in the last letters they exchanged that if only they could meet, that day would be their last (Chikamatsu, 1997, p.178).  Although Chikamatsu Monzaemon composed The Love Suicides at Amijima back in the eighteenth century, theme of love has been already perceived beyond the image of a body consumed by the fires of love (Chikamatsu, 1997, p.178).  From the critical perspective, the issues raised by Chikamatsu in The Love Suicides at Amijima reflect the ultimate and largely universal nature of a human embedded between two driving forces, libido and morbido.  Although this statement constitutes a broad speculation of Freuds psychoanalytical idea, if examined critically a desire to love and be loved is deeply rooted in human nature.  Moreover, themes and illustrations of forbidden love, rejected libido and suicide are scattered across western and eastern art and literature from Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet to Akira Kurosawas cinematography and thus are universal.

From the critical perspective, love constitutes one of a few truly universal characteristics of human nature regardless of ones culture.  For instance, 1 Corinthians depicts love as not rude, not self-seeking, not easily angered, that keeps no record of wrongs (1 Corinthians 1313).  Chikamatsu explains that even the love of a prostitute is deep beyond measure its a bottomless sea of affection that cannot be emptied or dried (Chikamatsu, 1997, p.171). Being portrayed as not the ideal tradesman of Osaka and rather one of the unsuccessful members of a profession that demanded a high level of diligence and devotion, Chikamatsus Jihei is ultimately devoted to his passionate but hopeless love to Koharu.  Practically, Jihei is surrounded by love love between man and woman, husband and wife, father and children, younger brother and elder brother. He tries to control his overpowering love for Koharu - in fact, a part of him desires nothing more than to live up to what society expects of him as a husband and father.  Torn between the two opposing worlds of duty (giri) and private desires (ninjo), Jihei is forced over and over to reject his home and family.  Like any other human nature, Jiheis nature is impulsive and changeable.  He begs Gozaemon, Osans father Please, let me stay with Osan. I promise that even if I become a beggar or an outcast and must sustain life with the scraps that fall from other peoples chopsticks (Chikamatsu, 1997, p.195).  From the critical western cultural perspective, in his quickness of tongue, his impulsiveness and his fear of being shamed in public, Jihei represents a typical representative of males so vividly portrayed by western female songwriters like Joni Mitchell Be careful now - when you court young men,  They are like the stars  On a summer morning,  They sparkle up the night,  And theyre gone again,  Daybreak - gone again (Mitchell, 1977).  In the end, Jiheis love for Koharu makes a double suicide seem as the only course opened to him.  Jihei is caught into moral debt but since love keeps no record of wrongs, he chooses love.

Perhaps traditionally for the literature and cultural reception, women constitute the brighter side of human nature, and Chikamatsu follows this same pattern illustrating Koharu and Osan in The Love Suicides at Amijima. Chikamatsus Osan is a model wife, according to the Confucian ideal of the samurai class.  Practically, she is much more than the ideal woman, passive and obedient, as defined by the feudal code.  She is modest, devoted to her unfaithful husband, and even a better merchant than he is.  Osan manages both home and the business without complaint, and considers no sacrifice too great in order to maintain his reputation in the community. When the interests of her husband are at stake, she takes the initiative - she writes to Koharu and pleads for Jiheis life. She also pawns some of her clothes to raise money to pay the bills.  Moreover, she is the one who makes the decision that Koharu be saved and the one who finds the necessary means.  Traditionally to eastern tradition, Osan is a woman perfected to the point of incredibility.  Western tradition describes love as patient and kind, one that does not envy...does not boast, .. is not proud (1 Corinthians 1313).  In accord with this tradition, Chikamatsus Osan out of love for her husband and duty to her two children, asks Koharu to give up Jihei.  She has to overcome her grief, as well as her jealousy, and to pretend she has never been deceived.  Koharu, in return, has to transcend her love and promise to leave Jihei, for the sake of his family.  She realizes how painful love could be and, even though she wishes to be loved, she forces herself to suppress that desire.  For Koharu, the happiness of the beloved is precious, and the highest proof of love is to say nothing, to efface herself and be forgotten.  In speaking of her, Osan says When a woman - I no less than another - has given herself completely to a man, she does not change (Chikamatsu, 192).  It is typical of Chikamatsus attitude (and attitudes expressed by western writers, for instance, Leo Tolstoy in his Resurrection) toward women, whether wife or courtesan, that is they who exhibit the greater virtue and uprightness.  In The Love Suicides at Amijima, expressing the duty to a fellow woman, that both Osan and Koharu feel towards each other, Osan says to Jihei I felt so unhappy that I wrote a letter, begging her as one woman to another to break with you... She answered that she would give you up, though you were more precious than life itself, because she could not shirk her duty to me (Chikamatsu, 1997, p. 192). Nevertheless, when she realizes that Koharu is about to die alone, Osan melts in tears and asks her husband to go and save her.  She cries Alas Id be failing in the obligations I owe her as another woman if I allowed her to die. Please go to her at once. Dont let her kill herself (Chikamatsu, 1997, p.192).  However, when Chikamatsus audience is almost relieved from the pressure of this drama, the real tragic story of forbidden love unfolds.

