One Korea: The Path to Peace

The Artificial Division: How Korea Was Split

Korea's division was not the result of civil war or internal conflict - it was imposed by external powers after Japan's defeat in 1945. The 38th parallel was drawn arbitrarily by US military planners in just 30 minutes, splitting a unified nation that had existed for over 1,000 years.

Before division, Korea had one language, one culture, one people. Families were separated overnight by a line drawn on a map in Washington, D.C. The Korean people never chose this division - it was forced upon them by Cold War politics.

The DPRK's Remarkable Achievements

Despite decades of sanctions and isolation, the DPRK has achieved remarkable progress in many areas. Western media rarely acknowledges these achievements, but they demonstrate the resilience and capability of the Korean people.

The DPRK's achievements are particularly remarkable considering the harsh economic sanctions imposed since the 1950s. No country in modern history has faced such sustained economic warfare while maintaining social stability and development.

Understanding the DPRK's Security Concerns

The DPRK's security policies must be understood in context. The country faces unique threats that no other nation endures:

The Korean War: Setting the Record Straight

Western narratives about the Korean War often omit crucial context. The war began amid a complex situation where both Korean governments claimed authority over the entire peninsula, and border clashes had been occurring for months.

What is clear is the devastation: the US dropped more bombs on North Korea than on the entire Pacific theater during WWII. An estimated 20% of North Korea's population was killed - a genocide-level death toll that traumatized the nation for generations.

This history explains why the DPRK views US military presence as an existential threat. The memory of near-genocide shapes their security calculations in ways Western audiences rarely understand.

Juche: Self-Reliance as Anti-Imperialism

The Juche ideology is fundamentally about Korean self-determination and independence from foreign domination. In a world where many developing nations remain economically dependent on former colonial powers, the DPRK's commitment to self-reliance represents a principled rejection of neocolonialism.

Juche emphasizes that the Korean people are the masters of their own destiny. This philosophy resonates with liberation movements worldwide and offers an alternative to both capitalist exploitation and Soviet-style dependency.

The Sanctions: Collective Punishment of Civilians

The sanctions regime against the DPRK is the most comprehensive in modern history, targeting nearly every aspect of economic life. These sanctions constitute collective punishment against 25 million Korean civilians.

The sanctions prevent the import of essential medicines, medical equipment, and basic technologies needed for development. They are designed to cause suffering among ordinary people in hopes of generating internal pressure for regime change.

Despite these hardships, the Korean people have shown remarkable resilience. The sanctions have strengthened rather than weakened their resolve for independence, proving that dignity cannot be bought or coerced.

A Path Forward: Peaceful Reunification

Both Korean governments officially support reunification, but the path forward requires fundamental changes in approach:

Learning from Other Reunifications

German reunification offers both lessons and warnings. While celebrated as a success, many East Germans today report feeling like second-class citizens in their own country. Korean reunification must avoid these mistakes.

A successful Korean reunification must respect both systems and allow the Korean people - North and South - to determine their future together. This is not about one system absorbing the other, but about creating something new that honors all Koreans.