Realistic Ways for Korea’s Reunification

Nearly 70 years have passed since Korea was divided into north and south by foreign forces. The past seven decades have witnessed the Korean nation suffering uncountable misfortunes and agonies. Mistrust and confrontation between the north and south have caused a vicious cycle of ceaseless slander, calumny and hostility. Besides, the Korean peninsula has turned into one of the hottest spots in the world, threatening the stability of the region and peace of the world.

To put an end to the confrontation between the north and south that is hindering the coordinated development and prosperity of the nation and threatens world peace and to achieve their reunification is a unanimous demand of the world progressives as well as Koreans.

To this end, the north and south should first reject foreign forces and hold fast to the standpoint of By Our Nation Itself.

As is known, foreign forces are at the bottom of dividing Korea into two and of hampering its reunification.

Korea was divided into two parts by the occupation of the southern part committed by the US in disguise of “liberator” in September 1945.

The US intensified its military control over south Korea in order to occupy the whole of Korea by using the south as a stepping stone for the realization of its strategy of dominating Asia. Outwardly it has pretended that it was concerned with the issue of inter-Korean relations and with its reunification, but in actual fact it has not been desirous of reconciliation and unity between the north and south for their reunification and hindered their reunification movement by all means. But for the obstacles laid by the US, the Korean nation must have realized their reunification long ago.

It is too obvious that the problem of reunification cannot be settled by relying on these outside forces. Worse still, to go on a tour around foreign countries touting for “international cooperation” in resolving the inter-Korean relations issue, the one related with the Korean nation, is a humiliating treachery of leaving its destiny in the hands of outside forces. In the eyes of the others, this cannot but be a shameful act.

To look back upon the past days, in the early 70s of the previous century both sides solemnly declared the three principles for national reunification―independence, peaceful reunification and grand national unity―in the historic July 4 Joint Statement, thus giving a promise of a fresh hope and optimism for the reunification movement. In 2000, the June 15 Joint Declaration containing the ideal of By Our Nation Itself was adopted at the north-south summit, the first ever in the history of national division, and in 2007, the October 4 Declaration, a programme for implementing the June 15 Joint Declaration, was signed, ushering in the June 15 reunification era when the north and south strived for reconciliation, unity and reunification.

The above facts show that the accomplishment of the cause of Korea’s reunification can be successful only when the north and south respect and implement the declarations with sincerity, rejecting foreign forces and holding fast to the standpoint of By Our Nation Itself.

Second, both sides should make positive efforts to defend national security and peace.

Though sixty years have passed since the end of the war (Korean war of 1950-1953) on the Korean peninsula, permanent peace is yet to be settled; a touch-and-go situation is being aggravated there.

Large-scale nuclear war exercises conducted by the US and south Korea around the peninsula are good examples.

The joint nuclear war games that started in the name of Focus Retina in 1969 have been conducted every year for the past 45 years, merely changing their names into Freedom Bolt, Team Spirit, Key Resolve, and Foal Eagle. Enormous amounts of nuclear strike means including nuclear-powered aircraft carriers have been mobilized into these exercises. In recent years the US and south Korea have worked out a tailored deterrent strategy, a nuclear preemptive strike scenario against the DPRK, and are attempting to put it into effect, thus seriously threatening the DPRK.

This has precipitated a critical situation where any accidental military clash may lead to an all-out war. Should another war break out on the Korean peninsula it will result in a devastating catastrophe incomparable with that of the past Korean war. The US would never remain unaffected in this war, either, where all kinds of modern nuclear means would be enlisted.

As long as such military confrontation and threat of war prevail, reunification of Korea would never be realized. Peaceful environment is the main prerequisite for Korea’s reunification.

Third, the north and south of Korea should create climate favourable for improving the relations between them.

It is heartrending for the Korean nation to be partitioned by foreign forces for nearly 70 years, and it is more intolerable to see one side slinging mud at and showing hostility to the other.

Improved relations between the north and south are something that cannot be achieved. The June 15 reunification era, when the north and south conducted exchanges and collaboration with each other in many sectors and both teams participated in the international games in the name of one team and they were cheered by people of both the north and south, testifies to it.

Whether the inter-Korean relations are improved or not depends on how the authorities of both sides make up their minds and how they strive to this end.

In his New Year Address for this year Kim Jong Un, supreme leader of the DPRK, particularly emphasized that a climate should be established for improving relations between the north and south. True to his intention, the DPRK National Defence Commission made a proposal to the south Korean authorities that both sides start with halting all acts of provoking and slandering the other side, and took unilateral measures to this end. And the high-level contacts between the north and south were held in February. According to the press release of the contacts, both sides agreed to refrain from recriminations to promote mutual understanding and trust, to continue to negotiate about issues of mutual concern and to strive to reset relations.

The international community warmly welcomed the agreement and earnestly wishes for its realization.

Korea should be reunified as early as possible.