From the critical perspective, the lovers, Jihei and Koharu, make the choice before the curtain opens - after that, every thought and act of theirs is on this course. They are only expecting the chance to meet and to kill themselves.  However, the couple, as well as the audience, has to wait for completion of the known fact. Chikamatsu makes their goal extremely difficult to reach as he first blocks all their attempts to meet and die for love, and later, during michiyuki, constantly reminds them of the consequences of their act.  Chikamatsu makes those consequences painful and unpleasant - the lovers are never allowed to turn their backs on this world in order to look only to a bright future in the next life.  According to western tradition, forbidden love usually contains some tragical element in itself, and so it does in The Love Suicides at Amijima its michiyuki is a journey through a purgatorial realm where the lovers are forced to suffer the outcome of passion.
The long tradition of the journey passage, which grew so well on the Japanese soil, brings forth its finest product in the conclusion of The Love Suicides at Amijima. This crucial journey to death follows the typical pattern of Chikamatsus plays - a metaphorical movement down to hell, up to death at dawn, and a culminating vision of happiness in paradise.  As the lovers escape from the Quarter, Chikamatsu describes them forging forward, where an inch ahead are the tortures of hell (Chikamatsu, 1997, p. 201).  In the cold night, two lovers set out seeking death during their journey, they triumph over a thousand hesitations and, at its end, reach the salvation.

    Reading Chikamatsus The Love Suicides at Amijima, one may wonder why author is so humanistic towards his heroes and human nature in general.  The answer perhaps is embedded in general belief expressed by both eastern and western cultures in good origin of a man.  If assessed critically, the phrase ten no ami derived from Shinju tenno Amijima (The Love Suicides at Amijima) refers to the statement of Taoist canon, according to which Heavens net is wide Coarse are the meshes, Yet nothing slips through.  This suggests an idea of justice in which any deeds on this earth, good or bad, will return to the doer.  It is a concept of retribution by which good will infallibly be rewarded with good, and evil with evil.  The theme of the divine punishment (bachi) that awaits Chikamatsus heroes, who can not avoid suffering and death in return for their acts, runs through the entire play.  Simultaneously, the title refers also to another net, chikai no ami (vows net), which is clarified by the lines of The Love Suicides at Amijima The tale is spread from mouth to mouth. People say that they who were caught is the net of Buddhas vow immediately gained salvation and deliverance, and all who hear the tale of the Love Suicides at Amijima are moved to tears (Chikamatsu, 1997, p.170).  This Buddhist phrase (chikai no ami) is found in Japanese classical poetry and drama and refers to the saving net in the vow of Amida Nyorai to help any and all who call his name.  Chikamatsu evidently supports the salvation path for his heroes, as at the moment of the greatest suffering. Koharu expresses her faith in a happy future together, based on her devotion to the Lotus Sutra and on Buddhas mercy. With her declaration of faith, they cross the Kyo (Sutra) and Onari Bridges (Chikamatsu, 1997, p.201). The journey turns upward and they enter the merciful world of Amida.  In this, last part of the michiyuki, faith in the Lotus Sutra guides the pair into Amidas saving net. Even though their suicides are opposite to the path of Buddhism, their journey is directed towards Amidas Paradise. Jihei and Koharu have symbolically become Buddhas - their suffering led them to the other shore (nirvana) and to the resting place of Amijima.

