C A N A D A’ S R O L E A S A N E N G A G E R O N T H E R O A D T O P E A C E F U L

K O R E A N R E U N I F I C AT I O N

P H O T O : G . B I S H O P 2 0 1 2 ©

H I T T I N G D A E B A K ( J A C K P O T ) :

P R E PA R E D F O R T H E 2 0 1 4 K O R E A N WA R & R E U N I F I C AT I O N S Y M P O S I U M B Y G A B R I E L L E B I S H O P, M . A . C A N D I D A T E

N O R M A N PA T E R S O N S C H O O L O F I N T E R N A T I O N A L A F FA I R S

B A C K G R O U N D

• Germany: a viable example?

• The risks of “reunification by absorption”

• Regional consequences of a “Korean Spring”

• Engagement: a peaceful, mutually-beneficial path to reunification.

P H O T O : G . B I S H O P 2 0 1 2 ©

B E N E F I T S O F R E U N I F I C AT I O N

• Military, security benefits:

✓ Reduce budget; re-think conscription. More peaceful NE Asia.

• Economic benefits:

✓ 216 million tonnes of rare earth oxide minerals (largest in world) in DPRK.

• Demographic benefits:

✓ Better support ratio (increased labour force) for aging population. Source: Goohoon Kwon, A United Korea? Reassessing North Korea

Risks (Part I), Global Economics Paper No: 188 (Goldman Sachs Global Economics, Commodities and Strategy Research, 2009)4.

Grandmother, grandson say goodbye after 2006 round of North-South family reunification in North Korea. Photo: Lee, Kun-hoo (Getty Images)

C A N A D A’ S R O L E A S A N E N G A G E R

Defining engagement:

✓ Foreign direct investment;

✓Cultural and academic exchanges; and

✓ Small-scale humanitarian and infrastructure projects.

Photo: Chosun Exchange NGO Photo: Chosun Exchange NGO

!Photo: by Jianchu Xu, East-Asia Coordinator for the World Agroforestry Centre Photo: The Ashai Shinbun, 2013

DPRK workshop participants learning about land issues at the urban redevelopment authorities gallery in Singapore:

DPRK female entrepreneurs doing field research on retail concepts and strategies in Singapore in the Samsung section of a department store:

A [North] Korean scientist discussing with user group leaders on chestnut management in sloping land: New Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in the DPRK:

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T H E B A R R I E R S T O T H I S S T R AT E G Y

Concerns of the regional players:

✓ USA: NK engagement contrary to US foreign policy - bar it?

✓ China: balance of power jeopardized? Refugee crisis?

✓ Japan: Fate of kidnapped citizens?

C O N C L U S I O N

• Road to peaceful reunification will be long, require effort.

• Short-term costs will be high.

• Long-term benefits could make it worthwhile.

• Canada has the opportunity to take a historic, pragmatic role by helping prep DPRK for reunification. P H O T O : G . B I S H O P 2 0 1 2 ©

T H A N K Y O U | 감사합니다 .

Contact:

Gabrielle Bishop

gabrielle.bishop@carleton.ca

@MsGabrielle