Forum
DMZ Strategies

The presenters were as the following: Dr. Seliger (Representative of Germany), Dr. Nishino Junya (Representative of Japan), Haejun Yang (Representative of China), and Dr. Young Hoon Song (Representative of South Korea).The speakers had shared their thoughts regarding forming peace on the Korean Peninsula and DMZ Development Strategy.

To provide a brief background information about the presenters, Dr. Seliger is the representative of Hanns Seidel Foundation Korea. Dr. Nishino Junya is the director general of center for Korean studies at Keio University. Haejun Yang is the representative of the Chinese council for the promotion of peaceful reunification of Korea. Lastly, Dr. Young Hoon Song is currently the research director of the reunification research center at Kangwon National University. Please keep in mind that I will be mainly focusing on Dr. Seliger’s Speech.

To begin with, Dr. Seliger had discussed how techniques and technology are behind in North Korea compared to other countries. The political situation is tensed, and propaganda are going around again. North Koreans are restricted with sanctions and are in heavy political situations as well. One of his key points were that realism is needed amongst the South Korean government to talk to the North Korean government. The projects in progress planning to be launched are not realistic enough. He has emphasized that taking small steps at a time and practicing more do-able projects, and sanctions dialogue are important and necessary.

Moreover, national security is another key point. In North Korea private exchange and every other possible route are currently forbidden and un-exposed. It is important that we are fully aware of those situations. Additionally, he has stated that there are few skepticisms surrounding Mount. Kumgang in relation to its tour programs. Rather than having connections to big companies we should target smaller and private companies because North Koreans still have many doubts and are often scared about progressing the Mount Kumgang project in their territory.

Furthermore, he believes that it is not realistic enough to prioritize the demands of DMZ and Mount Kumgang as first demands. The concept of reunification can be uncomfortable and a scary concept to the North Koreans. We need to remark consistency with projects. There are new forms and contracts to be singed and these are changed too frequently due to the rapid system changes in the South Korea’s government. The current approach strategies that South Korean government is establishing are not quite appropriate. Normalization should come before reunification.

In conclusion, Dr.Seliger argues that the South Korean government is too eager to complete bigger projects and goals. Smaller step by step procedure is necessary at the moment. Common example can be holding workshops in third world countries to ease the tension between two countries as a more realistic approach towards reunification by indicating the power of citizens as well.