In his The Love Suicides at Amijima Chikamatsu examines the complexity of human nature.  According to Chikamatsu, evidently there is no earthly solution for the conflict of forbidden love, of giri and ninjo.  In the case of Jihei and Koharu and similarly to other instances vividly depicted in western literature, this unending dilemma between the socially correct behavior based on reason, and natural instincts, including libido and morbido, concluded with the choice of death.  Interestingly, in Chikamatsuian humanistic terms, death has existential nature.   The power of Chikamatsus The Love Suicides at Amijima emanates from the theme of the merciless and existential confrontation with death - its central crisis is not whether the lovers will commit suicide, but when it will happen.  Since the whole drama stands on the threshold of death, its dramatic tension lies in lovers hazardous waiting for the chance to die and thus existentially evolve.

Senator Hiram Fong is one of Americas most celebrated citizens.  Against staggering odds, he rose to become the first Asian in American government.  Born the seventh of eleven children to an indentured servant and maid, he grew up poor.  One is compelled to wonder how this man, who came from less than optimal beginnings rose to the top so swiftly.  Firstly, it is his strong work ethic and unwavering desire to achieve the American dream that drove him to the upper echelon of Hawaiian society and politics.

Perhaps Fongs impressive ethics stemmed from the fact that he began working when he was only four years old.  From the age of four to seven he worked as an algarroba picker.  He earned ten cents for each thirty pound bag that he sold.  He next worked as a newspaper delivery boy and shoe shiner.  He sold fish, crab and made poi deliveries while maintaining his grammar school studies and chores at home.  It is a difficult to reconcile the image of a child worker with the polished distinguished man whose portrait proudly hangs in government buildings.

Secondly, it is his academic career that led to his success.  Fong always managed to maintain honor status in his academics.  He put himself through college and due to lack of funds, he had to interrupt his academic career.  Never loosing focus though, he held down two jobs simultaneously while attending college.  Likewise for law school.  Fong had to interrupt his legal studies due to lack of funds.  Undeterred, he attended Harvard Law school at Cambridge and graduated with honors.  He returned to Hawaii and founded his own law firm and was the head of several Committees.  It is the internal determination and wavering spirit of independence that helped Fong become a stunning success.

Korea was formerly a unified nation until 1948 when it was split into North and South Korea. North Korea is a single party communist country that was founded by Kim II-Sung. South Korea on the other hand is a democratic, capitalist and developed country. The division of Korea into two can be attributed to the United States and Soviet Union influence on the region. After Japan colonized Korea in 1910, resentment and animosity between the Japanese and the Koreans increased as Japan made efforts to suppress the Korean culture and language. The surrender of Japan to the Allied powers in 1945 was followed by the division of South and North when the United States which had control over the South and the Soviet Union which controlled the North failed to agree on how to merge the two. Up to date, the division along the 38th parallel and the establishment of a Demilitarized Zone continues to divide the two (Breen, 2004). Conflicts between the two countries have had negative impact on the relations between the two and currently, the relations have been strained by North Koreas threats against the South. Furthermore, North Korea   has threatened to enforce strict border controls with the South. . The establishment of the Korean Institute for National Unification has made great impact on the unification process of Korea. In this paper, the interrelations between South and North Korea will be discussed how economic cooperation between them has improved relations. In addition, the success of the unification process and the factors that hinder this unification will be evaluated
Thesis statement
    The interrelations between North and South Korea have not been good due to the hostility between the two as a result of political differences (Oh and Hassig, 2000). The Korean Peninsula was divided into two by differences in political ideologies of the United States and the Soviet Union. The signing of an armistice between the Republic of Korea and the Democratic peoples Republic of Korea in 1953 has not succeeded in ending conflicts between the two countries. Occasional skirmishes and change in relations have continued to be witnessed between the countries (Breen, 2004). However, the presence of North Korean workers in South Korea and vice versa has eliminated the barrier that has separated people of the two countries. The unification process has received support from the   governments of South Korea and North Korea.However the two have also played a major role   in undermining the success of the unification process. 
Discussion
    The conflict between North and South Korea was triggered by the occupation of the Soviet forces up to the 38th parallel after Japan colonial rule ended in Korea. The establishment of a political border between North and South Korea has continued to create more problems in the Korean Peninsula. Although North Korea invaded the South, an intervention by the United Nations and the US maintained the border at the 38th parallel. This led to the creation of a Korean Demilitarized Zone which is a 2.5 mile wide buffer zone that separates North and South Korea after signing of an armistice between the two.However, the withdrawal of North Korea from the armistice it signed on May 27th 2009 has led to the return of a state of war between the two.
