Report on the 12th Tongil-Hankook Forum

Prof. Dr. Park’s lecture was titled “Insight into North Korea’s economy in regard of market and trade – How effective are the UN sanctions against North Korea?” and Prof. Dr. Lim presented a lecture titled “How do the strategies of the new South Korean government for the prospective economic plan look like?” Additionally, a discussion with three experts was lead: Dr. Kim, Young-Hee (KDB: Korea Development Bank), Dr. Dong, Yong-Seung (Good Farmers Institute) and Dr. An, Byung-Min (KOTI: Korea Transport Institute). The three experts discussed, with focus on their respectively field, the following topic: “In time of North Korean provocation and sanctions against North Korea -  Where is the breakthrough to an economic cooperation between North and South Korea?”

The first speaker, Prof. Dr. Park, Jong-Chul, said in his lecture that markets in North Korea have largely extended and grown. Trade between North Korea and China has improved by much, however since the strengthening of sanctions of the global community against North Korea trad has decreased. The important strategic goal of Kim, Jeong-Un, is the enforcement of autocracy and the direction communication with the USA in form of threats with nuclear weapons.

The second speaker, Prof. Dr. Lim, Eul-Chool, introduced the new South Korean government’s North Korea strategies (Prof. Lim is the scientific advisor for the new President, Moon, Jae-In, in the subject of “Unification”).

1.      Double-barreled strategy between the nuclear question and exchange

2.      Reconstruction of trust and enforcement of agreements

3.      Construction of infrastructure and the legislation system as a stage of preparation

4.      Strategic cooperation with public plans for development of neighboring countries

The first speaker, Dr. Kim, Young-Hee, argued that one should consider if the new economic plan of the new South Korean government is acceptable for North Korea.

The second speaker, Dr. Dong, Young-Seung, advice to consider the prospective business environment and possible regional integration in planning economy on the Korean Peninsula. 

 The third speaker, Dr. An, Byung-Min, argued that the idea of spatial planning in the West Coast, East coast, and DMZ is the core content of in the prospective economic plan of the new South Korean government and that it is in need of coordination.