Preezy wrote:North Koreans - no longer living under a brutal dictatorship, would have access to modern TV shows like Eurotrash and Knotts Landing.
True. But they will be looking at decades of political and financial hardship. Plus potentially millions of deaths.
South Koreans - no longer living next door to a brutal dictatorship. Not having a madman up the road would mean less money spent on the military, funds that could aid in the development of the North.
I doubt they will reduce military spending by much, especially as they will just have one party state China up the road instead. And the rebuilding and reintegrating of North Korea would bankrupt them.
China - would have a new useful trade partner in the new Unified Korea™. Agreed though they might have some refguees to deal with and might not be happy with a US ally on their doorstep. They'd get over that though once the dollars pour in.
What dollars? Korea would be on its knees for decades.
USA - got to justify that military spending somehow, Korea would be a perfect place to focus on.
That military spending barely coped with Iraq and Afghanistan. North Korea would probably be a harder fought war than either of those. Plus this time they will be expected to help pay for the clear up.
Sure millions will die, but it's a means to an end, and that end being the North getting modern TV. Can't stress that point enough.
A means to an end. Lovely.