Korea has been divided into two nations since the end of World War II. The northern portion of the peninsula, North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea or DPRK), is a hard-line, Stalinist-Marxist, regime. However, the southern part of the peninsula, South Korea (Republic of Korea or ROK), is a nascent democracy with a market economy. The collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union has also increased the expectation in the ROK that Communism will suffer a similar fate in the DPRK, and that Korea will be reunified under the South Korean government. Such an event presents the United States with a major policy issue: Should U.S. forces remain on the Korean peninsula after reunification. This paper is based on three assumptions: (1) the reunification of North and South Korea will occur in a peaceful manner; (2) the DPRK will collapse within 10-20 years; and (3) a reunified Korean nation will be administered by the government in Seoul. It discusses the military, political and economic considerations-- of both the United States and a reunified Korea-- as to whether U.S. forces should remain on the peninsula after reunification. The paper concludes with the recommendation that U.S. air forces should remain in Korea after reunification.


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    Title :

    Should U.S. Military Forces Remain in Korea After Reunification


    Contributors:
    J. E. Betts (author)

    Publication date :

    1993


    Size :

    40 pages


    Type of media :

    Report


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English