North Korea’s New Unification Strategy

Dramatic changes in the international system have altered the Northeast Asian regional subsystem. The collapse of the socialist bloc that once supported North Korea has led to a system-threatening crisis, which in turn has led it to seek improved relations with South Korea and other developed economies. But in what ways have these changes influenced North Korea’s unification strategy? This article analyzes the possibility of change as well as the nature of the North Korean unification strategy under the leadership of Kim Jong Il. Although North Korea’s formula for federation has changed from an “interim measure” for unification to its “ultimate goal,” it is essential to ascertain whether North Korea’s strategy envisions coexistence and system maintenance or unification by way of a South Korean people’s revolution. The answer depends heavily on factors within South Korean society.