How Economic Sanctions Discourage the Prospect of Reunification of the Korean Peninsula (and What Might Help)

Purpose-This paper examines how economic sanctions imposed on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) by the United Nations and the United States, which has taken additional measures to ban DPRK's economic activities in order to pressure the regime into denuclearization, may have an adverse effect on the prospect of reunification in the Korean Peninsula. Design/Methodology/Approach-A critical evaluation of the current situation in the Peninsula through rational choice perspective. This paper proposes a solution that may promote the future of reunification in accordance with the modernization theory of democratization. Findings-This paper finds that economic sanctions can discourage the prospect of reunification for two main reasons: (1) sanctions put strains on the DPRK's economy, but not enough for the regime to surrender its nuclear weapons; and (2) UN sanctions have intrinsic monitoring and implementation issues. Practical Implications-The findings from this paper might be useful for policymakers as an alternative outlook on the issue of reunification; and thus, might reshape the approach to negotiation. Originality/Value-This paper offers an alternative perspective about economic sanctions, which are one of the most used instruments of coercion/manipulation in the realm of international relations. Moreover, it also offers a more good-natured approach to reunification.