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- Title
Korean Unification and the Interests and Roles of Neighboring Countries.
- Authors
Terry, Sue Mi
- Abstract
Korean unification could come about suddenly. As it was impossible to predict the East German and Soviet collapse at the end of the Cold War and the German unification that followed, it is impossible to predict when unification will occur on the Korean Peninsula other than to say it could happen, perhaps even within a decade. There is a great danger of unification occurring when South Korea and other neighboring states are not ready. The consequences of a poorly planned regional response to Korean unification, particularly in a scenario where North Korean is instable, are potentially calamitous. Preemptive diplomacy--strong and forthright cooperation among the great powers, particularly between the United States, South Korea, China, and Japan--will be essential to mitigate the negative consequences of unification and ensure that it winds up benefitting the entire region. It is imperative that such efforts to smooth the path towards Korean unification begin today. Unless South Korea can assure all regional stakeholders to play a constructive role in unification, the process could become more messy, protracted, and costly than it would be otherwise. By contrast, if South Korea can succeed today in getting the support of its neighbors for a variety of unification scenarios, it can ensure that the creation of a unified Korean state, while still expensive, will be as smooth as possible under extremely challenging circumstances. The beneficiaries under such a scenario will be not only the people of the Korean Peninsula, but also the people of the neighboring states and indeed the people of Asia and the world. All would experience great benefits from the merger of North Korea into a new and unified Korean state with free markets and free elections.
- Subjects
KOREA; KOREAN reunification question (1945- ); SOCIAL history; INTERNATIONAL relations
- Publication
International Journal of Korean Studies, 2015, Vol 19, Issue 3, p102
- ISSN
1091-2932
- Publication type
Article