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Q: What would happen if North and South Korea kissed and made up?
Would it be like the Berlin Wall coming down all over again?
Or would it be worse?
How would it affect the region?
I think one thing that would make this somewhat different than Berlin would be the internet, and the access to technology, and world markets. I wonder if the NK knows just how much information has been suppressed...
(this presumes that the NK regime flounders, and the SK 'democracy' is instilled)
Interesting question. I think it would be crazy for a while until some sort of order was restored, probably at the point of a gun.
I dont think the two groups would mix well at all, maybe eventually but it would take years.
You would have millions of Northern peasants suddenly mixing with the much more sophisticated Southerners for the first time ever. With the face system that's got to cause some problems. The Northerners would probably resent the hell out of the Southerners and the Southerners would probably look down on the Northerners and make sure they know their lowly status in society. A rich poor divide is never a good thing.
Then there is the brain washing to overcome. I'm sure the Northerners are raised believing all their problems stem from the South ( and America) and that won't go away quickly. Who knows what social problems that would cause but there would no doubt be some animosity there.
On the plus side, there would suddenly be no shortage of unskilled, low paid labor for the southern factories which would be great for the northerners who had actual jobs and money for the first time ever. China would probably hate this because overnight almost they could be replaced as the workshop of the world and the new Korea could be an economic giant while China is left in the cold.
China might hate the fact that America and democracy is suddenly on their border without the buffer Nth Korea provided. Then again, America might find itself being shunned now that no protection is needed from the crazy Kim regime.
For the average Nth Korean family, I think their life would improve a lot. They'd have food aid when needed, a much safer life as far as persecution and fear goes, and would probably be in the same situation as a poor Chinese farmer is now.. not great but I'm sure better than their situation now.
diverdude1:
you basically said everything I was going to say,,, for some reason I keep getting the mental picture of that feral guy who used to wander around SZ (anyone know if he's still around?). Well, opening up the North and letting them come into the South is about like having that Feral guy show up and start wandering into, not around, into the upscale restaurants and watering-holes of Shekou. Would totally trip a lot of people out, including the feral dude too!
*trivia note: I lived up in Uijeongbu one year teaching ESL,,, used to go up to the border and look at the giant NK flag and the guys with funny hats scoping us intently. Place has a weird vibe to it...
Interesting question. I think it would be crazy for a while until some sort of order was restored, probably at the point of a gun.
I dont think the two groups would mix well at all, maybe eventually but it would take years.
You would have millions of Northern peasants suddenly mixing with the much more sophisticated Southerners for the first time ever. With the face system that's got to cause some problems. The Northerners would probably resent the hell out of the Southerners and the Southerners would probably look down on the Northerners and make sure they know their lowly status in society. A rich poor divide is never a good thing.
Then there is the brain washing to overcome. I'm sure the Northerners are raised believing all their problems stem from the South ( and America) and that won't go away quickly. Who knows what social problems that would cause but there would no doubt be some animosity there.
On the plus side, there would suddenly be no shortage of unskilled, low paid labor for the southern factories which would be great for the northerners who had actual jobs and money for the first time ever. China would probably hate this because overnight almost they could be replaced as the workshop of the world and the new Korea could be an economic giant while China is left in the cold.
China might hate the fact that America and democracy is suddenly on their border without the buffer Nth Korea provided. Then again, America might find itself being shunned now that no protection is needed from the crazy Kim regime.
For the average Nth Korean family, I think their life would improve a lot. They'd have food aid when needed, a much safer life as far as persecution and fear goes, and would probably be in the same situation as a poor Chinese farmer is now.. not great but I'm sure better than their situation now.
diverdude1:
you basically said everything I was going to say,,, for some reason I keep getting the mental picture of that feral guy who used to wander around SZ (anyone know if he's still around?). Well, opening up the North and letting them come into the South is about like having that Feral guy show up and start wandering into, not around, into the upscale restaurants and watering-holes of Shekou. Would totally trip a lot of people out, including the feral dude too!
*trivia note: I lived up in Uijeongbu one year teaching ESL,,, used to go up to the border and look at the giant NK flag and the guys with funny hats scoping us intently. Place has a weird vibe to it...
Do you really think China would let that happen?
Stiggs:
No... well, I don't know.
If the Kim regime collapsed tomorrow is there anything China, or anyone could do other than secure their own border? Or maybe send in the troops - basically invade the country.
philbravery:
Just say that for some reason or another the nth Korean government vanished. I suspect China would role in and secure the southern boarder before anyone else did. Just say that there was a retaliation stike on nth Korea. China steps in grabs power and saves the day
there wl b reductn of military spendin' particularly by korea n jpn. those savings wl filter into economies n mayb bring jpn out of prolongd recession.
If they did kiss and make up, It would be good for Asia as long as the Chinese and American governments agree. Without that happening, I doubt there is any hope for that even if both Koreas wanted that. Both powers (US & CPC) would be paranoid about such a merger. China would demand that America would have to agree to withdraw all of it's military, and Korea would have to be neutral. As for the Koreans; They will probably follow the same path the Germans did when the wall came down.
Park has been kicked out S-Koreans president. Relationships will get worse.
