The Sun, The Wind, and the Kaesong Industrial Complex : The Contrasting Views of the Republic of Korea and the United States of America on Inter-Korean Cooperation

• Main Author: Daniel, Ryberg
• Format: Others
• Language: English
• Published: Högskolan i Halmstad, Sektionen för hälsa och samhälle (HOS) 2012
• Subjects: Kaesong Industrial Complex; The Sunshine Policy; The War on Terror; Social Constructivism; North Korean Policy; KORUS FTA; Political Science (excluding Public Administration Studies and Globalisation Studies); Statsvetenskap (exklusive studier av offentlig förvaltning och globaliseringsstudier)
• Online Access: http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hh:diva-17893

This paper examines the different attitudes of the Republic of Korea (South Korea) and the United States of America with regards to the Kaesong Industrial Complex, a joint inter-Korean economic project located in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea). The paper uses the theoretical framework of Social Constructivism to analyze the different ideas available in the political discourse of both actors with regards to North Korean policy in general and policy towards Kaesong specifically. The paper relates these ideas to the positions both actors have taken with regards to the inclusion of Kaesong products in the S. Korean-U.S. FTA.