Sunshine in Korea: The South Korean Debate Over Policies Toward North Korea

Provides a better understanding of the sources of controversy over the South Korean government’s approach toward North Korea and what implications of the controversy might be for South Korea and the United States. The debate in South Korea over the government’s engagement policy toward North Korea (the ‘sunshine’ policy) did not start with Pyongyang’s recent admission that it has been secretly pursuing a nuclear weapons program in violation of multiple international commitments. However, the evolution of the debate will be an important determinant of how the South Korean and broader international response to this latest North Korean challenge ultimately ends. This book provides a framework for viewing South Korean responses to this challenge, examining the South Korean debate over policies toward the North, analysing the sources of controversy, and assessing their implications.