South Korean president proposes plan to reunite with North Korea

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak has proposed a plan to reunite his country with North Korea and suggested a tax to prepare for the costs expected if the two countries come together, South Korea's state media said Sunday.

Source - CNN

An intresting proposal, especially in light of all the events currently going on in the part of the World, including the saber ratteling from all parties. I am curious how this will be met by the North. Aside from the peace community proposal, I really am not seeing anything else to unite the countries "peacefully" at all.

The only other conclusion would be for the South to invade the North and make an attempt to end the situation once and for all, but I find that scenario very unlikely.

Anyone have any ideas on this. Seems very unusual if you ask me.

[edit on 15-8-2010 by Xcathdra] - I am not really sure where to place this so if its in the wrong area please feel free to move. I did a search and did not come across this topic.

[edit on 15-8-2010 by Xcathdra]

reply to post by Xcathdra


nah kim jun il wont let it happen unless hes ruler of all


to me this is a sign of weakness after all the north has done to the south.


my opinion aint gonna happen unless kim jun il rolls through seoul with his army behind him or in front.

how could it be....NK is communist

reply to post by neo96


I am curious if this has anything to do with Kims failing health, and the unsure political strenght of his successor son. There has been talk that Kims replacement does not have the political backing from some of the military areas.

If Kim is ready to kick the bucket with no real clear successor in place, I could see this approach as a possible way to transition things. Establish the peace community and work from there.

I found it intresting that they were talking about a tax to fix the Norths economy. This is the first time Ihave ever seen anyone in the South Koean Government make this bold of a statement.

Guess im waiting for the other shoe to drop....

reply to post by heineken


Only for the length of time their current government is in place. If that Government collapses (Kim dies, military doesnt accept his son as the successor) with no clear successor there will be a power vacuum.



[edit on 15-8-2010 by Xcathdra]

reply to post by Xcathdra


its really hard to believe anything comming out of the north

maybe maybe not after 60 years to get this thorn out of the worlds side

it would be a welcome change.


just goes to show communism doesnt work and a democracy capitalist society is the king of the world its jut when socialist tendencies are implimented when they start to fail,

[edit on 15-8-2010 by neo96]

reply to post by neo96


Fair point.. However I think reunification minus the exchange of armageddon would be a welcome solution to this problem.

reply to post by Xcathdra



agreed

China might not be all that pleased...it tends to use N. Korea as a buffer along its northern border. But with the N. Korean leader on his way out and the economy failing at ever-increasing pace it might be about time. But yeah, it would cost a LOT of money to reunite the two. I just hope the US doesn't get involved.

reply to post by ~Lucidity


I have seen people make that comment before about China not allowing N. Korea to fail because it would mean US troops right next door (or in this case S. Korean).

However China already has this with Americas presence in Afghanistan, which shares a border with China. Couple this with American presence in former Soviet Republics (the -stans) and it kind of makes that a mute point.

I would also think that China would like to finally uncouple itself from N. Korea, econmically as well as militarily. Its nothing but a drain on Chinas resources, and a constant point of tension between the greater portion of the countries and China having to defend N. Korea.

reply to post by Xcathdra


The only way I can see this happening is if this means South Korea is willing to be part of North Korea.

reply to post by darkbake


Well knowing the history since the Korean has started and that the war is still going. This would be a better way to end the 60 year long war. The war started in 1950 and should end in 2010. I believe no ill will come to North Korea if the reunified the country as a single Korea. Democracy of the Korean people needs to take place!

reply to post by Xcathdra


You don't think this is just a BS orchestrated to steal S-Korean money ^^

Pretty easy scam.

reply to post by Xcathdra

It seems to me that the president is hoping for a scenario similar to the reunification of Germany, ie
Communist regime falls apart.
Westernised country with more stable economy in position to launch takeover bid.
The suggestion that bringing the North up to speed with the rest of the country would cost money would certainly be a lesson learnt from the German experience.

But the shortage of information coming out of the north makes it difficult to know if a genuine repeat is possible.
It would require the disillusionment of the population of the North, and a sense there that life in the South is better (but we guess that knowledge of life in the South is kept from them).
And it would require the North Korean armed forces to hold back from firing on their own people, just as the East German ones held back.
I would not place any bets on this.







[edit on 15-8-2010 by DISRAELI]

reply to post by oozyism


It could be.. however the "idea" came from S. Korea, not the North. Plus the amount of money needed to fix North Korea is going to be staggering. Pretty much everything but the paved roads are going to need attention (Roads as far as the eye can see but no traffic).

The picture taken sometime ago showing the Earth at night is telling. Pretty much everything is lit up except for North Korea.

North Korea at Night