    Good relations between North and South Korea have been boosted in the past by economic cooperation. In 1988, a two-way trade between the two was legalized. Economic benefits that the two countries derive from the cooperation has allowed assembly work and out-processing of the South Korean firms in North Korean Kaesong Industrial region. In addition, growth in trade between the two has made the Republic of Korea (South Korea) the second largest trading partner of North Korea after China. In 2000, a north South June Summit improved inter-Korea relations. This can be attributed to the reconnection of East and West coast railroads as well as roads near the demilitarized zone. The improvement of transport routes has facilitated trade and commercial activities between the two (Yang, 1999).Another aspect of economic cooperation that has encouraged good relations is tourism. Tourism in the two countries improved since 2003 when tour groups were able to use the east coast road to move from South Koreas to North Koreas Mt. Geumgang region. The success of cruise ship based tours since 1998 has gone a long way in encouraging good relations and economic cooperation.
     Despite the tension and poor relations between North and South Korea, the establishment of South Korean firms in Kaesong Industrial Complex has been appreciated for creating employment to thousands of north Korean workers .This initiative has also reduced hostility between the two countries. Most of the products from these firms are sold in South Korea while the remaining quantity is exported to the foreign markets. Since the 1950- 1953 Korean War, the relations between north and South Korea have been strained.  Official contact between the two never occurred until 1971 when family reunification projects were launched. Families were divided by the separation of North and South Korea and the need to reunite the families has been advocated for. The relations improved in the early 1990s when the 1991 basic agreement was signed. This agreement was also referred to as Agreement on Reconciliation, Non-Aggression and Exchanges and cooperation between the South and the North. This agreement acknowledged that the two governments would work towards reunification and a peaceful Korean Peninsula. Furthermore, the 1992 Joint Declaration of the Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula boosted good relations between the two countries because denuclearization promoted regional security and peace between the two.   
    By 1994, a cycle of cooling and warming relations was evident. One reason why the relations were strained was the different positions that were taken by the two in relation to the process of reunifications. The demands of each country   could not be reconciled and the issue of North Korean nuclear weapon programs increased more tension. By the early 1990s, South Koreas domestic politics were in chaos and together with the death of North Korean leader Kim II-Sung in 1994 affected the stability of the region and interrelations between the two. However, the election of Kim Dae-Jung in 1995 improved the relations. Kim Dae-Jung sunshine policy engaged the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea which paved the way for the historic inter-Korean Summit in June 2000. This summit brought together the North Korean leader Kim Jong-il and the South Korean president to discuss the issues that affected their countries.
    Tension between the two arose when North Korea in October 2002 acknowledged that it had a program to enrich uranium in order to produce nuclear weapons. The Peoples Republic of China and the United States became concerned about this and hence proposed that multilateral talks be held among the concerned parties. China and its neighbors succeeded in convincing North Korea to meet with the US and China in April, 2003. North Korea in August 2002 agreed to end the pursuit for nuclear weapons by attending six party talks with US, Russia and Japan. In February and June of 2004, six party talks of the Republic of Korea, United States, China, Japan and North Korea were meant to deal with this issue. The third round of six party talks had the US make a comprehensive proposal to eliminate North Koreas nuclear weapons programs. Between July and September 2005, talks in two sessions to address North Koreas nuclear weapons issues were held. This was a sign of good relations in future.
    On October 19, 2005, a Joint Statement of principles had North Korea confirming its commitment to abandon the nuclear weapons program. This normalized the relations between the South and the North with the assistance of Japan and the United States (Springer, 2003). However, North Korea boycotted the six-party talks in late 2005 and throughout 2006 and this again strained the inter-Korea relations. On October 2006, North Korea announced that it had a successful nuclear test. Six-party talks resumed in 2006 December and by July 2007, North Korea shut down its nuclear facility at Yongbyon. However, South Koreas assistance of HFO and energy to the north improved relations.
