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Another issue, is that China and Seoul, and by extension the US, would be a lot more willing to step in and probably help with reunification or a regime change
by jethro_tell 9y ago
Another issue, is that China and Seoul, and by extension the US, would be a lot more willing to step in and probably help with reunification or a regime change with open borders if it didn't also mean a massive financial effort/refugee crisis on the border.
- btilly 9y agoMy understanding is that it is all China. China's two concerns are avoiding a refugee crisis, and not having a US ally directly on such a sensitive border. Seoul would certainly face hardship, but is currently willing to help. (Plus they would be happy to have solved their fear of immanent invasion.) However allowing Seoul to help would leave a US ally directly on China's border. However Seoul's support is faltering as memories fade. In public polls, 56% of South Koreans think that supporting reunification as "essential", but support is much stronger among older generations. If the stalemate lasts a couple more generations, the two countries may not want to reunite.
- jethro_tell 9y ago>Plus they would be happy to have solved their fear of immanent invasion. This may be fixed with the regime change method with open borders. I'm sure you are correct that the memory will fade and in turn, the desire to help, when there are no longer families that have to meet across the border.