The issue of North Korea and unification goes beyond Korea’s borders. In fact, it is considered one of the most significant topics in the global world today. After all, from the Battle of Incheon led by General MacArthur to the Korean Armistice Agreement, as well as recent sanctions on North Korea by the United Nations and U.S., the matter surrounding Korea has always been subject to global influence.

But the objective of this article is not to argue that North Korea and unification is simply an international issue. Rather, I want to explore the next step: exactly how much of the issue is “international” and how should such an international issue be dealt with in order to reach unification?

(Viewing the border area between Russia, China, and North Korea from the Fangchuan Observation Tower)

Rather than simply share my ideas to answer these questions, I decided to interview someone who is more knowledgeable about this topic – Sarah Mack. Sarah is a student from Georgetown University currently majoring in Regional and comparative studies with a concentration in international security, gender and human rights in Northeast Asia and minoring in Chinese. Currently, she is studying at Yonsei University for the semester; surprisingly, this is not the first time she’s staying in Korea. During her high school years, Sarah went on an exchange program to attend a school in Jeonju for a year. Furthermore, she interned at North Korea Strategy Center (NKSC) for a year – including a stint in the Korean office the past summer – and before that, also worked for Now, Action & Unity For Human Rights (NAUH). To sum it up, Sarah is an American who knows about Korea – both South and North – very, very well.

Q1: To what extent is the issue of North Korea and unification an international one? In other words, how much of a global impact does the issue have?

In International relations theory, there are three international regime types: multipolar, bipolar, and unipolar. For example, Pre WW1 Europe was a multipolar system: inherently unstable, leads to balancing alliances, the cold war Era was a bipolar system: US vs. USSR – stable due to mutually assured destruction but both sides are prone to overreacting to the others security policy because the stakes are so high if one great power acts first... The current system is a unipolar system, with the US wielding more hard power [such as] military, economic, and soft power [such as] cultural, linguistic, etc. than any other country in the world. The biggest threat to international peace under this system is another large power growing large enough that it can threaten the hegemon…In the modern Era the country most likely to take on this role is China.

Therefore, I think if the Korean peninsula were to reunify under a South Korean democratic government, it could provoke backlash from China against any American presence there. Building tensions between the United States and China could lead to an economic or even an armed confrontation, which would either accelerate or reverse the rise of China and possibly lead to a reordering of the current international system.

However, I think the regime in Pyongyang is not going to go out without a fight –whether that be a war, in which they could get military assistance from China, or a petering out of legitimacy over time, in which case I think China would still try to help them economically. North Korea is important for China to maintain the current balance of power in Asia and prevent a war with the United States, which it is still not prepared to fight as of right now. However, this could change over time, and along with it China's willingness to continue protecting North Korea.

If North Korea starts a war by using nuclear weapons, I predict China will be reluctant to help them. They simply do not have enough nuclear weapons, troops, or military infrastructure to withstand a nuclear war with the United States, and could stand to lose their position as the number 2 power in the world by engaging in military conflict with the United States. The costs [of] losing all the economic, political, and military gains they have worked to build for the past several decades, not to mention possible annihilation, would far outweigh the benefits in this case.

Q2: How actively should foreign countries intervene in order for Korea to reunify? Does Korea have a chance to reunify without help/measures from foreign countries/international organizations?

I think the US will inevitably play a significant role, although I personally think that they should try to leave it to Koreans as much as possible. It was foreign powers meddling on the Korean peninsula that arbitrarily split it down the 38th parallel in the first place – although this was supposed to be temporary – and we don't want to repeat that. I think in order to maintain positive diplomatic relations with the governments and people currently in North Korea, South Korea, China, and the U.S. should only intervene as much as the people of Korea want.  However I also think that the likelihood of that happening is slim.

Q3: What are some possible actions different groups, countries, and organizations can take to reunify Korea, either directly or indirectly?

Reunification starts from inside North Korea...If the people of the two Koreas do not know or understand each other when political reunification comes, it is destined for disaster. This also works both ways though – I think that South Koreans are not informed enough about their brethren in the North. Much in the way that North Koreans learn about the ROK through dramas and movies, I think talking more about North Koreans in the South, and portraying them as human beings, is really important.

Q4: As an American, do you feel that you have an obligation to work for the unification of Korea? Do you thinks foreigners in general share such a thought?

As an American, I certainly hope that everyone on the Korean peninsula will someday enjoy the rights and freedoms that South Korean citizens have…However, I don't personally feel comfortable actively advocating for or opposing Korean reunification in a political way, or advocating for military intervention, etc. I feel like it is my duty as a human who has been extremely lucky to have had opportunities in Korea to use those opportunities to help whoever I can.

*새터민들: North Korean defectors

Q5: Any extra comments you would like to make in regards of the North Korea/unification issue?

I think if and when the Kim regime falls and the time to consider reunification comes, it is important to listen to the voices of the Korean people and what they want...I also fear that in the years following reunification North Koreans will not be able take enough positions of leadership in rebuilding their country due to their relative and/or perceived lack of skills and education. I think that South Korean individuals and firms stand to gain the most, financially, from reunification if it happens, due to all of the infrastructure that needs to be built in the North; this is of course off the tax dollars of mostly South Koreans...

If North Koreans do not feel their voices are being heard, or feel otherwise suppressed, this could lead to major political unrest or even a second civil war, which obviously no one wants.

Foreign influence is inevitable, but Korea has to make sure that it clearly stands at the forefront of unification. As Sarah mentioned, we don’t want to repeat history and leave the Korean peninsula in the hands of foreign powers. Especially in a situation in which once unified, Korea will become a global leader.

According to “Vision 2040 Project – Unified Korea as a Global Leader” published by the Korea National Diplomatic Academy, a unified Korea will have the seventh largest economy and seventh most powerful national brand. Furthermore, a unified Korea will become a model of democratization and development for developing countries to follow; it will also rise as one of the central figures in the East Asian economic community and a bridge between Eurasia and the Asia-Pacific. With great power comes great responsibility, and the same will be for a unified Korea. Korea needs to prove that it can take on such responsibility by successfully leading unification.
 

Byoung Joon (Daniel) Bae
Grade 12
Asia Pacific International School