    Despite the poor relations between North and South Korea, the presence of North Korean workers at the South Korean -owned Kaesong Industrial Region(KIC)  in the North has increased  economic cooperation between the two (Nanto,2006). The Kaesong Industrial Complex is located in the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea in a region next to the demilitarized zone. The over 50 medium sized South Korean companies currently employ thousands of North Korean citizens. This South Korean planned, developed and financed the complex. The complex is considered to be a symbol of the improving relations and growing level of engagement between the two. Furthermore, the complex is supported by the United States which supports good inter-Korea relations. This has played a major role in promoting economic ties between the North and South. The complex is South Koreas strategy to reduce tensions with the North and an increase in foreign exchange for the Pyongyang communist government has been attributed to the complex. Great liberalization of North Koreas economy is promoted by the countrys economic reforms that support the KIC. The project has continued to enhance cooperation between D.P.R.K and South Korea
    Another issue that has improved cooperation between the north and South Korea is the establishment of a South Korean chicken chain in North Korea. This business chain is managed by Choi Won-ho and its first branch opened in 2008.The fast food franchise owns about 70 stores in South Korea. As result of the business success in North Korea, the business is estimated to generate about 1,000 each day. The proprietor has confirmed that the chain will be opening another outlet if it gets approval from the North Korean officials who he is planning to meet. Many customers who buy food at the chain belong to the North Korean elite group. The success of the business is great despite the current lack of North Koreas official contact with the South (Sudworth, 2009).
    These two cases can be compared with the falling of Berlin wall in 1989. There are some similarities between the falling of Berlin wall on 9th November 1989 and the economic cooperation that is being witnessed in the Korean Peninsula. The Berlin wall was built in 1961 and kept the West and East Germany apart up to November 9, 1981 when people were allowed to move across the border. The 28 mile barrier was elected in order to restrict the movement of people and acted as a commercial barrier between East and West Germany. The falling of the wall led to the reunification of Germany on October 1990(Thackeray, 2004). Just like the Berlin wall limited the movement of people in Germany, the Demilitarized Zone in Korea has been a barrier for the South and North citizens to interact. The capitalist economy of West Germany showed growth while the communist economy of East Germany continued to decline before the unification (Beckers, 2007). Similary, South Koreas capitalist economy has been growing while North Koreas economy has been experiencing problems. Efforts by the South to boost economic growth of the North have been through economic cooperation and financial assistance. The opening of the border between South and North Korea in 2000 was important for unification because it improved the relations between the two. For instance, the commercial barrier between South and North Korea was broken by the agreement reached in 2000.This has increased economic cooperation and trade across borders. The falling of Berlin wall consolidated the economies of the two regions after unification. The commercial barrier that was broken by the falling of the Berlin Wall has been broken again by the economic cooperation experienced between North and South Korea the opening of the border in 2000.The establishment of business enterprises by South Koreans in the North and vice versa   has allowed the citizens of the two countries to interact. Up to date, efforts to merge the differences in the culture of the people who lived separately in West and East Germany became possible after unification. The common culture of the Korean people and their interest of being reunited again with their family members has been a great motivation for unification. Although North Korea had closed its border in 2008 with South Korea in protest against US-South Korea military exercises, it opened its borders in March 2009.Cross-border tours are expected to resume, an indication that South and North Korea relations will improve. The holding of talks by leaders from both countries is promising and is expected to make the unification process successful.
    The Korean Institute for National Unification (KINU) was established in January 1999 and is a non profit making organization that has a great responsibility to unify the Korean peninsula (The Korean Institute for National Unification, 2009). The organization carries out research that promotes peace and prosperity in the Korean Peninsula .It also supports the formulation of unification policies for the Republics of Korean governments. This institute since its establishment has been working to promote the South Korean national efforts for unification with the north. The institute has elaborate plans in case North Korea implodes, begins a rebel uprising or starts military confrontation. To address such a situation, KINU plans advocate for an alliance of South Korea with other countries such as the United States to counter military offence from North Korea .Because such an alliance increases the military ability of the involved countries to counter violent efforts it is a good option of dealing with North Koreas offence. The KINU plans  to address  conflicts that may be triggered by North Korea advocate  for talks  and consensus in order to resolve issues that may trigger the conflict if  North Korea was to trigger an uprising or military  confrontation, it can easily use its nuclear weapons against South Korea.KINU plans aim at engaging North Korea and supporting efforts that will   encourage it to  sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) once again to limit the spread of nuclear weapons and future threats.
