Examining modern Korean political discourse, it’s difficult to find a word which has the positive connotations of “unification.”

All political forces in both Koreas never tire of professing their commitment to the great cause of “national unification,” and of accusing their opponents of lacking sufficient commitment to this lofty goal.

This unceasing rhetoric has significant impact on foreign observers, who have little time and inclination to immerse themselves deeply into Korean politics and ideology. Most of them, including foreign journalists, take these enthusiastic claims at the face value, and more or less believe that every Korean politician spends a significant