First, let's review the history of the division of Germany and the Korean Peninsula.
History of the division of Germany
In 1945, the Allies entered Germany after Germany's surrender and divided Germany into four parts, namely the American, British, and French occupation zones and the Soviet occupation zone. During this period, the political and economic divisions between the United States, Britain, France, and the Soviet Union deepened, leading to the division of Germany.
In 1948, the United States, Great Britain, and France decided to establish a regime under their control in western Germany, known as "West Germany", while the Soviet Union established another regime in eastern Germany, known as "East Germany". From then on, Germany was divided into two countries. In the decades that followed, there were huge political, economic, and cultural differences between East and West Germany. East Germany had a socialist system, while West Germany had a capitalist system. At the same time, there is also a big gap between the economic development levels of the two countries.
In 1961, the GDR built the Berlin Wall, blocking East Germany and West Berlin to prevent East German residents from fleeing to West Germany. This move marked the culmination of the split between East and West Germany.
With the end of the Cold War and changes in the international situation, relations between East and West Germany gradually eased. On October 3, 1990, East Germany was reunited with West Germany, and Germany became a unified country.
History of the division of the Korean Peninsula
At the beginning of the 20th century, the political situation on the Korean Peninsula was turbulent. In 1910, the Korean Peninsula was annexed by Japan and became a Japanese colony. After the end of World War II, Soviet and American troops were stationed in the north and south of the Korean Peninsula, respectively, beginning a decades-long division and confrontation.
In 1945, after the surrender of Japan, the Korean Peninsula was bounded by the 38th parallel and received by Soviet and American troops, respectively. With the respective support of the United States and the Soviet Union, the Republic of Korea (also known as South Korea or South Korea) was established in the southern part of the Korean Peninsula in August 1948, and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (also known as North Korea or North Korea) was established in the northern part of the Korean Peninsula in September 1948.
The huge differences between the North and the South in terms of political systems, economy, culture, and military have caused the Korean Peninsula to remain divided for decades. During the Cold War, tensions on the Korean Peninsula escalated. In 1950, the Korean War broke out, and the war between the North and the South lasted for three years. After the end of the war, the two sides reached an armistice near the 38th parallel, maintaining a state of division.
Although the Korean Peninsula has been divided for decades, both the North and the South have tried to resolve their differences and problems through peaceful dialogue and negotiations. However, due to the differences between the two sides in terms of political systems, territories, cultures, and military forces, the peace dialogue and negotiations between the North and the South have not been able to make substantial progress.
Why, then, can Germany be peacefully reunited again, but the Korean Peninsula cannot?
Personally, I believe that the main reasons for the reunification of Germany are as follows:
- Changes in the political system: In 1971, the United States and the Soviet Union reached an agreement on Germany, and Germany's division was maintained. However, with the end of the Cold War and changes in the international situation, the political systems of both East and West Germany changed. East Germany gradually shifted to a market economy and democracy, while West Germany continued to maintain its capitalist and democratic institutions.
- Narrowing of the economic gap: Before the reunification of East and West Germany, there was a large gap in the level of economic development between the two countries. However, over time, the economy of East Germany gradually improved, and the gap with West Germany gradually narrowed. This economic proximity provided favorable conditions for the reunification of the two countries.
- Strengthening people-to-people exchanges: Despite political and economic differences between East and West Germany, people-to-people exchanges between the two countries have been relatively active. Such people-to-people exchanges help to enhance understanding and friendship between the two peoples and provide a social foundation for the reunification of the two countries.
- Support from the international community: The international community was generally supportive of the reunification of East and West Germany. This was largely due to the end of the cold war and the acceleration of the European integration process. European countries want to see a united Germany that strengthens the political and economic stability of the continent.
On the Korean Peninsula, on the other hand, there are great differences in the political systems of the two countries. North Korea has a socialist system, while South Korea has a capitalist system. This institutional difference has led to many political, economic, and social differences between the two countries. Although there have been some trade and cultural exchanges between the two countries, differences and contradictions between them still exist. In addition, there is also a certain sense of hostility and mistrust between the two peoples due to historical reasons. All of these factors make it more difficult to unify.
Second, there is also a big gap between the level of economic development of the two countries. North Korea's economy is relatively backward, while South Korea is one of the developed countries. This economic disparity makes it possible for the two countries to face many economic challenges after reunification.
Third, the international situation has also had a certain impact on the reunification of the two countries. Since the end of the Cold War, the international situation has undergone great changes. The United States and other Western countries began to support South Korea's separatist movement, and this external pressure also brought challenges to the reunification of the two countries.
Therefore, for the DPRK and the ROK, the realization of peaceful reunification requires overcoming many difficulties and challenges. It is necessary for all parties to work together to resolve differences and problems through dialogue, consultation and cooperation, so as to promote peace and development in the region.