How leadership in North Korea and South Korea hinders and supports the unification process
    The process of having South and North Korea work towards peaceful unification began in 2000.The unification process in Korea has been hindered and also supported by the leadership in the two countries. The process is expected to maintain peace between South and North Korea. The South Korean President Lee Myung Bak has contributed to the unification process by working together with the Unification Ministry. Through the ministry, Lee has continued give support to the other leaders in order to achieve peaceful co-existence and prosperity in the Korean Peninsula. President Lee has shown his commitment in improving inter-Korean relations through his governments North Korea policy that advocates for mutual benefits for both South Korea and North Korea (Yang,2009).The June 15 Joint Declaration and the October 4 Summit Declaration  created the roadmap for Koreas unification and Lees administration  support  the decisions that were made during the talks. By agreeing to hold sweeping talks with North Korea and to establish a permanent diplomatic link with the North, Lee has encouraged North Korea to work together for prosperity. President Lees support for economic cooperation with the North has improved inter-Korean relations, an important ingredient for the unification process. A good example is the South Korean owned-industries at Kaesong Industrial Complex. Growth in trade between the two has demanded further cooperation and the South Korean president has been giving financial assistance to North Korea as a way of encouraging unity and peace. Because South Koreas economy has become one of the most developed in Asia, financial aid given to the North by President Lees administration has worked well for unification. The initiative by President Lee to be engaged in the Six-Party talks that bring together China, United States, Japan, Russia, South Korea and North Korea has been appreciated. The talks have aimed at improving inter-Korea relations and boosting unification. The talks also try to address the issue of denuclearizing North Korea which threatens to put at halt the unification process. The economic cooperation and bilateral talks supported by the South Korean president and Kims government has promoted the growth of the economy
    However, lack of humanitarian and non-humanitarian aid by Lees administration to North Korea on condition that it closes down its nuclear projects has been counterproductive for efforts of unification. North Korea responded to this by rejecting humanitarian aid from South Korea. This has strained the inter-Korean relations. Furthermore, Kims administration in North Korea has criticized President Lees government for disrupting the inter-Korea relations. This has been made worse by the sending of leaflets to North Korea by civic organizations in South Korea who oppose Kims government. The response of President Lee that his administration cannot impose legal ban on the sending of the leaflets has had negative impact on the unification process. Political ideologies in South Korea and D.P.R.K which are held by the respective governments undermine unification. For example, South Korea has embraced democracy where the president is elected by the people and efforts by South Korea to democratize North Korea have increased tension between the two countries. The good relations between Pyongyang and Seoul have been worsening. President Lees government good relation with the North has been undermined at a time when the global economic crisis has affected the economy of the two countries. He has been accused of taking a hard line position in relation to North Korea as compared to his liberal predecessors.
    Kims administration has supported efforts that facilitate Koreas unification process. For instance, the North Korean administration in August 2009 sent a delegation to South Korea after the death of South Koreas former President Kim Dae-Jung. This was encouraging after the President Lees government took a tough line with the north by demanding that it would only give financial aid to the North it ended the nuclear programs. This sparked hostility with North Korea. The North Korean government under Kims leadership has for some time shown hostility against South Korea. Kims administration supports the economic cooperation between the north and south and this has improved inter-Korean relations which are vital in unification. In addition, the high level delegation from North Korea sent to the South to hold a meeting with South Koreas Minister of Unification has reduced the tension that resulted from North Koreas missile tests.  The delegation also held a meeting with President Lee Myung Bak and as a result, President Lee has shown his interest to maintain an engagement policy with North Korea. Furthermore, an announcement that North Korea was willing to restart family reunions with South Koreans as well as restart tourist trips across the border has improved relations once again. Kims administration has also lifted the tough restrictions it had imposed on border crossings and now supports efforts that strengthen inter-Korean relations and relations with other nations such as Japan. 
    One major way through Kim has undermined the unification process is his support for the countrys nuclear programs. Although the government keeps on denying it, the recent regional and cross border tensions have increased after North Korea fired a series of missiles. This has raised concern on whether the government is committed to maintaining peace that is important for the success of the unification process. In addition, it has attracted the attention of the United Nations and Washington. After the division of Korea into North and South, maintaining consistent official contacts with South Korea is a problem that has also been created by Kims leadership. The North Korean economy has been experiencing problems and as compared with South Korea, poor economic performance can be attributed to poor governance. Poor governance in North Korea  has hindered development in the country and South Koreas demand that Kims government end its nuclear programs before receiving financial aid has attracted  hostility after North Korea rejected the aid. However, it later accepted the aid. Poor governance has undermined unification process efforts and the negative response towards South Koreas proposal to establish permanent diplomatic links with D.P.R.K has not been good for the unification process.
