'Support from Japan crucial for unification'

By Yi Whan-woo

South Korea will require support from regional powers in unifying with North Korea and mending its ties with Japan therefore will be essential, experts said Thursday.

They said Seoul will need to spend billions of dollars, collect intelligence and convince its neighbors that the possible post-unification era will be win-win situation for all.

And Japan, the world’s third-largest economy that has recently bolstered ties with the United States, can be an “indispensable” partner for South Korea, they added.

“Peace on the Korean Peninsula is a matter of not only inter-Korean issues but also international affairs; and collaboration with neighbors will be important,” said Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies.

He cited that German unification in 1991 was made possible with support from regional powers, including the U.S., the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom and France.

“In that regards, restoring ties with Japan will be essential,” Yang said.

Kwak Jin-o, a senior researcher at the Northeast Asian History Foundation, agreed.

“It’s important for South Korea to not be distracted by disputes with neighbors in its preparation for unification,” he said.

Seoul’s ties with Tokyo have been at their lowest level in recent years.

The two sides have been at odds over Japan’s sexual enslavement of Korean women before and during World War II, its bid to register wartime facilities on a world heritage list and its moves to whitewash wrongdoings during the 1910-45 colonial rule of Korea.

They have also been in a territorial dispute over Dokdo, Korea’s easternmost islands that Japan calls Takeshima.

“It will be difficult for a unified Korea to concentrate on re-building the country if Japan refuses to cooperate and instead argue over those pending issues.”

The Park Geun-hye administration estimated last year that the cost to re-build North Korea, including construction of railroads, highways, and sea ports, will be $500 billion.

Cheong Seong-chang, a senior research fellow at the Sejong Institute suggested drawing out Japanese investment to fund part of the amount.

“Japan has shows interest in developing Wonsan, Raijin and other North Korean port cities on country’s east coast,” he said.

In particular, he pointed out Rajin, which is a transit point for an ongoing three-way logistics project among the two Koreas and Russia, will have competitiveness.

“Japan still has a large economy even though China has emerged as the world’s No. 2,” he said. “And Tokyo’s cooperation can ease our burden in bearing the costs.”

Lee Myeon-woo, another Sejong Institute researcher, underscored the importance of capitalizing on Japanese intelligence and Tokyo’s ties with the U.S.

“Collecting accurate pieces of information on North Korea is essential in planning unification. On the other hand, we have limited sources in learning about the repressive state,” Lee said.

“Japan has been collecting its own intelligence which it has not shared with South Korea.

“Also North Korean citizens living in Japan are valuable assets to understand about their compatriots.”

Lee pointed out that South Korea’s current pro-China policy may raise objections from the U.S. if it continues in Seoul’s preparation for unification.

“The U.S. wants South Korea to actively join a security alliance with Tokyo. By maintaining close ties with Japan, we’ll be able to prove such a three-way alliance will be valid.”