BRIDGE THE DIVIDE
Roundtable Summary
College freshmen Lizzie, Chris, Tyler and Ana recently held a Roundtable discussion on the threat of nuclear warfare in the 21st century and the North Korean regime. They discussed the implications of the issue on relations between the US and China and the different options that are currently being considered to solve it, from military to diplomacy. The group came to the resolution that the most practical solution is to encourage collaboration between North and South Korea and perhaps, in the future, reunification. To watch the summary, click here. A summary of the discussion is provided below.
Initial reactions: US vs N.K: US being a country with freedoms to enjoy compared to N.K which seems to be more of a scary place to live in.
Concern: International Community warns N.K but it refuses to change.
Does UN have power over N.K?
Not so much. but China used to do even if it is losing it.
Implications: US and China's relations threatened
(Trump has made a deal with China of letting China deal with the N.K regime's issue and now the one he made the deal with has died which makes things worse since the issue is now hanging) and Russia's affairs concerned since Russia is bordering N.K and N.K having all its bomb testings etc.
What can US do?
We should wait to see if Trump keeps his promise of dealing with N.K's issue. However, the US should not worry too much about N.K because N.K doesn't have allies and N.K has not directly spoken any threat against any country, Kim Un just want to stay in power.
People in N.K do not see the situation as grave as the rest of the world do, so it would be hard to intervene if they themselves don't see it as a problem(they kind of idol Kim Un.
What are the options?
The people should be more aware of the human rights violation going on in their country and feel the need of change, then the regime will fall from itself without the intervention of the exterior world.
South Korea talks to NK
N.K opens up more to the world, economically and socially.
They talked about the Chinese policy of sending back Korean refugees. So US can pass by China (to help those refugees) and reach N.K
But after all, Why US should interfere? Is it its responsibility to act, but where do we draw the line?
Agreed that provoking a revolution by making Korean aware will probably worsen the situation and repeat an episode of the Arab Spring type of crisis and a failed state.
End Summary: The best should be encouraging the collaboration between the two Koreas and hope that the regime will not take long.
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Daniella, Discussions Editor