South Korea Sunshine policy

Sunshine policy of South Korea toward North Korea

1. Description

Sunshine policy has been performed toward North Korea. The full-scale sunshine was started from Kim, Daejoong administration. Since then, the tension between North and South Korea has been gradually decreased and North Korea has opened its gate of some specific areas like economic alignment with South Korea, tourism business and so on. For sure, this mood will help for North and South Korea to be more closer and to go to the unification in the end.

2. Enablers

• Lots of conomic potential of North Korea. (Strategic location connected to China, Abundent natural resources, Potential for tourism business, Strong alignment with China)
• National consensus in South Korea for the necessity of unification.
• Economic difficulty in North Korea requiring international aid.

3. Inhibitors

• Possibility of nuclear weapon development in North Korea.
• Kim, Jungil’s not cooperative attitude against international claims.

4. Paradigms

During the Cold War period in the world, here was a lots of tension between South and North Korea (Capitalism vs Communism). In the post Cold War era, lots of communism countries were collapsed and turned to be getting Capitalism countries. North Korea is last thorough communism country in the world. After extreme tension period inside Korea, South Korea started to come to North Korea with economic and peaceful aid, so called “Sunshine policy” despite some domestic/international critics and objection. But surely, this policy was effective to open North Korean gate to some extent. The door is getting opening in economy and politics. Sunshine policy could be a key factor for further approach to the unification of Korea.

7. Web Resources

http://www.time.com/time/asia/magazine/article/0,13673,501021104-384892,00.html

http://www.time.com/time/asia/magazine/article/0,13673,501030303-425964,00.html

http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200501/14/200501142204242879900090109012.html