Conclusion
    The division of Korea into Republic of Korea and the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea has continued to increase tension in the Korean Peninsula.Furthermore,conflicts between the two has raised concern about the  regional economy  and political stability  of the region.However,the  relations between them have been warming up due to economic cooperation   and talks  between the two governments. This has been encouraged by their neighbors and the international community who play an important role in the unification process. The Korean Institute of National Unification has also been important for Koreas unification.

Regarded as the Land of the Rising Sun, the country of Japan is known all over, not only for its beautiful landscape and magnificent sceneries but also for its rich history and promising future. Japan today, is considered as one of the most developed nations in the world with very high standards of living. In fact, it boasts as the second largest economy by nominal Gross Domestic Product. It also holds the fourth place in terms of product exports as well as the sixth position for product import (Kyoko and Selden 1-257).
    Indeed, this nation possesses all the capabilities to further develop and succeed in the future. Some sixty years ago however, Japan was not as prosperous. In fact, the Land of the Rising Sun was a complete waste land on the aftermath of the Second World War. The atomic bombings of Nagasaki and Hiroshima devastated the entire country and left the two mentioned regions to ground zero. Apart from this, more than 200,000 civilians died because of the bombing itself, burns, trauma, compounded illness, radiation sickness, and malnutrition among many others. This unimaginable catastrophe was captured in a variety of pictures that speaks about death, grief, and utter hopelessness.
    This horrifying tragedy has indeed, crippled and left a deep scar in the countrys history. The remarkable things however, was how Japan managed not only to stand up and pick up the pieces but also to rise to the very top and be one of the worlds economic powers. In less than 50 years, the waste land has transformed into something that is bigger and stronger.
     This research paper aims to discuss the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki through various archive photos. It will particularly analyze how the mentioned events captured in photos changed the Japanese history, its people, and its plans for the future. Similarly, this research study will also discuss how Japans darkest hour pushed its people to rebuild and recreate a cemetery back into the glory days where the sun gracefully rises.
    On August 1945, a black and white photograph was taken showing a huge explosion that hovers over the Japanese region of Hiroshima. The caption talks about how the atomic bomb called little boy was detonated 1,968 feet above the city and how its powerful explosion caused a big mushroom cloud that is visible from miles away (World War II Hiroshima 2).
    This picture shows the atomic bombing that happens in Hiroshima during the later part of the Second World War. Before the bombing itself, President Harry Truman of the United States issued the Potsdam Declaration which states the terms for Japans surrender. The warning further mentioned that if Japan fails to surrender, the allies would attack the country which will result to a complete destruction of both the Japanese Armed Forces as well as their homeland. Although the declaration reached the newspaper, the Japanese government chose to ignore it. This forced Truman to once again reexamine the decision to use the bomb. In the end however, the US president decided to use the atomic bomb as this has sufficient strength to make the Japanese army to surrender and eventually end the war (Kyoko and Selden 1-257).
    At that time, Hiroshima was known for its military significance as numerous camps and military headquarters were located in this city. This area also holds various industrial buildings situated at the center and at the outskirts of the region. Apart from this, Hiroshima was one of the very few Japanese cities which were deliberately untouched by the American army because of its beautiful and preserved environment. These qualities made the city as one of the choice targets for the bombing. The regions lush and pristine surrounding would allow the Japanese government to measure the damage caused by bomb.
    By August 6, the US military aircraft called Enola Gay was piloted for a six hour flight to Japan. It arrived over the target and it started to release the gravity bomb which detonated about 600 meter above the city. The blast itself was equivalent to about 13 kilotons of TNT which destroyed about 4.7 square miles of the entire city. The bomb also caused over 80,000 individuals to die immediately while 70,000 remained injured. There were also no doctors and nurses to attend to the casualty and injuries as 90 percent of all the medical practitioners in Hiroshima were also killed by the bombing (Kyoko and Selden 1-257).
    After the bombing, the Japanese Broadcasting Corporation noticed that the Hiroshima signal has gone off air. Staff members tried o re-establish the connection but all to no avail. Likewise, military bases also tried to connect to the Army station in Hiroshima but the complete silence in the city puzzled the main headquarters. A young staff officer was then ordered to fly to the region to check on its condition. After flying for more than three hours, the staff and the pilot circled the city in disbelief. The only thing left in the city was a heavy smoke with parts of the city still burning.
