A Creative Korean Unification Formula through Neutralization as an Alternative
http://ifes.kyungnam.ac.kr/eng/FRM/FRM_0201V.aspx?code=FRM120921_0003
IFES Forum
The ROK and the DPRK have insisted on their own unification formulae: ROK’s Korean National Community Unification (KNCU) formula and the DPRK’s Democratic Federal Republic of Koryo (DFRK). Seoul cannot accept Pyongyang’s DFRK formula, while Pyongyang cannot accept Seoul’s KNCU formula either. Hence, the DPRK and the ROK need to adopt a common unification formula agreed upon by both sides, so that they can work together to achieve a unified Korean peninsula in the future. Since neither Seoul nor Pyongyang can accept each other’s unification formula, the author wishes to propose a new Korean unification formula through neutralization as an alternative.
The current inter-Korean relations have been extremely hostile, and no one can predict when inter-Korean relations can be improved along with the denuclearization process. Thus, when the North Korea’s denuclearization process is on the right track in the near future, there will be a Korean peace forum consisting of the four parties (the U.S., China and the two Koreas) in accordance with the Sept. 19, 2005 joint agreement. The Korean peace forum will deal with a peace regime building replacing the Korean 1953 armistice agreement, eventually paving the way to a unified Korean peninsula. A unified Korea will face new challenges in a new international security environment and needs to map out a new security and foreign policy.
A Neutralized Peace on the Korean Peninsula (NPKP)
The author would like to propose a unified Korea through neutralization regime building based on the concept of a neutralized peace on the Korea peninsula. The concept is relatively easy to understand. If a country makes all efforts to neutralize the extreme thinking, hard-line policy and behavior, then national reconciliation, harmony of interest and the peace process will ensue. In that direction, there will be a smooth road to a peaceful unification of the Korean peninsula. A unified Korea will remain a non-aligned, neutral state, seeking a well-balanced security and foreign policy.
The concept of NPKP should be considered at three levels: (1) South Korean domestic level, (2) inter-Korean level, and (3) international level. First, ideological cleavages between conservatives and progressives need to be resolved through NPKP, and then national consensus on unification issues need to be built. Without neutralizing ideological cleavages in South Korea, there will be no national consensus. Second, inter-Korean reconciliation, cooperation and peace through NPKP need to be achieved for a unified Korea. Third, a unified Korea will be a non-aligned, neutral state without making a military ally with any of the four major powers (the U.S., China, Japan and Russia), maintaining a peaceful and balanced diplomacy with them. The neutralization of the Korean peninsula will be in the best interest of the Korean people and the four powers. The four major powers need to make firm commitments not to interfere in domestic affairs of a unified Korea. The unified Korea would be a peaceful, neutralized, non-aligned state, which will be a foundation for peace, security and co-prosperity in Northeast Asia.
In short, a neutralized peace on the Korean peninsula will be achieved if there should be national consensus building on Korean unification through neutralization in the South and the North. In near future, with some improvement in the denuclearization of North Korea and some progress of a peace regime building, the Korean unification issue through neutralization should be discussed at the Six-Party Talks and/or multilateral talks.
Neutralization Regime-Building as an Alternative to Two Koreas’ Unification Formulae
A unified Korea remains a future vision, not a reality for 75 million Koreans. The ROK and the DPRK have still lived in a hostile confrontation for the last 67 years since the division of the Korean peninsula in 1945. Nevertheless, Seoul and Pyongyang have made little efforts to create a unified state by peaceful means. The two Koreas have proposed their own unification formulae and have failed to agree on a common unification formula because of lack of political will to unify the Korean peninsula. The author has opposed Korean unification by force, absorption and incorporation. It appears that Korean unification may be achieved by inter-Korean cooperation, agreement and international agreements on a unified Korean peninsula through neutralization.
Neutralization is originally designed as a means to promotepeace and unification on the Korean peninsula, which has been constantly subject to great power politics for centuries mainlybecause of its geo-strategic location.[1] We cannot change geography in Northeast Asia, but we may change our history by adopting a creative unification formula for achieving a unified Korean peninsula through neutralization regime-building. A unified Korea’s independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty would be guaranteed by the four major power concerned, the U.S., China, Russia and Japan, surrounding the Korean peninsula for all times, permanently in times of war and peace under the condition that a unified Korea would permanently agree to renounce a war except for self-defense.
