Sunday, 19 December 2010
South Korean protestors hold banners and shout slogans during an anti-government rally in Seoul, capital of South Korea on Dec. 18, 2010. South Korea has declared plans for a live shell artillery drill in the waters southwest of Yeonpyeong Island on a selected date from Dec. 18-21 depending on weather conditions. (Xinhua/Park Jin Hee)
ReUnification or Integration?
The following article is from Al Jazeera regarding the views of the South Korean President. This is interesting and presents half an idea. The other half belongs to the North. To have any validity both North and South must work out the details without force being applied to either from foreign powers. I'm thinking they will surely fight each other because this is what warr-like brothers usually do. Whilst it's kind of good that the UN is getting involved, we should remember that it was the UN who created the division within the one Korea to suit the two powers USSR and USA...and the idea has worked abominably every day since. Still, there is some hope. As we can recall there was an equally bizarre and schizophrenic nation divided into North and South Vietnam some time back. Unification has worked out very well there.
The other alternative for the North I think would be for it to integrate into the greater China system with specific portfolios within the Chinese politburo held by NK present representatives. This would be far better than the current situation. Either would be far better than the current situation. Korea remains about the only place on earth that a real international war could commence: the strategic position, the untapped wealth of the north, the population densities etc. No one is really interested in peace between Palestinians and Israelis because on the whole no one likes either very much, and there's no real resources there, and, comparatively, not many people. Korea is very different and remarkably more significant and explosively 'tectonic' to life on earth.
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South Korea's president says Seoul must prepare for a united country as the North becomes aware of South's affluence.
Despite calls for reunification, tensions still remain high on the Korean peninsula [GALLO/GETTY]
South Korea's president has said unification with North Korea has become more likely as people in the North become more aware of the South's affluence.
Lee Myung-bak said on Thursday, during a trip to Malaysia, that residents of the communist nation know the world is changing, but did not elaborate on how their knowledge has expanded, or how soon unification would come.
"Reunification will definitely come," Lee said in a speech marking the liberation of the Korean peninsula from Japanese colonial rule.
"I believe that the time has come to start discussing realistic policies to prepare for that day such as a reunification tax."
Heightened tensions
Lee's comments come amid a period of heightened tensions on the Korean peninsula after the North shelled a South Korean island close to a disputed maritime border, killing at least four people.
The North has blamed the South for sparking the exchange of artillery fire last month and criticised both Seoul and its US allies for "provocative" military drills.
The two states are still technically at war having only signed a ceasefire in 1953 and since coming to power in 2008, Lee has abandoned the so-called "Sunshine Policy" of his predecessor for a more strident stance.
Lee said on Friday that North Korea's new understanding of circumstances in the outside world is "an important change that no one can stop".
He added that South Korea has a responsibility to ensure that the North's 23 million people enjoy basic rights, and that Seoul should use its economic power to prepare for unification.
One way Lee proposed was a "reunification tax" to help fund the expected $1 trillion it could cost when the two Koreas eventually rejoin.
Costly reunification
He also said it was now time to start saving for the massive cost of reuniting with the North, whose economy has been driven close to ruin by central economic planning, heavy military expenditure and years of famine.
North Korea is one of the world's poorest countries, with annual gross national income of about $24bn in 2009 - less than three per cent the size of the South's economy.
The cost of reunification could wreak havoc on South Korea's economy, with a state-funded research agency saying it would raise the tax bill for South Koreans by the equivalent of two percentage points annually for 60 years.
Opinion polls, however, show more than 60 per cent of South Koreans want unification, but they would prefer it happen later rather than sooner because of the cost.
The other alternative for the North I think would be for it to integrate into the greater China system with specific portfolios within the Chinese politburo held by NK present representatives. This would be far better than the current situation. Either would be far better than the current situation. Korea remains about the only place on earth that a real international war could commence: the strategic position, the untapped wealth of the north, the population densities etc. No one is really interested in peace between Palestinians and Israelis because on the whole no one likes either very much, and there's no real resources there, and, comparatively, not many people. Korea is very different and remarkably more significant and explosively 'tectonic' to life on earth.
_______________________________________________________-
South Korea's president says Seoul must prepare for a united country as the North becomes aware of South's affluence.
