Relations between South Korea and the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea
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.
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