In the current Northeast Asian security environment, the Korean peninsula is where the four major powers’ interests are intersected, and thus, the four powers are unwilling to support Korean unification primarily because their interests are in jeopardy. However, a unified Korea through neutralization will benefit all parties concerned—two Koreas and the four powers. A unified, neutralized Korea will be in the best interest of the four powers, and thus they will support a unified Korean peninsula through neutralization.
The ROK and the DPRK need to be prepared for a unified, neutralized Korean peninsula. First and foremost they must neutralize themselves by disengaging from bilateral arms race, military provocations, ideological feud, and military alliance system. The two Koreas also have to promote national reconciliation, mutual trust and confidence building. Thus, inter-Korean relations must be improved and peaceful, so that the two Koreas can negotiate with the four major powers on the neutralization on the Korean peninsula. When a neutrality treaty between the two Koreas and the four powers are concluded, a divided Korea would be transformed into a peaceful and neutralized Korean peninsula.
Neutralization on the Korean Peninsula is based on an assumption that the four powers would prefer a unified, neutral, independent, and peaceful Korea to a divided, unstable one. What’s more, a unified Korean peninsula is unlikely to change overall strategic balance of power in Northeast Asia. Hence, this author firmly believes that the four major powers are likely to support the neutralized, unified Korean peninsula.
Itisargued that one of the core obstacles to the Korean peace and unificationprocessis the absence ofa common Korean unification formula and a common ideology acceptable to the two Koreas. Transforming variousconflicting ideologiessuch as socialism, Jucheidea (independence or self-reliance), Sun gun jongchi(military-first politics), capitalism, democracy, human rightsinto a common unification ideologyseems to be an impossible task. However, theidea ofneutralization serving as a catalyst can contribute to aframework of Korean unification based on the traditional concept of a HongikTongil ideology(wayof unificationbenefitingall). Therefore,we have proposed a Hongik Tongilideologyas a common ideologyof a unified Korea.
Thus, the author proposes a Korean unification formula through neutralization regime-building as an alternative to existing two Koreas’ unification formulae. In short, a neutralized unification formula is based on a five-stage plan through inter-Korean economic and peace community building to construct a unitary, unified state. The neutralization unification formula will be briefly discussed.
A Five-Stage Neutralization Unification Formula
A neutralized state will enjoy a neutral status in time of war and peace in international law. The idea of a permanent neutralization on the Korean peninsula has been supported for many centuries by scholars, politicians and intellectuals because of a geopolitical location of the Korean peninsula. Since the Korean peninsula has been a victim of balance of power politics, a neutralized Korea idea appeals to many people as a means to insure peace, security and prosperity on the Korean peninsula.
Professor In Kwan Hwang, Bradley University, proposed an original draft charter for neutralization on the Korean peninsula in the late 1990s. In 2008-2010, scholars in the U.S. and South Korea revised and expanded Hwang’s original charter, providing a framework for constructing a unified Korea through neutralization. The Charter for Neutralization on the Korean peninsula was declared as a neutralized unification formula on October 21, 2010 in Seoul, Korea (See Appendix). The charter proposes the future vision for a unified Korea through a five-stage neutralization formula, which will be briefly discussed.
The five-stage neutralization unification formula as shown below in the Table 1 provides a conceptual framework for building a neutralization regime on the Korean peninsula.
<Table 1> Five-Stage Neutralization Unification Formula
1ststage
Peace regime-building: implementation of inter-Korean agreements/ denuclearization/ a Korean peninsula peace treaty signed
2ndstage
Inter-Korean agreement on the neutralization unification formula
3rdstage
Conclusion of a neutralization treaty between the two Koreas and the four major powers (the U.S., Russia, China and Japan)
4thstage
Inter-Korean adoption of a neutralization constitution/ holding of a general, democratic elections in the entire Korean peninsula
5thstage
Establishment of a neutralized, unified Korea/UN member
Let us take a brief look at the future vision of the five-stage unification formula through neutralization as follows:The 1ststage is to build a peace regime on the Korean peninsula. The 1953 Korean armistice agreement needs to be replaced by a peace treaty signed by the four parties concerned (the U.S., China and two Koreas). Four peace agreements must be included in a Korean peninsula peace treaty: a U.S.-DPRK peace agreement, a South-North peace agreement, a U.S.-China peace agreement and a China-ROK peace agreement.[2]Without a peace treaty to end the Korean War, it is meaningless to discuss a unification issue through neutralization. The peace regime building on the Korean peninsula along with the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula is a top agenda at the four party talks in the near future.[3]
The 2ndStage is for the ROK and the DPRK to adopt a South-North joint agreement for a neutralization unification formula. It appears that the ROK and the DPRK may have so many difficulties in agreeing on a common unification formula based on the DFRK and KNCU formulae. The fusion of the North’s unification formula and the South’s plan is more difficult to be achieved than an agreement on the neutralized Korean unification formula. The two Koreas needs to have a political will to agree on the neutralization plan.
