김대중 정부의 햇볕정책:회고와 전망

Abstract

The subjects of this article is evaluating the Sun-shine Policy of Kim Dae Jung government generally and objectively, in order to find out what would be needed for the success of this policy. The Sun-shine Policy, aimed at promoting “peace, reconciliation, and cooperation” in the relationship between South and North Korea, should be understood as North Korean policy, rather than a reunification policy. This policy has been criticized for such reasons: • this “neo-liberal” approach would be too much biased to idealism; • this “appeasement” policy would pay little regard to security problems; • this “one-side give” policy would not be able to cause any change in North Korea. These critics will be analyzed and evaluated in this article. In order to let the Sun-shine Policy produce desirable results, an internal political consensus is indispensable that this policy is not mere a policy of the Kim Dae Jung government, but of this country, as well as external situations, such as North Korea’s acceptance of change, and international situa- tions friendly to this policy.