A Study on Reunification of the Korean Peninsula: Focusing on the Perspective of Globalization

After World War II, North and South Korea were split up. This changed the strategic situation on theKorean peninsula and in Northeast Asia. The split, reinforced by the Korean War, left two nations with opposingsystems: North Korea’s dictatorial communism versus South Korea’s democratic capitalism, makingreunification extremely challenging. Despite this, both governments have consistently declared reunification anational goal. Ef orts such as the 1972 peace talks and South Korea’s Sunshine Policy have sought to bridge thedivide, and North Korea’s membership in the United Nations signals some willingness to engage internationally. Globalisation plays a crucial role in this context. In today’s interconnected “global village,” no nation isentirely self-suf icient. Economic, technological, and resource interdependence tie countries together—agriculturally rich nations need technology, while technologically advanced nations require agricultural goods. The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated this interdependence vividly, as the entire world faced a common crisisrequiring cooperation across borders. This study aims to examine how globalisation can influence thereunification of the Korean Peninsula, highlighting that in a world of deep interconnections, mutual dependencemight pave the way for overcoming ideological and political barriers.