ABSTRACT

The north Korean position, consistent with a revolutionary ideology, continues to be that reunification is the supreme national goal after which all other issues may be solved. It is important to recognize that the problem of reducing tensions and confrontation on the Korean peninsula is related to the problem of reunification. Given the common aspiration of the Korean people for reunification and its many objective advantages, it is reasonable to expect that Korea will be reunified someday. Reunification must involve reconciliation of differences in Korean culture as well as politics. Considering the universal Korean desire for reunification, with its clear political, economic, and military advantages, and the risks and costs of the present military confrontation, it seems very likely that Korea will eventually be reunified. Real Korean moves toward unification, as distinguished from propaganda initiatives or cosmetic gestures, are inhibited primarily by suspicion, ideology, power and status concerns, and fear of jeopardizing relations with outside powers.