The Christian Science Monitor: Don't unite the two Koreas on the backs of cheap labor

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0913/p09s02-coop.html

Economic strength is a crucial building block for Korean unification, but so are human rights.
By Hans Schattle

from the September 13, 2007 edition

bristol, R.I. - NORTH AND SOUTH Korea plan to strengthen economic ties when they meet next month for their second-ever summit in more than 60 years.

They will build on Korea's largest joint endeavor to date, the Kaesong Industrial Complex just north of the border, which runs on capital investment from the south and low-cost labor from the north.

It's one of several economic partnerships that South Korea hopes will point the way toward political unification.

But to truly build a new nation, both sides must pursue not only economic power but also robust human rights and labor standards – beginning with the workers at Kaesong. Leaders should start working together at the summit to uphold these basic principles.

The industrial complex is a visionary enterprise that might open the door to continued economic integration and eventual political unification on the Korean peninsula. Its location alongside the heavily guarded border is symbolic, especially since the city of Kaesong was a capital of Korea more than 1,000 years ago.

At least in South Korea, the rhetoric of Korean nation-building is clearly in place. "One promise of the nation!" and "New vision of peace and opportunity for the nation" are among the slogans being used to highlight the potential of Kaesong.

FULL story at link.