[CE] Hope for Korea(s)

Many can recall or at least knows about the unification of Eastern and Western Berlin, Germany via the taking down of the Berlin wall.  A Unified Germany now stands in its place.  A somewhat similar occurrence may be underway in the upcoming/distant years as North Korea and South Korea conjecture about their plausible unification.  South Korea wants to be careful to avoid any civil unrest and social problems as there was a consierable amount following the fall of the Berlin wall.  Also, North Korea continues to be suspicious of South Korea and of he idea of unification, as it holds is *communist government and ideals very close to heart (at least the dictator does).  North Korea's extremist leader, Kim Jong Il and his son have been a large barrier between peaceful negotiations.  The nuclear arms race, cultural differences, leadership, and safety are the main problems at this point and need to be dealt with in order to have a successful unification of Korea (N+S).

I remember a story my grandmother told me about how she went on a trip to the boarder of North and South Korea as part of a tour-type of deal, and how a Japanese lady disobeyed the rules and went on an early morning walk the wall's elevated pathway (where tours were taking place the day before).  A North/Southern Korean soldier shouted to her to halt in Korean, but given that she did not understand or seem to notice him, the lady was shot and killed on her walk.  It goes to show how serious the problems are between North and South Korea, not to mention the disparities in wealth, food, etc.  I'm curious to know what the "real" opinions are of the Northern Koreans without having such heavy censorship.

Like numerous other countries, political ideologies, religion, and cultural values will continue to rip communities apart and will continue to do so as long as there are differences in opinion and the unwillingness to compromise.