Analysis on the Driving Factors behind the 2000 Inter-Korea Summit

Abstract

Though the Korean peninsula finally found itself to be liberated from the Japanese colonial rule as the World War II came to an end, Korea was divided and the division became more permanent as the peninsula went through the Korean War from 1950 to 1953. The Korean peninsula remains to be the only divided country in the world; separated families still exist at each side of the peninsula; and the two Koreas still suffer from continued absence of peace on the peninsula up to this date. Though the issue of reunification has never left the two Korea’s political agenda, the two countries has found it difficult to come to negotiation tables that are set up to promote peace on the peninsula. Especially with North Korea’s constant provocations, South has had difficult times convincing the North to respond positively to suggestions for peaceful talks. Different South Korean administrations have tried approaching the brother regime with varying attitudes and methods; however, the divided peninsula today proves the difficulty and failures that each administrations had experienced.

However, despite North Korean government’s constant display of negative attitude towards South Korea’s unification policies, why did they take a positive attitude in 1999 and throughout the sunshine era versus any other time in the past? In 2000, the first inter-Korea summit was held, where the head of both Koreas met in person for the very first time after the Korean War. The day was a historical moment to remember for both sides of the DMZ and the individuals of both South and North Korea.