Despite calls for reunification, tensions still remain high on the Korean peninsula [GALLO/GETTY]
South Korea's president has said unification with North Korea has become more likely as people in the North become more aware of the South's affluence.
Lee Myung-bak said on Thursday, during a trip to Malaysia, that residents of the communist nation know the world is changing, but did not elaborate on how their knowledge has expanded, or how soon unification would come.
"Reunification will definitely come," Lee said in a speech marking the liberation of the Korean peninsula from Japanese colonial rule.
"I believe that the time has come to start discussing realistic policies to prepare for that day such as a reunification tax."
Heightened tensions
Lee's comments come amid a period of heightened tensions on the Korean peninsula after the North shelled a South Korean island close to a disputed maritime border, killing at least four people.
The North has blamed the South for sparking the exchange of artillery fire last month and criticised both Seoul and its US allies for "provocative" military drills.
The two states are still technically at war having only signed a ceasefire in 1953 and since coming to power in 2008, Lee has abandoned the so-called "Sunshine Policy" of his predecessor for a more strident stance.
Lee said on Friday that North Korea's new understanding of circumstances in the outside world is "an important change that no one can stop".
He added that South Korea has a responsibility to ensure that the North's 23 million people enjoy basic rights, and that Seoul should use its economic power to prepare for unification.
One way Lee proposed was a "reunification tax" to help fund the expected $1 trillion it could cost when the two Koreas eventually rejoin.
Costly reunification
He also said it was now time to start saving for the massive cost of reuniting with the North, whose economy has been driven close to ruin by central economic planning, heavy military expenditure and years of famine.
North Korea is one of the world's poorest countries, with annual gross national income of about $24bn in 2009 - less than three per cent the size of the South's economy.
The cost of reunification could wreak havoc on South Korea's economy, with a state-funded research agency saying it would raise the tax bill for South Koreans by the equivalent of two percentage points annually for 60 years.
Opinion polls, however, show more than 60 per cent of South Koreans want unification, but they would prefer it happen later rather than sooner because of the cost.
One Korea
I guess this is what you get when one nation is sliced in half by the UN to protect the interests, and spheres of influence at the time, of the USA and the USSR. It was a crazed and stupid decision at the time and so it has remained ever since.
The resolution of the present situation really comes down to the 2 Korean 'brothers-North & South' working things out with each other. Whether this is a bloody and violent method or a peaceful one is really up to those 2 halves of the one whole. I think it will be quite bloody as this suits the prevailing and kindred temperaments on both sides... but it's really no one else' business at all.
The resolution of the present situation really comes down to the 2 Korean 'brothers-North & South' working things out with each other. Whether this is a bloody and violent method or a peaceful one is really up to those 2 halves of the one whole. I think it will be quite bloody as this suits the prevailing and kindred temperaments on both sides... but it's really no one else' business at all.
North Korea Ready for An All Out War that Will Not Be Confined to the Koreas/ China Daily
PYONGYANG - The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) said its army and people were ready for escalated conflicts and all-out war that would not be confined to the peninsula, the official news agency KCNA reported Saturday.
According to the KCNA, a spokesman for the National Peace Committee of Korea said in the statement released Saturday that the recent moves of the US indicated that it was fully joining in Republic of Korea (ROK)'s moves for a war of aggression against the DPRK after "throwing away the disguise of a hypocrite".
It was clear that if the ROK army mobilized all flying corps, warships and missiles for a war against the DPRK and the US joined them with the latest weapons, it would develop into an all-out war, not a local war, he said.
The spokesman said ROK and the US fabricated the sinking of the ROK'S warship the Cheonan early this year and the recent Yonphyong Island shelling incident was aimed at sparking an all-out war.
It was ridiculous for the south to talk about a "right to self-defence". It was no more than "war servants and colonial stooges" of the US, he said.
"Should an all-out war break out again on this land, it will not be confined to the boundaries of the peninsula," he said.
The army and people who are ready for both escalated war and an all-out war will "deal merciless retaliatory blows" at the provocateurs and aggressors and blow up their bases and thus honorably defend the dignity and security of the nation, he said.
He warned ROK and the US to bear in mind that their ignition of a dangerous war would bring them nothing but self-destruction.
