Boon Mee posted a topic about the reunification of the two Germany.
How painful it was financially for the West German and how much these days there is a resentment in West Germany towards their Eastern 'brothers'.
Everybody is talking also about the possible reunification of the two Korea.
There is an obvious advantage, the fact that we will get rid of one of the last truly 'Stalinist state with all the risks we are facing if they stay that way.
But who will pay?
And will it make the South Korean happy?

In my honest opinion i doubt North and South Korea will ever unite simply because the NK regime and black market creates alot of income for it and other countrys like China. Sure, it would probably benifet America or even Britain but as it stands right now NK has no reason to become one with SK if we're talking profits and power for NK which is all it cares about.

It creates very little income by South Korean standards (or any developped country standards).
Money is not really the concern, on the short term anyway.
The concern is what to do with a few millions people who have been taught not to think for a long time...
Not so easy to change them.
Ask the Germans...

Agree with the points illustrated above on how it would not work out too well. Just take a look at North & South Vietnam today which is probably the best example of a partially successful reunification. Ho Chi Min City is still light years ahead of Hanoi and the contrast between N. & S. Korea would be even starker.

Boon,

HCM better / more advanced that Hanoi ???
Been there ? any stats on this very private statement ?

Mike

It's been several years since I was in HCM but the whole place seemed much more vibrent/entrepreneurial than Hanoi. My sister-in-law was recently in both cities and from her impressions - that's what I'm basing my opinion on.

but but

states has united in America after South- North war - didn't they ? and still are united ....

so, why not give it a try ?

State sponsored tours, by chance?

Let's get back on topic, why bring the US into this.

I agree. I've been there a few times and it is obvious that Saigon is years ahead. But Hanoi is closing the gap.

Jeepers! Been over 30 years since Vietnam "reunification" and Hanoi is closing in fast.
Please keep us posted o ye wise world passport man.

You Europeons amuse me no end.

[quote=Nomad,Jul 29 2005, 01:17 PM]
Jeepers! Been over 30 years since Vietnam "reunification" and Hanoi is closing in fast.




There is more than the eyes can meet. The reasons explaining the gap between Saigon and Hanoi are historical (Saigon has always been favoured by the West) but also cultural. Hanoi, closer to the Chinese traditions (Confucianism), have always been slowlier to move ahead.
Another reason to explain the gap is the fact that almost all the Northen infrastructure has been destroyed by your compassionate air force. The damage done to this country was on such a large scale that it's still crippled.
Nice job, baby killers.

You don't even mention the previous 30 years before we even arrived of Japanese and French military aggression?

You're hatred for America is dangerous to your mental health.

Assuming Kim Jong Il's government falls in the forseeable future, reunification would be the wrong plan. North and South Korea should remain two seperate nations. As we saw from the two Germanies, reunification is an economic nightmare.

Not totaly Ben. In my opinion, Germany shouldn't have re-unified until East Germany recovered itself economically, etc, at which by that time they would be a democratic nation with re-unification coming easier as they are more Governmentally and Economically alike.

Same should happen with North/South Korea.

Oh please AJ. You are trying to tell us that a backward jungle country in the 60's had an extensive infrastructure that is taking more then 30 years to rebuild. FYI the vast majority of bombing was done along the Ho Chi Min trail. This was the jungle conduit the Viet Cong used to infiltrate the south.

Baby Killers? Nice touch. And where do you stand on the abortion issue?

Owned.

I like you people.

At that point, why even bother re-unifying?

To satify some stupid national or ethnic unity junk. The North and the South want to reunify at some point in time.

I am not sure that that desire is as strong among the South Koreans as you deem it is.

At the moment, mabye not; the older folks are dying off. The newer generation is all hyped over peace and happiness with NK, crap like that. It will be they who determine re-unification. They might be dumb enough to do it.

T HA T
IS
A LL!

The Nation of korean has been torn.
All of u haven't got the taste of their feeling.