The Korean Divide In The United States

"A house divided against itself cannot stand." -- are the words which inspire nations going through civil unrest and sometimes war to stop, reevaluate the conflict and achieve resolution. The Korean divide occurred at the end of the Japanese Occupation. Japanese colonized Korea peninsula and attacked many aspects of their culture. The Koreans were forced to learn and follow Japanese traditions and even change their names. The liberation from Japan occurred in 1945 however it left a divide in the society. Some Koreans wanted to redistribute wealth and power after independence and others hopped to keep wealth and power as it is. Furthermore, the physical border dividing South and North Korea was drawn at the end of World War II by the two superpowers,

North Korea is the world’s worst violator of press freedom according to the media right group Reporters Without Borders as stated in the Koreas Packet. The nation is ruled by the Supreme leader, Kim Jong-un who is guilty of crimes against humanity. Anyone who challenges or speaks against the government will be punished mercilessly. As recorder in the “Crimes against Humanity” article the Un reports an estimate of 120,000 political prisoners in four labor camps. The government set up many strict laws and regulations and contains total control over its citizens. The government keeps very tight security on traveling inside and outside Korea. Therefore, the country is one of the world’s most isolated societies. For example, viewing or possessing foreign TV materials or publications is illegal. In addition, the collapse of the Soviet Union resulted in the lack of foreign aid while North Korea’s economy has been declining ever since. Many citizens experience food, power and fuel shortages on a daily basis. As seen in the FrontLine movie many children are abandoned by their poor parents and are left to survive on the streets, many die of starvation or fled the country. The majority of the population is malnourished. The reunification will ensure freedom and provide human rights to the North Koreans. Plus, many families were separated during the divide and were banned from seeing each other.

The North Korean population of twenty-four million combined with the current South Korean population will result in a larger workforce. Alos, the increase in population will provide a larger number of buyers and consumers. As stated in the “World Korean Reunification Cripple the South” article by David Downing the numerous natural resources located in the present day North Korea have a combined net worth of seven trillion dollars. The economy of Korea will flourish and may even surpass its wealthy neighbor China in the future. The booming economy will benefit Korea’s trading partners such as China and Unites States which in the long run would increase the world’s