It was reported that the US and ROK held a meeting of the chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of ROK and the US in Seoul on Dec 8 over a military attack on the DPRK under the pretext of "deterring provocation".
Tension on the peninsula increased after the exchange of artillery fire on Nov 23 between ROK and DPRK, which killed four people.
According to the KCNA, a spokesman for the National Peace Committee of Korea said in the statement released Saturday that the recent moves of the US indicated that it was fully joining in Republic of Korea (ROK)'s moves for a war of aggression against the DPRK after "throwing away the disguise of a hypocrite".
It was clear that if the ROK army mobilized all flying corps, warships and missiles for a war against the DPRK and the US joined them with the latest weapons, it would develop into an all-out war, not a local war, he said.
The spokesman said ROK and the US fabricated the sinking of the ROK'S warship the Cheonan early this year and the recent Yonphyong Island shelling incident was aimed at sparking an all-out war.
It was ridiculous for the south to talk about a "right to self-defence". It was no more than "war servants and colonial stooges" of the US, he said.
"Should an all-out war break out again on this land, it will not be confined to the boundaries of the peninsula," he said.
The army and people who are ready for both escalated war and an all-out war will "deal merciless retaliatory blows" at the provocateurs and aggressors and blow up their bases and thus honorably defend the dignity and security of the nation, he said.
He warned ROK and the US to bear in mind that their ignition of a dangerous war would bring them nothing but self-destruction.
It was reported that the US and ROK held a meeting of the chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of ROK and the US in Seoul on Dec 8 over a military attack on the DPRK under the pretext of "deterring provocation".
Tension on the peninsula increased after the exchange of artillery fire on Nov 23 between ROK and DPRK, which killed four people.
For both ROK and DPRK China Urges Calm Calm Calm/ China Daily
China urges 'calm, calm, calm' on the peninsula
By Wu Jiao and Uking (chinadaily.com.cn)
Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Zhijun urged the Republic of Korea (ROK) and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to show calm, restraint and not to take any action that may escalate the tension on the peninsula.
"The situation is highly complex and sensitive, and China is deeply concerned and worried. " Zhang said Saturday, in a latest call of talks, similar to the earlier statement by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu.
Zhang said China has made unremitting efforts recently to defuse the tension by sending State Councilor Dai Bingguo to visit the DPRK and ROK to exchange ideas candidly and also encourage the engagement and dialogues.
"To ease, not nervous, to dialogue, not confrontation, to peace, not war, is the strong desire and voice of the people in the region and international community. There should be no more escalation on the peninsula. China will resolutely oppose any actions that could lead to a deterioration and escalation in the situation and wreck regional peace and stability," Zhang said.
"China calls on both countries to be calm, calm and calm, restraint, restraint and restraint, give top priority to the safety of 70 million Koreans, give priority to the regional peace, and avoid any new military clash. China hopes relevant parties could seek solutions in a responsible and peaceful way"
"The situation also highlights the necessity and urgency of holding Six-Party Talks. China calls again all parties to return to the right path of dialogue."
By Wu Jiao and Uking (chinadaily.com.cn)
Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Zhijun urged the Republic of Korea (ROK) and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to show calm, restraint and not to take any action that may escalate the tension on the peninsula.
"The situation is highly complex and sensitive, and China is deeply concerned and worried. " Zhang said Saturday, in a latest call of talks, similar to the earlier statement by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu.
Zhang said China has made unremitting efforts recently to defuse the tension by sending State Councilor Dai Bingguo to visit the DPRK and ROK to exchange ideas candidly and also encourage the engagement and dialogues.
"To ease, not nervous, to dialogue, not confrontation, to peace, not war, is the strong desire and voice of the people in the region and international community. There should be no more escalation on the peninsula. China will resolutely oppose any actions that could lead to a deterioration and escalation in the situation and wreck regional peace and stability," Zhang said.
"China calls on both countries to be calm, calm and calm, restraint, restraint and restraint, give top priority to the safety of 70 million Koreans, give priority to the regional peace, and avoid any new military clash. China hopes relevant parties could seek solutions in a responsible and peaceful way"
"The situation also highlights the necessity and urgency of holding Six-Party Talks. China calls again all parties to return to the right path of dialogue."
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