The Comparison of Political Structure and Relevant Approaches to Unification in South and North Korea

The disintegration of the Korean peninsula after the World War II, and its consolidation after the bloody war between the two Koreas, have created two totally different governments and consequently, two different nations on either side of the Korean Peninsula. On one hand, South Korea has used its reliance and alliance with the U.S. and has created a liberal and developmental government. On the contrary, North Korea has developed a socialist government based on its so called Juche ideology which significantly relies on the personality of its great leader of communist party and has prioritized its defense capability development based on nuclear and missile deterrence over economic development. Despite the fundamental and structural difference between the two governments and their political strategies, Korean Reunification remains an integral part of their constitution and the ultimate goals of the leaders of the two countries, which has resulted in unification models provided by both sides in order to achieve this mutual goal. With the knowledge of its weaker position, North Korea has introduced a confederative model based on a country, two governments system, indicating its priority for survival and preventing its probable deterioration by the dynamic economy of South Korea. In return, South Korea has taken a gradual approach toward unification, with hope to face reforms in North Korea which tries to keep pace and avoid a sudden unification with high costs for South Korea. It indicates that South Korea while preparing for the collapse of North Korea or the occurrence of Unification, tries to spread its democratic system and liberal economy throughout the peninsula.