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5 Reasons Why The Talk Of Korean Peninsula Unity Is A Mere Fantasy

...The proposal that Pyongyang should give up its nukes is a non-starter
By Amodani Gariba
Opinion 5 Reasons Why The Talk Of Korean Peninsula Unity Is A Mere Fantasy
AUG 14, 2018 LISTEN

The official policy of North Korea following the armistice of 1953, which halted the Korean War, has been ‘Sun gum’ literally meaning ‘military first’. North Korea learnt the hard way – the only way they could survive in this mafia world is by greatly propping up their military capabilities. After a war that has caused them more than a quarter of their population, North Korea could be seen as putting the right measure in place to make sure that such tragedy never repeats itself. Therefore it is out of place for anyone to have double thoughts on whether or not Pyongyang would give up its nukes after spending more than six decades building and perfecting them. The leaders of DPRK are not ignorant of recent developments around the world.

They know that had Gadhafi not given up his nuclear arsenals in 1977, he would probably be amongst the living. They also know that the threat of a nuclear strike saved the tiny island of Cuba from the bullying of the US. What do all these three countries have in common? They are all socialist! North Korea knows that the only thing guaranteeing their survival is the Nukes. Kim Jong Un might probably be thinking if this unity means giving up my nukes, then better another century of DPRK.

The worker’s party of DPRK is not ready to let go of socialism.

We saw the Berlin Wall crumble. We witness the dramatic demise of the USSR. We watched as china gave some concessions to markets forces. To hear stories about china treating the African countries just as how the white man does, in terms of trade, is now normal. We beheld when the shocking reformation of socialism happened in Vietnam. Socialism in Vietnam now comes with ‘Vietnamese characteristics which is the delusional phrase for ‘market forces’. North Korea has proven to the world that they are more communist than the communists themselves – lest I forget Cuba is still communist.

Yes! North Koreans want things to get better, but there’s one basic understanding amongst the people that gives them their life force, ’we are in this together’. North Korea is not oblivious to the fact that out its boundaries, milk and honey are not flowing on the streets, not especially when they are way ahead of some many countries in Africa even though these African countries have a lot of natural resources, which North Korea can only fantasize of. The ideological difference, which also exposes the irony in this case, is that the economies of many African countries are largely influenced by major capitalist institutions and countries. Therefore if capitalism is such a good economic system, why aren’t these African countries experiencing a boom? North Korea cannot take seriously, the word of the Americans on how to run the economy when Washington has continuously failed to curb the risen poverty and inequality in the US. Not all countries are able to withstand US led economic sanctions for long, but not North Korea has thanks to their collectivist attitude. Chunk of the economic problems of the country is as a result of the sanctions placed on them and even a toddler in the outskirt of Pyongyang knows.

There’s so much invested in the South that the Demise of Capitalism looks impossible.

After the war in 1953, there has been so much money poured into South Korea as investment to boost the development of infrastructure in a bid to make it more attractive and the envy of the communist bloc. Some sources peg the total US economic assistance and aid to South Korea at $35 billion. At some point, 60% of all investments in South Korea came from the US. US Foreign economic assistance was essential to Seoul as it helped the country recover from the war quicker than expected; it helped the country escape the burden of heavy international debt as is the case with many developing nations.

Aside that, the United States-Republic of Korea Mutual Defence Treaty (US-ROK), signed three months after the war, was key in guaranteeing national security to the south and providing the right environment for the thriving of capitalism. Though before their transition to democracy, the south was ruled by military strongman, however the US capitalists and investors had no problem overlooking that lapse. Well – we know of capitalism’s affinity towards regimes that are autocratic but operate the free market economy. The story of Pinochet of Chile should ring a bell. For western capitalists, supporting political authority in distant countries is not about who ruled or how they ruled, but who would protect their economic interests.

Today, though debatable, the US has succeeded in their motive – making the South the envy of the North. The streets of Seoul are not much different from the ones in New York or Wall Street, but trust me, like I said earlier, they are all US investments. The de facto government of South Korea is not that of Moon Jae-in’s but the one ran behind closed doors by US corporations.

If the Korean peninsula unity means the forfeiting of US investments, worth more than trillion dollars, capitalism and individualism, then better another 100 years of Wall Street.

The growing US military presence in and around the Korean peninsula

It is estimated that the US has over 25,000 troops operating in South Korea’s part of the Demilitarization Zone (actually the most militarised zone in the). It also has a military base in nearby Guam. As of 2013, the US had approximately 50,000 troops stationed in Korea’s neighbouring country, Japan. I cannot see any unification between the South and the North if there are no measures for the closure of Guam and withdrawal of US forces from mainland South Korea – but this is a mission impossible. There is no way Pyongyang will commit to a unification pact when there are US troops around the peninsula. Sure, I am not the only person who can see it to be potentially, the most catastrophic mistake of the 21st century to commit to unity under this kind of circumstance, Kim Jong Un can see so too.

The presence of US military troops around the peninsula is also a matter of geopolitical dimension and significance. First, it signifies that the US has more influence in the Asia pacific than china – probably its biggest competitor, if not china. Second, it is an assurance to US’s close allies in the region namely Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan (china’s break away) etc. of military support in any event of distress. Lest we forget history, it is those with no foresight who will put all their eggs in an American basket. In the height of the Vietnamese civil war, we all know what happened in Saigon (the then capital of South Vietnam). When the Americans left (as a result of the uncontainable casualties they were suffering from the Viet Cong and the North), the president cried on national television and at the end, Vietnam became unified under socialism and Saigon renamed Ho-Chi Minh City, after the great Vietnamese revolutionary leader, Ho Chi Minh.

World Powers are the bigger losers should any unification happen.

I am not in any way suggesting, china pulls strings in Pyongyang. It is a known fact that North Korea adds premium to her sense of nationalism and would not for a second, tolerate dictatorial tendencies from any country but this is not to say North Korea does not revere china. The brotherhood between the two countries runs deep since the times of the Korean Civil war, through to the armistice and the countless trade embargoes they have had to endure from the west. For unity to work between the two Koreas there has to be a lot of compromise, either from the north or the south. In the case the compromise comes from the North, china becomes the big looser and if otherwise, the US.

Amodani Gariba
chairman, NKrumahist Circle

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