    Two days after the bombing, newspapers all over Japan described the gravity of the blast by saying that all living creatures in Hiroshima was practically seared to death. The unimaginable disaster was also evident in a photo which shows an aerial view of the wiped out city. It was taken by George Silk with the caption Hiroshima, a wasteland (World War II Hiroshima 2).
    The devastating effect of the explosion did not end there. Survivors of the attack suffered from severe burns, injuries, as well as other radiation related illnesses. Several photos show children crying because of burns as their mothers who were injured themselves also tried to comfort them. One of the photos also shows a man whose back were filled wounds from the burn. Buildings that survived the blasts were also used as makeshift hospitals to treat victims of the explosion (Fallout After a Nuclear Attack 12). The lack immediate medical treatment also caused hundreds of individuals to suffer and eventually die.
    Although the bombing in Hiroshima devastated the area, the Japanese government continued to ignore the Potsdam Declaration. This caused the United States to plan another attack in Nagasaki. At that time, Nagasaki was regarded as one of the largest sea ports in Japan. This area is also noted for its industrial activity primarily the production of military facilities, equipment and other war materials.
    On August 9, 1945 just three days after the Hiroshima bombing, another US aircraft was sent over Nagasaki to droop another nuclear bomb with the code name of Fat Man. Similar to the Hiroshima mission, the bomb was dropped over the city.  At the height of about 469 meters above the city, the bomb exploded which was equivalent to 21 kilotons of TNT. This blast also produced a sweltering heat of 3,900 degrees Celsius which burned everything in sight (Kyoko and Selden 1-257). In fact, a picture shows how the intense heat of the nuclear bomb etched the shadows of the objects that were exposed to the light. Another picture shows the back of a person whose clothes were burned because of the explosion. The printed part of his clothe were also etched unto the skin of the man (Fallout After a Nuclear Attack 20).
    Much like with what happened to Hiroshima, Nagasaki was also left in rubbles because of the explosions. An estimated 75,000 deaths were immediately reported. These figures continued to rise to 80,000 by the end of the year. Thousands of individuals also suffered from injuries which includes severe or third degree burns, wounds, radiation related sickness, as well as malnutrition. Numerous survivors also died due to cancer which was the effect of the strong radiation emitted by the nuclear bomb (Kyoko and Selden 1-257). 
The casualties that happened over Nagasaki were evident in the photos that reveal survivors with severe burns and deformed body parts because of the radiation. Other photographs show the region of Nagasaki as a complete wasteland. The only things visible in the city were ruins, skeleton trees, and people wearing masks as their means of combating the stench of death in the city.  Some photos also showed hundreds of children who were left homeless because of the bombing (World War II Hiroshima 12).
After the bombing in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the United States government was planning on having another nuclear bomb attack as their way of pressuring the Japanese administration to surrender. On August 12, the Emperor of Japan decided to surrender in order to control the situation. In his statement, the Emperor said that continuing to fight would not only cause millions of innocent lives but also the complete obliteration and extinction of the human civilization. This moment of surrender was captured on photo as Japanese Foreign Minister Mamoru Shigemitsu together with General Douglas Mac Arthur formally signs the surrender documents (World War II Hiroshima 17).
The iconic picture of the Japanese Minister signing the surrender document not only represented the surrender of the Japanese Forces but it also prompted the end of the Second World War. From then on, the country of Japan has focused on not only transforming itself but also its decisions for the future.
The photographs which showed the devastation that happened during the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombing does not only show the rich yet dark history of Japan, but it also presents Japans modern history. Because of the horrifying destruction that this country has confronted during World War II, it has then made a conscious effort to end abolish all nuclear weapons in the world. It has made loud protests by producing the firmest non-nuclear policies and legislations. The government particularly adopted the Three Non-Nuclear Principles which prevents the country from using or possessing nuclear weapons. Likewise, the nation has also officially denounced its right to declare any act of war.
The Japanese government and citizens also created peace memorials in Nagasaki and Hiroshima as a reminder of the horrors of the war. Similarly, it also stands as a reminder for the citizens to uphold the lessons that they have learned because of the bombings.
The Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings also pushed the Japanese government to strive even harder for development, Instead of creating bombs and other warfare devices, the Japanese are now focusing on technological tools and equipments that promote human and economic development. In fact, most of the inventions and discoveries that come from this country feature high tech gadgets and even robots as well as medicines and cures that are especially designed to alleviate human and work conditions.