Korean Reunification thread

Quietly in the background of the world’s chaos - Reunification has been brewing.


Before I get started, I want to apologize for all the reading that you may have to do lol. I did my best to keep everything in a linear timeline & short,sweet, to the point. . . Here we go


(4th LD) Park unveils proposals to N. Korea to lay groundwork for reunification (03/29/14)

“DRESDEN, Germany, March 28 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Park Geun-hye on Friday unveiled a package of proposals calling for bolstering exchanges with North Korea as first steps toward building trust between the two sides to lay the groundwork for unification.”

"Now more than ever, South and North Korea must broaden their exchange and cooperation," Park said in the address. "What we need is not one-off or promotional events, but the kind of interaction and cooperation that enables ordinary South Koreans and North Koreans to recover a sense of common identity as they help each other out."

Six out of 10 lawmakers back inter-Korean parliamentary talks: poll (06/25/14)

"Unification is the path (both) Korean people should inevitably take," the parliamentary speaker said during the meeting, adding that lawmakers need to pay more attention to and put efforts into the unification issue.”

Rekindling hopes for unification and better cross-border relations, President Park Geun-hye announced her vision for the reunification of the Korean Peninsula in what is called the "Dresden Declaration" in March in the namesake German city.

And just to be fair :
North Korea lashes out at Park’s unification declaration (4/14/14)

Pyongyang’s invective says that President’s Dresden Declaration was made with unification by absorption in mind

This part is key on why the hostilities from N.Korea towards S.Korea:

“But reading between the lines in the statement, the message that North Korea is trying to communicate becomes comparatively clear. First of all, North Korea said that the very fact that Park Geun-hye made the speech in Germany, which “was reunified through absorption,” was evidence of her “impure intentions.” Turned on its head, this can be interpreted as North Korea asking the South to prove that the Dresden Declaration was not made with unification by absorption in mind.”

This only leaves one option for Reunification - “ONE COUNTRY - TWO SYSTEMS”

Genius! This political setup would most definitely have a high probability to work in this unique situation.



ok, carrying on:
(LEAD) S. Korea launches committee on unification with N. Korea (07/15/14)

“SEOUL, July 15 (Yonhap) -- South Korea set up a blue-ribbon committee aimed at making preparations for unification with North Korea, the presidential office said Tuesday, amid tensions on the divided Korean Peninsula over Pyongyang's missile launches.”

Thats HUGE! Setting up a committee aimed at making preparation for Reunification! None the less coming from the South Korean Presidential office!


Seoul eyes 'mutually beneficial' reunification: minister (07/23/14)

"Reunification should be achieved in a mutually beneficial way, not for interest of just one side, whether the South or the North," Unification Minister Ryoo Kihl-jae said at a forum in the southern island of Jeju.”

^^^^ Could this mean the “ONE COUNTRY - TWO SYSTEMS”?

I like this quote from Seoul spox (from the same article):

"In the past, our governments believed that maintaining good South-North relations would automatically lead to reunification. They, however, lacked ideas on ways to achieve reunification," he said.

S. Korea puts 'peace train' to Cherwon in service (07/31/14)

“SEOUL, July 31 (Yonhap) -- South Korea launched a highly symbolic railroad service Thursday between its capital and the eastern border town of Cherwon, as President Park Geun-hye endeavors to keep the momentum of her stated reunification vision.”
"We expect this kind of railway service to help promote reconciliation between South and North Korea," she said at the event.”

This is a pretty cool tie-in:

“Trains used to run between Seoul and the North's city of Wonsan via Cherwon on the Gyeongwon Line in the early 1900s. But the railroad was disconnected with the division of Korea.”

To be fair again - heres a setback to Reunification:
Inter-Korean integration wanes despite Seoul's unification drive: institute (08/08/14)

"It has been a year and six months since the launch of the Park Geun-hye administration. But a trust-building process is not in operation yet," said the institute. "It is important to make space for various types of inter-Korean contact, exchange and cooperation in order to raise the South-North Integration Index."

From same article, some more hope!

“ It added that Pyongyang's planned participation in the Incheon Asian Games and the launch of a presidential panel on reunification in the South may help spur efforts to warm inter-Korean relations.”

Did N.Korea show up at the Incheon Asian Games??
In Unusual Trip, North Korean Aides Attend Games in South (10/03/14)

“SEOUL, South Korea — Three of the most trusted aides to the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un arrived in South Korea on Saturday to attend the closing ceremony of the Asian Games in a highly unusual trip that could perhaps signal an easing of the tense relations on the divided Korean Peninsula.”