The 3rdStage of the neutralization unification formula is for the two Koreas to conclude a neutralization treaty with the four major powers. Without international cooperation on the neutralization unification formula, Korean unification through neutralization could not be achieved because of the four powers’ interests are intersected on the Korean peninsula. A multilateral neutralization treaty between the four powers and the two Koreas must be registered at the U.N. Secretariat to become a neutralized Korean peninsula.
The 4thstage is for the two Koreas to adopt an approved neutralization constitution, and to hold general elections in the entire Korean peninsula according to the new constitution to create a unified Korean state.
The 5thstage is to establish a neutralized, unified Korean state. The new state will be a member of the UN and enjoy a neutral state in international law, and finally a neutralized, unified Korea will be born on the Korean peninsula.
The realization of the five-stage Korean unification through neutralization requires a political will of the two Korean top leaders and many years of research and preparation. The ROK and the DPRK must take the initiative to persuade Korean people and the four major powers to accept a neutralized unification formula with firm determination and will to construct a unified Korea.
The South and the North need to begin building mutual trust, first ceasing arms race, avoiding military confrontation, and gradually engaging in military-security confidence building between the two Koreas.
The South and the North need to engage in improving inter-Korean relations by reducing tensions on the Korean peninsula and eventually constructing inter-Korean peace and economic community. It will take long time to conclude a neutralization treaty with the four powers, and Korean people must be patient and vigilant with a political will to create a neutralized and unified Korea.
Concluding Remarks
The DPRK has ceased the entire denuclearization process since its long-range rocket launch on April 5, 2009. It has refused to come to the Six-Party Talks, and instead, reactivated its nuclear facilities, violating the Sept. 19, 2005, joint agreement. To resume the long-stalled Six-Party Talks, the U.S. and the DPRK produced the February 29 (2012) agreement. Again, the DPRK violated U.N. Resolutions 1718 and 1874 and Feb. 29 agreement by launching a satellite using a three-stage rocket on April 13. As a result, a new crisis situation on the Korean peninsula arose.
The DPRK’s official web portal, Naenara, released the entire text of its Constitution amended on April 13 by the Supreme People’s Assembly. The amended Constitution is now referred to as the “Kim Il Sung–Kim Jong Il Constitution.” The preamble credits Kim Jong Il with turning "our motherland into an ever-victorious power of political thought, a nuclear power and an invincible military power and opened a great, brilliant path to the construction of a powerful and prosperous nation."[4]It remains to be seen whether the DPRK will abandon a nuclear power status.
There is always hope for peace and stability on the Korean peninsula. There will be an improvement in U.S.-DPRK relations in the near future, the denuclearization process will resume, and at the same time, there will be discussions on peace regime building on the Korean peninsula. Eventually the road to a peaceful unification through neutralization will open. It will take many years of preparation for a unified Korean peninsula.
As discussed above, the road to a unified Korea through neutralization will be long, rough and difficult, but the Korean unification process has already begun. In the short-term, the denuclearization and peace regime building process should be pursued simultaneously. The unification process will be accelerated with denuclearization and peace regime building on the Korean peninsula. It appears that Korean unification has been a political rhetoric and regrettably there was a lack of Korean leaders’ political will to achieve a unified Korea. Korean people as key players must work together for a unified Korean peninsula and persuade major powers to support a neutralized, unified Korea, which will be in their best interest. once again, Korean people must understand that their firm will eventually bring about a unified Korea with full support and cooperation of the four major powers. <The End>