Where Are Leaders Who Strive for Unification Diplomacy?

Exactly 20 years ago on Monday, the Berlin Wall collapsed, beginning the movement to unite Germany ― and Europe ― into one. Pun-loving academics say 11/9 opened the post-Cold War regime and 9/11 ended it, 12 years later.

Outside the old continent, Koreans might be the only people who cannot avoid deep emotions over this particular anniversary, as they are living in virtually the only divided nation on this planet. That sentiment might have reached its peak when former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl recently said, ``We Germans don't have very much in our history to be proud of. But we've got every reason to be proud about German reunification.''

No one can deny the contribution of Kohl and other global leaders ― former Russian President Mikhail Gorbachev and his U.S. counterpart, George Bush senior, among others ― made to the collapse of the Berlin Wall and the end of communism in Europe.

As always in history, however, it was the people, long-suppressed East Germans in this case, who sped up what otherwise might have been a more time-taking process, triggered by an unexpected ― even somewhat comedic ― episode involving an East German official's blunder on lifting the travel ban and an Italian journalist's false report about it.

To sum up, the lesson is whether Korea has a leader like Kohl and his predecessor, Willy Brandt, as well as neighbors like the then-Russia and United States, and thus is prepared enough to handle the situation if reunification comes abruptly ― or rather accidentally.

As any Korean would agree, the answers to all three questions unfortunately are a resounding, ``No.''

Nor can it be denied that North Korea is different from former East Germany in almost every way ― politically, economically and socially. Again, however, it will be the North Korean people who will eventually break up the decades-long bondage and move toward self-liberation. If South Korea should provide the catalyst for it, it would not be in the form of confrontation and pressurizing but opening up the isolationist regime through greater aid and exchanges, as West Germany did.

Since the death of former President Kim Dae-jung, however, there appear to be no leaders among political Lilliputians in both halves of this divided peninsula who devote themselves to the historical task of reunification.

President Lee Myung-bak, who says his governing philosophy is based on centrism and pragmatism, has hardly shown it with deeds not just in domestic administration but in inter-Korean relationships, throwing most Koreans into serious doubts whether he has any vision, long or short, for this paramount issue.

Germany is of course suffering from some post-unification problems, such as the astronomical costs on former West Germans and relative sense of discrimination on East Germans. Still an overwhelming majority of them say, ``It's not easy, but far better than remaining divided.''

Korean politicians should listen, not least because North Korea could be the only remaining opportunity for the entire nation to emerge as a major power in the world.