South Korean experts challenge current unification policy, arguing that merging with North Korea is a critical national strategy, not just an emotional goal. The new book "Unification: It Must Be Done" warns that maintaining two separate states risks strategic vulnerability amid complex US-China geopolitical tensions. Authors highlight significant challenges including demographic decline, economic pressures, and evolving regional security dynamics. They propose a phased approach to integration, emphasizing unification as a long-term survival mechanism rather than a symbolic aspiration. The book comes at a time when North Korea has formally declared the Koreas as "hostile states" and current South Korean leadership favors peaceful coexistence over rapid merger.
