North Korea and South Korea were once a unified nation under one dynasty sharing the same culture and language until the division after World War II. After the surrender of Japanese rule over Korea at the end of World War II, North Korea was left to Soviets unions after which the Americans took over the control of South Korea. After the division, North and South Korea instituted their own governments with different leaders and became independent nations. Decades later, the division of Korea haunts the World with the two Nations experiencing diverse fortunes. For instance, South Korea is seemingly on the right side of the split in terms of prosperity 1 . Following the challenges raised by the split over decades, unification of North and South Korea to one nation has become a government policy for both countries.
Unification of Korea is an idea that is perceived differently by both South and North Korea. South Korea President Park Geun-Hye describes the unification as a “Jackpot” for the Economy while the president of North Korea Kim Jong-un states his will to be more accommodating to changes 2 . However; the two states differ in the typical presentation of a unified Korea. South Korea leaders and citizens see that the cost of unification out ways its possible benefits. The idea of combining North Korea’s natural resources with those of South Korea appear more idealistic than practical to the people of South Korea. To the South Koreans, unification is an attempt to burden South Korea with no foreseeable benefits to individual South Koreans. On the other hand, North Korea which is viewed to be more prospered compared to South Korea take unification as a way to undermine their governance and their leader. Kim Jong-un foresees many more years in power; therefore, he is less interested in the unification 3 . The idea of unification may present economic advantages for the South. However, though unification may have been a subject of consideration in the past for both nations, recent issues fail to see a situation where unification would help reduce North Korean rule. This as thus made the problem of unification lose the drive it held previously as the most site that it is not a solution to the crises between the two countries.
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South Korea idea of unification is a peaceful and gradual process of unification. Its objective for the unification is to influence change in the system of North Korea. The unification process for South Korea includes phases of reconciliation and cooperation, a South Korea Commonwealth and eventually the unified Korea which is one nation. On the other hand, North Korea holds that the initial division was a result of external forces and that unification would require independence of South Korea from U.S. to be realized. North Korea cites that for unification to be achieved South Korea need to revolutionize the South through military force or to enlist the aid of South Korean antigovernment activists 4 . Apparently, although the two nations consider unification, they hold different perspectives on how unification is to be achieved, and that would be the possible reason why unification is losing interest among the people of South and North Korea.
In conclusion, the idea of a unified Korea is one that is losing interest among the people of South and North Korea probably due to the differences in the ideas of what unification means. The process of unification is viewed differently by the North and the South with the approaches being on the opposite of each other presenting challenges for cooperation and agreement. However, unification of Korea would be beneficial to ending the decades of wars and hatred between the two states as well as economically benefit South Korea. It is also realistic that the North Korea emphasize the need for independence so as for the unification to be effective.
Bibliography
Szepanski, Kallie. “Why Is the Peninsula Split into North Korea and South Korea?” ThoughCo. March 10, 2017. Accessed May 24, 2017. https://www.thoughtco.com/why-north-korea-and-south-korea-195632.
Williamson, Lucy. “Why is South Korea plugging unification?” BBC News Services. January 28, 2014. Accessed May 24, 2017. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-25911981.
Young-ho, Park. “South and North Korea’s views on the unification of the Korean Peninsula and inter-Korean relations.” The 2nd KRIS-Brookings Joint Conference. 2014. Accessed May 24, 2017. https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Park-Young-Ho-paper.pdf.
1 Kallie Szepanski, “Why Is the Peninsula Split into North Korea and South Korea?” ThoughCo, March 10, 2017, Accessed May 24, 2017, https://www.thoughtco.com/why-north-korea-and-south-korea-195632.
2 Lucy Williamson, “Why is South Korea plugging unification?” BBC News Services, January 28, 2014, Accessed May 24, 2017, http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-25911981.
3 Lucy Williamson, “Why is South Korea plugging unification?”
4 Park Young-ho, “South and North Korea’s views on the unification of the Korean Peninsula and inter-Korean relations,” The 2nd KRIS-Brookings Joint Conference, 2014. Accessed May 24, 2017, https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Park-Young-Ho-paper.pdf.
