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Dreams of Korean Unification

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Is the reunification of the Korean peninsula really possible? After three years of war between the North and South Koreas, the Korean Demilitarized Zone separated the two Koreas through the Cold War and into the 2010s. Since the beginning of the 21st century, the relations between the two Koreas have somewhat improved; however, the relationship started to decline, due to conservative South Korean president Lee Myung-bak, who opposed the north’s continuous development of nuclear weapons, and the threat of bombing parts of South Korea by the new dictator of the north, Kim Jong-un, after the death of his father, Kim Jong-il. By comparing Germany’s and Vietnam’s reunification with that of the Korean Peninsula, I believe that Korean reunification is still possible. Lately, the word, unification, has been something of a buzzword in South Korea. Although current South Korean president, Park Geun-hye, emphasized unification in her New Year press conference on January 28, 2014, many young generations especially find the idea of Korean reunification as nothing more than pure fantasy. According to Julian Ryall’s article, "Park Pushes the Dream of Korean Reunification," “As unification can provide the northeast Asia region with a fresh growth engine, I think will be jackpot not only for South Korea, but also for all neighboring countries.” Although the vast majority of South Koreans agree with her statement, their reasons are more varied than simply an economic boost. It’s understandable that some South Koreans have a desire to see their relatives, who have been stuck in North Korea, since the end of the Korean War in 1953 in a stalemate at the heavily fortified Demilitarized Zone. There are some, who do not want to live in the shadow of North Korea’s antagonistic threats of invasion, nuclear attacks or artillery bombardment of civilian areas. In order to achieve Korean reunification, there are potential costs and problems, such a

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