Experts say unification may take more than a decade

SEOUL: Seven out of 10 South Korean security experts said they believe possible unification with North Korea may take more than a decade, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reported citing a poll showed yesterday.

The survey of 98 security and foreign affairs experts released by Hyundai Research Institute found that 72.4 per cent of the respondents said unification between South and North Korea may take more than 11 years.

The survey showed that 20.4 per cent thought unification may take six to 10 years while only 4.1 per cent said they believe that the two Koreas may become one within the next five years.

Asked about the most desirable type of unification, 37.8 per cent favoured one country with two systems, while 35.7 per cent preferred full- fledged unification.

It showed that 25.5 per cent said they favoured a system in which people from South and North Korea could visit the other side freely.

The survey also found that 41.8 per cent said they would be willing pay more than 110,000 won (US$ 98) per year to foot unification related costs, down from 57.7 per cent a year earlier.

It showed that 8.2 per cent of the respondents said they have no desire to pay anything.

Former conservative President Lee Myung-bak floated the idea of using taxpayer money to cushion the cost of unification, but no major progress has since been made in regards the to the socalled unification tax.

South Korea said unification would provide the Korean people with a springboard to prosperity by marrying South Korea’s capital and technology with North Korea’s rich natural resources.

Meanwhile, North Korea has long suspected that Seoul could be plotting to absorb Pyongyang.

North Korea has never given up its goal of communising the South.

The two Koreas still technically remain in a state of war, since the 1950- 53 Korean War ended in a truce, not a peace treaty.

The latest survey also found that 50 per cent said the US could provide the biggest assistance to unification.

It showed that 33.7 per cent said China could help unification, but 51 per cent also pointed out that China could be the biggest obstacle to the process. — Bernama