“The meetings would mark the highest-level government dialogue since Ms. Park took office in February last year. Mr. Lim said he did not know whether the North Koreans were carrying a letter from Mr. Kim to Ms. Park. The South Korean leader did not plan to attend the closing ceremony on Saturday evening in Incheon, a port city west of Seoul.”

cont. . . .

Bee waiting for the second part…

After "Dividing" that country in the first place, "Unification" was tried in Vietnam, too. It didn't work there either. The only thing that eventually worked was sending the US packing.

Unification by absorption with US ports and bases still on the Peninsula is a pipe dream.

. . . cont


* The most latest update to the current situation - is now Military!

Two Koreas push to hold military talks 'soon' (10/15/14)

“SEOUL, Oct. 15 (Yonhap) -- South and North Korea have been pushing to hold inter-Korean military talks "soon" to explore ways to ease tensions, two Seoul government sources said Wednesday, amid heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula after a series of shootouts along the inter-Korean land and sea borders.”

"With a goal to ease military tensions, we have been preparing for the inter-Korean talks," one of the sources said, asking not to be identified. "I cannot say exactly when the meeting will be held, but the two sides are trying to meet soon."

S. Korea expects high-level talks with N. Korea this month (10/20/14)

“SEOUL, Oct. 20 (Yonhap) -- South Korea still hopes for the resumption of high-level talks with North Korea late this month despite sharp military tensions and Pyongyang's reticence about Seoul's dialogue offer, an official here said Monday.”

The North has not responded to the South's proposal that another round of vice ministerial talks be held on Oct. 30, according to unification ministry spokesman Lim Byeong-cheol.

. . ."We are instead asking civilian groups to act carefully and wisely in consideration of the safety and security of the people as North Korea's threats grow," the ministry spokesman said.

And for the time being until Oct.30th - NO MORE LEAFLETS TO N.KOREA lol


Moving On.

* The most basic question would be why?
*What in the hell does S.Korea want to go back to North & vice versa. . . ?

Park Extols Korea Bonanza With a North-South Unification (01/12/14)

“President Park Geun Hye, who became South Korea’s first woman leader by promising a more “creative economy,” begins her second year vowing to pursue the unprecedented prosperity she said will result from unification with North Korea amid flagging interest from many citizens more than six decades after the peninsula’s war.”

“People would even sing, ‘we dream of unification even in our dreams,’” Park said in an interview at the presidential Blue House office in Seoul. “As the state of division continued to persist and drag on, it’s true the recognition of importance of unification has admittedly declined and fallen.”

“Unification will allow the Korean economy to take a fresh leap forward and inject great vitality and energy,” said Park, 61, daughter of Park Chung Hee, who ruled South Korea during the 1960s and ’70s and rose to colonel at the height of the 1950-1953 Korean War, a conflict that left millions dead. He was assassinated by his intelligence chief in 1979, five years after her mother also was killed by an assassin’s bullet meant for her father at an independence-day commemoration.

“Selling the unification story builds on a presidential agenda that began with an initiative to strengthen productivity and growth in South Korea’s economy through fostering innovation, entrepreneurship and capital investment.”

This same article is good. Also breakdowns the Reunification cost:

Unification Cost


“With the South’s finance ministry in February calculating the cost of uniting the Korean peninsula at as much as $591 billion over a decade if it occurred in 2020, surveys show younger voters aren’t enthused at the prospect.”

^^^ IMO, Reunification would happen before 2020. Nonetheless, its a VERY good article that performs detailed breakdowns for a Reunification


. . . But this still doesn’t answer WHY?

*Whats in it ECONOMICALLY?

North Korea's Rare Earths Could be Game Changer (1/17/14)

“SEOUL—
A recent geological study indicates North Korea could hold some 216 million tons of rare earths, minerals used in electronics such as smartphones and high definition televisions.”

^^^ Huge upside!

North Korean rare earths challenge China’s monopoly?

“Scott Bruce, an associate of the East-West Center in Hawaii, said the deposits could not only shake China's hold on the market but also improve relations with Japan and South Korea, two of the biggest importers of the minerals.”

North Korea Holds Potential 216 Million Tonnes Rare Earths (02/11/14)

Talk about a Twist-of-Fate:

“North Korea's been reported to be potentially holding the world's largest deposit of rare earth minerals at 216 million tonnes, which if properly managed and funneled, could make the world's most isolated regime and its people rich and powerful.”

