The Korean Peninsula has been suffering from division for the last 70 years since the Korean War broke out in 1950, the year The Korea Times published its first issue on Nov. 1. The division of North and South Korea has been the main factor behind ideological conflict domestically, and complications in the dynamics of diplomacy. On the occasion of the newspaper's 70th anniversary, The Korea Times conducted interviews with four international experts on how to seek a breakthrough on issues in and surrounding the peninsula, and find the last piece of the puzzle to usher in the next 70 years of unity. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

2 Koreas, allies urged to embrace differences for harmony on Korean Peninsula

By Kang Seung-woo

Seven decades ago, war broke out on the Korean Peninsula, leaving scars that linger to this day. The continued division of the two Koreas is one of the longest unresolved separations of a people in modern history.

For most of the division, the two Koreas have been enemies, but in the last two to three decades the two nations have made some progress in bettering relations with several inter-Korean summits. In particular, the most recent between President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in 2018 presented the rosy prospect of a unified Korea.

However, the peaceful ambience was short-lived, as peace on the peninsula was unattainable through efforts just by the two Koreas as it involved the much more complicated issue of Pyongyang-Washington negotiations regarding the North's nuclear programs. Plus, the domestic divide among South Koreans over the North Korea issue has also played an adverse role in improving inter-Korean relations.

"Prior to the 1980s, South Korea and North Korea had hostile relations that sought to change the status quo by achieving unification by force, but since the end of the Cold War in 1991, inter-Korean ties have turned to maintaining the status quo due to the growing gap in national power," said Kim Jung, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies.

"In the 21st century, relations between South and North Korea are trapped in a repeated cycle of rapprochement and confrontation."

Park Won-gon, a professor of international politics at Handong Global University, said that even though the two held a historic first summit in 2000, little progress in inter-Korean relations has been seen since then.

"The recent inter-Korean reconciliation in 2018 was short-lived as tensions on the Korean Peninsula are escalating once more," Park said.

The Korean War was a result of the Cold War, and the Korean Peninsula issue has always involved talks among and the interests of neighboring countries, and in recent decades has become an international issue along with Pyongyang's nuclear programs.