Korean Unification: The Way Forward

摘要

This thesis examines the following potential scenarios for the unification of the Korean peninsula and discusses their pros and cons: (1) the collapse of the North Korean government followed by its absorption into South Korea's current governmental structure; (2) a possible Free Trade Area (FTA) encompassing the Korean peninsula with the potential to expand to neighboring nations; and (3) the establishment of Special Economic Zones (SEZ) within North Korea using business practices from both South Korea and China to strengthen their economic and national ties. A matrix of five variables will be used to measure the effectiveness of each scenario. The variables are time, cost, stability, international acceptance, and trust between the two Korean states. The scenarios also will be examined through the lens of the theory of economic interdependence. The hypothesized end state would encompass a single Korean nation that actively participates in the international community while remaining free of nuclear weapons. The author dedicates a section of the thesis to how this nation might emerge on the international scene and how its neighbors might view it.