Economic cooperation between inter Korea
It is a great tragedy that Korea peninsula remains divided into two, although South Korean and North Korean have the same ethnic group. So, Korea have to be unified as soon as possible, because it is our duty. Then, have you heard about ‘economic cooperation’ between South Korea and North Korea? One of the most serious problem that obstructs Korean peninsula from unification is the economic gap between South Korea and North Korea.
Think about the case of Germany. There were also divided nation like Korea, but they could achieve their unification thanks to economic assistance. Korean peninsula also can accomplish unification when putting economic cooperation above other things.
Economic cooperation, which is done by both South Korean and North Korean, is an activity that contains 'exchange' and 'investment'. It mainly aims economic profits, but it is considered as 'little unification space'. According to the June 15th North-South Joint declaration, South and North Korea promised to equivalently develop economy so that through exchanges and cooperation. Also, they establish a compromise to independently have talks for reunification as hosts. Then, South Korea and North Korea have some economic cooperation since the Declaration. Especially, there is 'Kaesong Industrial Region' which called small reunification space. There have been many economic cooperation above KIR between inter Korea, and it evolved from general trade to commissioned processing trade to direct investment. The world pays attention to the situation of the Korean Peninsula, because when Korea have unification, there will be much changes in the international situation. So, to achieve reunification, Korean government should increase and fortify economic cooperation.
First, Economic cooperation between South Korean and North Korea is a method to relieve difference between them. South Korean and North Korea can relieve the difference not only by economic communication but also by political communication and negotiation required during the process of cooperation. The case of Germany, for example, East Germany and West Germany signed many treaties for economic integration including <4 Stage Unification Plan>and <Convention about currency, economy, and social assurance alliance>. As a result, West Germany could make economic integration possible such as reconstruction of economy and reorganization of industrial economic structure. The process of unification of Germany shows that there was political communication through economic cooperation between East Germany and West Germany. Also, Korea peninsula can elicit an exchange of various fields from economic cooperation. Now, South Korea and North Korea are operating Kaesong Industrial Region. Although Kaesong Industrial Region was closed temporarily, it reiterated thanks to a proposal of comprehensive meeting between two Korea by both Korea. KIR played an important role such as a forum for conversation. The world corporations also changed a view of Korea, so they don't regard Korea as danger area anymore. It means that economic cooperation can alleviate difference by leading political communication and consent.
Second, economic cooperation can recognize the importance of the market economy to North Korea. Before the unification of Germany, East German has already aware of inefficiency of socialist market economy. Accordingly, many East German emigrated to West Germany and East Germany lost labor force. After September 1989, financial condition got worse and worse because of the demonstration and sudden increase of emigrants. So, demonstration was spread and the situation could not settle the dust without bloody suppression. There was no executive of the communist regime who strongly wants to remain the regime. In this situation, the government of West Germany linked these to unification with the firm will and the object after the collision of the Berlin Wall. This was the result of East German's the awareness of perfect democratic system and prosperous economy and awareness that capitalism is necessary. North Korean can also notice that they can solve the economic problem through market economy. Thus, people will demand change of regime. It leads to the situation that autocracy collapse inevitably. It is difficult for North Korean to educate market economy system. But, they can know the system with economic cooperation as a duck takes to water.
Third, North Korea can have a degree of interdependence with South Korea. North Korea mostly depend on China and will be subject to China deeply as times goes by if this situation is remained. According to CIA, almost all of the import and export of North Korea in 2010 was done with China. China has provided food and crude. At the same time, North Korea tries to solve the economic problem through the interchange with China. So, economic cooperation between North Korea and South Korea is nothing more than interchange in name only. To solve this matter, South Korean government should make economic cooperation that can penetrate into North Korean economy, not a just simple support. It can make higher interdependence and closely united each other.
Obviously my opinion is not the popular one, despite being the correct one. There are plenty of people who will dispute my position with examples like Cheonan warships affair, North Korea's assault on Yeonpyeong Island. Of course, these arguments are all shortsighted and simply incorrect. The regime of 김대중 and 노무현 launched the Sunshine Policy regarding North Korea and it could make the inter-Korean summit twice. Also, June 15th North-South Joint Declaration was announced. It worked as the start of an amicable North-South relationship. In addition, North Korea government would not regard it as support of South Korea. For example, Kaesong Industrial Region is what South Korean corporation moved to reduce labor cost and under the permission of North Korea. Therefore, understanding each other's position more firmly and operating deep economic cooperation will be a help for unification rather than not prioritizing the economic cooperation.
To sum up, economic cooperation can relieve the sense of difference between North Korea and South Korea. North Korean people can recognize the significance of the market economy naturally thanks to economic cooperation. Also, it is the easiest way of increasing the interdependence in Korea peninsula. Even though someone said that there was no advance despite there have been much economic cooperation, it is not the problem of economic cooperation, but that of understanding each country. So, South and North Korea should try to communicate and promote the unification through economic cooperation.
References
References
Inter-Korean Economic Cooperation
A 38 North Interview (October 7, 2012)
A 38 North Interview (October 7, 2012)
Kaesong Industrial Religion and Korea model unification way (September 24, 2014)
<the June 15th North-South Joint Declaration> (June 15, 2000)
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