"If North Korea was able to launch this program and develop its own industry," Scott Bruce, an associate of the East-West Center in Hawaii, told Voice of America. "It could potentially leverage them to integrate with its neighbors and no longer be the black hole in the center of northeast Asia."

North Korea May Have Two-Thirds of World’s Rare Earths (01/22/14)

“A new estimate suggests that North Korea may have more than 6 times the amount of rare earths as China.”

Yea, I would call that a Game-Changer!

“Rare earths seen as helping to bankroll a reunified Korea”


*** So why hasn’t N.Korea developed this mining process yet?
- Well, in short they don’t have the ‘know-how’ & capabilities. However, it looks like N.Korea hired an U.K. based equity firm: SRE Minerals.


SRE Minerals signed a 25yr deal to develop a site in Jongju (NW of Pyongyang) in a joint venture w/ State-owned Korea Natural Resources Trading Corp. Set to begin in April 2014.

There’s heavy speculation of the worth of all of this Rare Earth mineral deposits. I’m seeing anything from 1.8T to 6T and much higher. . .

I’m sure this isn’t even including what the Korean’s could be making by designing their own products & up-selling it.



* Basically, we can take away that S.Korea without a doubt are drooling over the potential prospect w/ neighbor N.Korea.

IF a Reunification would happen; politically it makes sense to be under the “ONE COUNTRY - TWO SYSTEMS”

* N.Korea just hopped on the accelerated expressway to the front line of future ‘Developed Economies’. . .



Who wud of thunk?




Now, the real questions come as no surprise:


- Will the U.S. try to sabotage Reunification?

- What does the U.S. military do afterwards?

- and many other question that I’m hoping will be discussed in this thread. As well as periodic updates

Again, my apologies, I tried to keep it short & condensed.

Just wanted to get people caught up relatively quickly. . .

originally posted by: intrptr
Bee waiting for the second part…

After "Dividing" that country in the first place, "Unification" was tried in Vietnam, too. It didn't work there either. The only thing that eventually worked was sending the US packing.

Unification by absorption with US ports and bases still on the Peninsula is a pipe dream.

Those are my thoughts exactly ... the US and it's allies, have never accomplished anything but "tragedies". From Vietnam, to Korea, to Iraq, Lybia and now Ukraine.

When South Korea, stops appearing in "Germany" to voice his intentions, and starts talking directly to the N.Korean people without the US/EU military might behind him. Only then, will you see a real possibility to Unify the two.

Send the US packing ...

a reply to: bjarneorn


Meanwhile, Germany was successfully ''Unified' peacefully.

OP

It's only smart for South Korea to start working on the problem because when and If unification occurs it will most likely fall to their Government to pick up the pieces since it's their Government which is far more financially stable and has access to vastly more economic resources for the task at hand.

I'm not sure how familiar are you with how people live in both Koreas but if one were to choose between living like a North Korean vs a South Korean the choice seems obvious. When considering those facts, how would you choose?

Or is this thread just another 'Hate America by Proxy discussion" thread?

It is standard to expect to US to act in the US interest. In terms of all the war games going on in the region it helps having someone to gang up on. If the North Korea threat wanes then who is going to be the next boogie man? As for the US keeping its bases in South Korea through reunification, if it does get caught out sabotaging negotiations then public pressure to kick out the US will build.

As for what kind of political system will eventually come out is for Korea to decide. It is quite standard for a mix of political forces in any nation. Eg US has wall street and democracy, England has democracy and the monarchy, there are many other examples around. The idea of one country - two systems is a gross oversimplification of the issues and answers.

As for why to get rid of the wall, the separation of families, culture, land, trade and the massive amounts of other disruptions and limitations living next to a wall has is more than enough reason. If you can only see this through economic reasoning then look at the economy of millions of people rather than a few. I know there are a lot of rare earth metals here in Australia, but they not really that rare and not yet cost effective compared to the other mining operations going on. For Korea it is good though and gives them something to work with.

The current military negotiations are important towards any reunification efforts. If the North and South military cannot have a common goal and work together, nothing will work. Trust is important.

a reply to: bjarneorn

Those are my thoughts exactly ... the US and it's allies, have never accomplished anything but "tragedies". From Vietnam, to Korea, to Iraq, Lybia and now Ukraine.

He who has an ear…

Don't forget Syria (our latest "Peace Process") and Afghanistan, currently the longest running unresolved "conflict" in US history.

Conquest is never mentioned by conquerers. Conquest is always caged in gentle euphemisms, heralded by those that wish to keep the peoples minds blinded from truth.

a reply to: SLAYER69

Meanwhile, Germany was successfully ''Unified' peacefully.

