At the end of World War II in 1945, the then-forming United Nations established a demilitarized zone between North and South Korea, with the 38th parallel of latitude as the delineation line. This agreement was reached between the United States, its allies and Soviet-backed North Korea. Consequently, two separate governments were set up on each side: South Korea was formed as a democracy while North Korea adopted a communist system. Since then, the two countries have grown further apart, both ideologically and culturally.
One of the key points behind the split of Korea is the divide between capitalism and communism. At the end of the war, North Korea was filled with Soviet-backed leadership and South Korea received support from the United States. These two conflicting ideologies, rather ironically, only further entrenched the separation between the two countries. This ideological split resulted in North Korea accepting a totalitarian style of governance, dabbling in Stalinist and Maoist rule, while South Korea adopted a democratic system with various freedoms.
In addition to the ideological incompatibility, the two countries adopted different economic policies as well. North Korea established a closed economic system whereby it imports and produces its own resources and goods, while South Korea adopted an open economy. North Korea’s economy is heavily reliant on its export of a few key products, particularly coal and nuclear weapons. In comparison, South Korea’s urbanisation, power, and global prominence is due to its openness to foreign direct investment and its vigorous export-based economy. It is the 12th largest economy in the world according to World Bank and the 13th largest exporter.
The physical distance between North and South Korea also has broad implications for their bilateral relationships. To this day, the border between them is one of the most heavily guarded in the world. The Korean Demilitarized zone (DMZ) is not only heavily guarded militarily but there are also strict travel restrictions. Neither North Koreans nor South Koreans can legally cross the border without prior consent from the Korean government.
North and South Korea have gone through a multitude of changes since World War II and the separation of the two countries has only been further entrenched by the passing of time. With two very distinct ideologies, economies, and a heavily militarily guarded border, North and South Korea continue to remain very much divided.
Impact on Citizens
The three-year Korean War, which started in 1950, saw an influx of refugees from both North and South Korea, who had to flee their homeland as a result of the conflict. As the war ended in an armistice, not an official peace treaty, North and South Koreans found themselves separated for decades. During this time, the citizens of both North and South Korea struggled to keep in touch, with limited communication options, such as the telephone, email, and post.
As a result of the separation, many families have found themselves divided; some have family members still in the North and some have made the difficult decision to leave completely. This can be especially heartbreaking for many citizens, especially those with elderly family members that are still living in North Korea and are unable to reunite with their families. This has had a particularly damaging psychological impact on many citizens that have been separated from their family members for decades, leaving many with feelings of sadness and helplessness.
While social media has allowed families and citizens to stay in contact, the South Korean government has been very restrictive of usage, due to potential communications with North Koreans that could facilitate illicitly activities, such as money laundering or human trafficking.
Regional Relations
The two countries have attempted to rebuild some sort of relationship in recent years, although tensions remain high. North and South Korea attempted to open regional cooperation programs in the 1990s, but these efforts were met with hostile moments from both sides. During the 2000s, tensions increased as the North tested more missiles, leading to economic sanctions from the United Nations, the United States, and other countries.
This hostile relationship culminated in 2017; at this time, North Korean tensions with the United States were at their highest, as the two countries threatened each other with nuclear warfare. This continued until 2018, when North and South Korea reached somewhat of an agreement through the historic 2018 Inter-Korean summit. Through this summit, both countries vowed to expand their economic and military relations, as well as promote cross-border projects.
However, despite the progress made between North and South Korea, many still remain skeptical of the relationship between the two countries. This skepticism stems from the continuous violation of the 2018 agreements and disinterest of either side to adhere to the terms by North Korea.
Prospects of Reunification
The prospects of reunification between North and South Korea remain uncertain as citizens on both sides remain divided on the issue. In South Korea, there is a greater enthusiasm for reunification; citizens in favor of the idea cite the cultural similarities and the shared heritage both countries have. They also recognize the economic benefit reunification could bring, such as the access to cheap labor from North Korea and the use of their natural resources to help strengthen the South’s economy.
On the other hand, there are many citizens who are opposed to reunification. They fear the costs that reunification could bring, such as the costly economic and social programs needed to help North Korean citizens adjust to life in the south. Moreover, many worry that South Korean culture would be displaced in the process, which could have adverse effects on South Korean citizens.
Overall, reunification of North and South Korea appears to remain a distant goal. This can be attributed to the two countries’ vastly different ideologies, economies, and physical distance. Even with the 2018 Inter-Korean agreement, tensions remain high between the two countries and many citizens remain opposed to the idea of reunification.
International Influence
The relationship between North and South Korea has also been closely scrutinized by international parties, mainly China and the United States. China has been a supporter of North Korea’s principles, while the US has been an ally of South Korea since the Korean War. Both countries have played a part in attempting to broker a deal between North and South Korea, but with very little progress made.
The US has stated that it is committed to the safety of South Korea, as well as to helping the process of reformation. At the same time, China is careful not to get overly involved in the region and has taken a more hands-off approach. As a result, the two countries’ efforts to help foster an agreement between North and South Korea have been difficult to navigate.
As a result of their close scrutiny, international parties have also begun to impose economic sanctions against North Korea as a way to stop nuclear weapons and missile programs. Although these are well-intentioned, economic sanctions have been shown to have a detrimental effect on North Korean citizens in regards to basic necessities, such as food and health care.
Conclusion
North and South Korea have been divided for more than 75 years and the prospect of reunification remains uncertain. Although the two countries have attempted to rebuild a relationship through the 2018 Inter-Korean Summit, citizens remain divided on the idea of reunification, mainly due to the vastly different ideologies and economies between the two countries. The region is also closely monitored by international parties, who have imposed economic sanctions on North Korea. Due to all these factors, the relationship between North and South Korea remains uncertain.
