Is the current Korean situation similar with Cold War Germany?

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   Johnny James Aposted 7 years ago

   On November 9, 1989 the Berlin Wall came tumbling down, and less than a year later East and West Germany united on what is now called "Unity Day." Do you this the historic meeting between the leaders of North and South Korea could be part of an eventual unified Korea? During the 80s the Communist party in East Germany was losing power fast.  Many East German started to flee the country, and there were reports that East German soldiers refused to fire on or apprehend those fleeing. Eventually this led to joint talks amongst the leaders of East and West German, along with several other countries including the United States, U.S.S.R, Great Britain and France about a unified country. Recently, these have been more "in the news" accounts of North Koreans trying to flee through the heavily guarded border. Has the economic stagnation in N.K. along with a possible revelation by Kim Jong Un that people are now willing to openly flee his regime now make him more open to an "eventual" unified Korea.

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      Live to Learnposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      One would hope it would be similar. I remember when the wall fell. It was one of the most exhilarating times I have ever lived in. But, with Kim, I have my doubts. We'll have to wait and see. It seems very strange to go from such protagonistic behavior to suddenly appearing conciliatory. We can only hope for the best for the people of both Koreas.

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      Don Wposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      In my opinion, this is not like the end of the soviet bloc in the late 80s. This is a calculated ploy, using flattery and hope to create a more favorable political climate for countries that abuse human rights.
      
      I think it's a trap, custom made for Donald J Trump - with the assistance of China. It's aimed directly at Trump's personal flaws, and I don't think it would have worked as successfully on anyone else.
      
      I predict short-term concessions that cost N. Korea nothing, e.g. a proposed peace treaty with the South etc. which will help N. Korea position itself as a sensible, reasonable nation state, ready and willing to take a new approach to peace.
      
      That will make it harder for the US to go back to sanctions and military threats later without seeming like the aggressor (and China and Russia will gladly line up to position the US in that role).
      
      This is a new MO for N. Korea, but not for China. It's just much more effective with Trump. He is being outmanoeuvred by China (and by extension N. Korea which is under heavy Chinese influence). Only hope Trump listens to whatever sensible people are left in the White House.
      
      Or . . . I'm being overly pessimistic . . . (I don't think I am).

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   ahorsebackposted 7 years ago

   North Korea , fighting as the last of the stone age communication systems ,effectively two cans and a string now opening unwillingly to e black market cell phones , computers  ,maybe TV's if you will, Add inevitable outside geo /political /cultural influences of it's people ?   A hard realization they can't keep a  hand on each controlled mind in North Korea, I have to believe that their people are rising up or threatening to too even in a passive way ,
   
   There is no more a dangerous formula for a threatening internal cultural /political revolution than a starving populace .   All other political credit is just political posturing . N.K has only ever had world terror as a world offering for trade .  Maybe they will come through , maybe they won't.

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