Because the Occupying Armies of the Soviet Empire left. Unlike Western Germany.

North Korea is a child of American foreign policy of fear and repression through direct manipulation (we own half the country) and ongoing sanctions.

They would rather die than give up their freedom apparently. A close comparison is Cuba.

Do you still call them Communist?

As long as the Kim regime retains control of N. Korean, we will not see a reunification. Kim Jong Un was bread to be a prideful leader hand-picked by god to run the nation. A leader like this is not going to cede that control peacefully. Everything that was presented in the OP is solely coming from South Korea. I would posit that the statements coming from South Korea are the equivalent to Obama’s hope & change rhetoric, but really that’s all it is… rhetoric. Park wants to be “different” than every other leader before her, especially because she is a woman. She wants to paint the picture that she is going to strive for reunification, but in reality it is a one-sided desire and thus will not be successful.

a reply to: SurrenderingAmerica

Now, the real questions come as no surprise:


- Will the U.S. try to sabotage Reunification?

- What does the U.S. military do afterwards?

Why would they? Those rare earths would benefit the U.S. as well as Japan and South Korea. One military expenditure would be gone, or might be, anyway...

Hopefully, come home. Afterall, with reunification there wouldn't really be any need for them to be the tripwire anymore.

...and all a united Korea would need to do is tell us, "Get out". That would really be the end of the discussion, wouldn't it?

Reunification will only happen through War & Conquest. Both sides don't want to give up there power so it will not happen. All this is just wishful thinking.

It looks like both Koreas will remain mum on releasing any details - probably until after the Oct 30th, 2014 talks.


At the last major meeting between the two, N.Korean officials asked the South to NOT release anything to the media relating to the ongoing talks. So far S.Korea has honored this request.

IF there's going to be another meeting Oct 30th - sometime this week N.Korea has to give notice or S.Korea said that they would cancel the talks. So keep an eye out for that news!

a reply to: Ancient Champion

I'm a skeptic too.


However, the intriguing thing is that these talks NEVER have advanced this far. Slowly in the background of everything thats happening in the world these talks have been incrementally building. In one of my links there is a complete Reunification breakdown.

Here: Park Extols Korea Bonanza With a North-South Unification (01/12/14)

It touches on many factors that in the past have hindered these talks - such as IF there was a Reunification, S.Korea's economy would be burdened by N.Korea's poverty. . .


But as you keep reading through the article it becomes evidently clear that this is not true! For example: A single Korea would allow a decline in military spending thats been needed to defend against N.Korean threats & its nuclear arms program. That savings in military spending alone would benefit the Korean economy.


I don't plan on this happening over night & I do anticipate a few setbacks. But if talks keep progressing - we could very well be witnessing history in the making with the Koreas.

a reply to: SurrenderingAmerica

After all of there own people they've kill do you really think that Kim is going to give up his power and work a 9 to 5 job? Sorry but it's not going to happen.

a reply to: seagull

You bring up the very same thoughts that I'm having.


As I mentioned to Ancient Champion, S.Korea's military spending would be dramatically cut due to no N.Korean threat since they would be unified as one single Korea (money they can put back into their economy).

And as for the U.S. military presence, I would venture to say that it would be a hard sell to the American people. It would be like: "Uh, the U.S. military has now combined forces with the N.Korean govt" lol I could only imagine the reaction


Plus the U.S. would have to share military info and I'm sure they would take mucho heat over that fact alone. The longer that you begin to break everything down - you begin to see the issue lies with the S.Korean/U.S. military partnership.


. . . On one hand - do you want to break a military partnership?

or have an Economic Boom?

a reply to: Ancient Champion

I completely understand your viewpoint & you bring up good points.


Under a "One country - Two systems", Kim would still be head of his party. And South would have a head of their party but would operate as one.

There's many separated Korean families who would welcome a reunion through unification. It really is a unique situation right now due to a positive economic outcome if this would occur. And there lies a political solution for this as well.

The second the North Opens up at all it is over for anyone in power on that side. And the cost for the South just to feed the North and then educate them is going to be huge. The gap is much much greater than it was between the two Germanys. North Koreans who end up in the South tend to be so far behing in every single way then can not find work nor relate to society. I expect any reunification will come about with a fall of those in power in the North and the South absorbing the North. Although the cost to fix that place is going to be staggering. And in all talks before the Koreas, China and the US have though US forces remaining in Korea was best for all. Defense for the Korea's and also at the same time keeping Korea from feeling it needs to become a great power. Much the role the US plays for Japan.

