Introduction to International Politics
Foreign Event Analysis
| Locale | ![[]](http://www.kvasaheim.com/flags/flag15-kp.png "Flag of Korea (North)") | Korea (North) |
|---|---|---|
| Title |
North Korea’s Closes Border with South Korea
| |
| Summary |
North Korea has proclaimed that it will shut down cross-border traffic with South Korea effective December 1st because of South Korea’s increasingly confrontational behavior toward its northern neighbor. South Korea’s President Lee Myung-bak, who just took office earlier this year, has taken a more assertive approach toward North Korea, and North Korea claims that Myung-bak is not following the two joint declarations signed by North Korea and South Korea in 2000 and 2007.
| |
| Analysis |
From a liberal perspective, the closing of the border between North and South Korea will only further deteriorate relations between the two neighbors. Cross-border relations increase the opportunities for positive relationships and interdependence between states, thus decreasing the likelihood of conflict. By prohibiting all cross-border exchange, North Korea will eliminate opportunities for positive exchanges between the two states and increase the likelihood of conflict.
Furthermore, the border closure could be detrimental to the economies of both states if it includes the closure of the joint industrial complex in Kaesong. The factories in Kaesong are owned by South Korea, but employ many North Koreans. The border closure could also halt South Korean tourism of Kaesong, which is a relatively new initiative created as part of the reconciliation effort between North Korea and South Korea. The closing of the border will clearly hinder current attempts at reconciliation between the adversarial states.
| |
| Perspective |  | Liberal |
| In-Region URL | ||
| Out-of-Region URL | ||
| Submitted | November 13, 2008 at 10:38 pm | |
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