korean unification studies

The South-North Summit came up with a Declaration that potentially could have a large impact on unification. But ultimately, any progress towards unification - both material and immaterial aspects - can be measured by progress in just one field - support for divided families.

In the Declaration, point number 8, entitled ‘Promotion of Humanitarian Cooperation’ includes several initiatives for divided families. These include:

• agreement to expand reunions of separated families and their relatives;
• agreement to promote the exchange of video messages; and 
• agreement to station resident representatives from North and South Korea at the reunion center to be established in Mt. Geumgang.

The impact of national division on families is perhaps the greatest tragedy on the Korean peninsula. Imagine being divided from your family because of differences in political systems. During Germany’s division, postal and even phone links kept divided families informed and connected, except during the harshest periods of the Cold War. Only when this aspect of separation is ended, will real progress towards unification occur.