Sunshine Policy

The Sunshine Policy is part of South Korea's foreign policy towards North Korea. In 2000, South Korean President Kim Dae -jung they have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Survey

The Sunshine Policy was introduced by Kim Dae-jung to resolve the division of the Korean Peninsula peacefully. It was officially continued by Kim's successor, Roh Moo -hyun. The sunshine policy is in contrast to past programs, which aimed to keep North Korea in check.

The name comes from Aesop's fable sunshine policy from the sun and north wind, in the cold north wind tried in vain to pull out a people's winter coat. The sunshine this is achieved, however slightly. The main objective of the policy is, North Korea to move to an opening towards the south, by exchange and economic support are encouraged.

Principle

The sunshine policy has three principles:

No military action on the part of the North is accepted
The south is aimed not pronounced out to annex the north
The south is actively seeking cooperation

Main aspects

The sunshine policy is based on the belief that the regime in North Korea collapses not in the near future in or dissolves. It is not believed that the current economic situation is undermining the regime, even if this should be a permanent situation.

Furthermore, the sunshine policy is based on the belief that military tensions can be reduced through bilateral and multilateral agreements. This emphasizes the normalization of political and economic relations between the U.S. and North Korea as well as Japan and North Korea.

General Guidelines

Innerkoreanischer dialogue is held upright by appoint each other high-profile delegations. This point implements a basic agreement of 1991.
South Korea contributes 3.2 billion U.S. dollars ( 75 % of total costs) for the construction of two light-water reactors in North Korea.
Politics and economics are separated. This means that legal procedures are simplified and limitations of South Korean investment in North Korea are hereby repealed.
Humanitarian aid in the form of food and agricultural assistance is sent to North Korea. This should help the North to overcome the current food crisis.
Family reunions are encouraged. Such associations allow selected families who were separated during the Korean War during the division of the Korean peninsula, to meet relatives from the other part of the country in special meetings.