I gave a warning about a sabotage attempt and now it’s rearing its ugly head. This is when you know that these High-Level talks are serious. . .


Right on que:

Def ector disrupts Korean peace talks with anti-North Korea airborne leaflets



Their intent sounds good on the surface but runs counter-productive to their ‘cause’.

Its grown to the point that the S.Korean govt, residents, police are trying to stop them!


Here’s why:

"No one can block my rights" to send leaflets, said Lee, whose leafleting Friday from a South Korean border village was believed to have directly caused North Korea to start fire.

South Korean activists vowed Thursday to continue to launch balloons carrying anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the border into North Korea, days after their campaign triggered gunfire between the rival Koreas.

Source

Mr. Park and other balloonists do have their domestic political opponents, principally the organizations that seek a return to South Korea’s so-called sunshine policy, which favors a conciliatory approach to the North. Some of these groups occasionally try to sabotage the showier balloon events, and Mr. Park, who has had 24-hour police protection since 2008, once fired a tear gas pistol during a violent melee at Imjingak.

Dafuq!? Do these leaflet campaigners not understand that their actions are having an adverse effect? They’re fighting with local S.Korean residents, not even w/ the N.Koreans.

“We get threats against him quite often now,” said a plainclothes police officer who was guarding Mr. Park before a recent launching.

Source

If 24hr police protection from residents isn’t enough - It’s gotten so extreme that even the police have rented the house next to theirs:

“However, South Korean police have now rented the house next door to Lee's to keep an eye on him.”

Source


Why would the locals be irritated about the leaflet campaign?

“— as recently as last Friday — to “mercilessly” shell Imjingak and other border towns if the launchings continue. North Korean artillery units are dug in a few kilometers away, just across the world’s most heavily militarized border.”

Source

“Local residents, even if they agree with his politics, do not particularly like to see him coming. For one thing, they would prefer not to be in the cross hairs of North Korean howitzers. Also, because the balloon events here can be confrontational, many South Korean tourists stay away, which has angered many of the local business owners. The tour buses are going elsewhere, the souvenir stands are struggling and the restaurant business is down more than 50 percent.”

“These men with the balloons, they have the right to do this,” she said. “But it’s infantile and silly.”

“They’re like little boys,” she said. “Little boys playing with matches.”

Source

* - And the impacts:

"Some groups may come here once to scatter leaflets, but their action has a lasting psychological, physical and economic impact on residents' lives," a representative of the Paju residents said in a press conference Thursday, as quoted by Yonhap News Agency.

"We will no longer tolerate their action, which threatens residents' right to live," the representative added.

This is a very interesting ‘tie in’:

The Yonhap News Agency also cited an opposition lawmaker as saying the South Korean Prime Minister's Office has funded groups behind the leaflet distribution with subsidies worth 200 million won ($189,038) over the past two years, assistance preventing President Park Geun-hye's goal of reunification.

Source



So why hasn’t the S.Korean govt intervened?

Truth is they’ve tried & are still trying.

Aviation law cannot stop leaflet campaign: official

"The large-sized balloons used to scatter the leaflets don't have any device for land-based control, meaning they are not considered ultra-small flight apparatuses," the official told reporters on background.

South Korea to Ban Anti-Pyongyang Leaflets in Case of Violent Response: Police


It seems that S.Korea’s President Park, is working w/ a govt thats split in half. One half of the govt is being dictated by the U.S. & the other half Park controls. Park has to walk a very delicate balance by not offsetting the U.S. wishes as well as ending the hostilities between the two Koreas. I give her much credit & respect because she is a strong-willed figure that doesn’t back down much. I mean the woman had her face slashed by a political protester and kept on trucking. . .

Here’s an example of how Park is walking this delicate balance:

South Korea Tears Down Christmas Tower on Border


Even though she can’t stop the leaflets outright she can take other counter-measures to show good faith.


Lets hope that the leaflet campaigners can exercise common sense & restraint. Or can be stopped in a non-violent manner. If not - the potential for repercussion could ensue despite BOTH South & North Korean warnings over the leaflets. . .


In conclusion: All that these leaflet campaigns are doing is keeping the Koreas in a State of Perpetual War. It endangers the lives of many innocent South Korean families as well as hurting the local economy & tourism. However, being in a State of Perpetual War only favors the U.S. military/MIC who would want nothing more than to keep the war machine going in the region. . .

a reply to: SurrenderingAmerica

Haha just noticed my spelling error.

Que = Cue.


derp.