Taipei, Oct. 20 (CNA) South Korea's relationship with North Korea is similar to that of Taiwan's with China, with all parties facing similar concerns although the issues are different, a South Korean scholar said Friday in Taipei.
Always facing the constant threat of the Chinese military, people in Taiwan have divided opinions on the issue of reunification and independence. South Koreans are in a similar situation, said Shim Young-hee, a sociology professor at Hanyang University.
The majority of South Koreans still think North and South Korea should one day become an integrated country, but they are also very concerned about North Korea's nuclear program, Shim said on the sidelines of an international peace conference being held in Taipei.
"It's a problem of when and how," Shim said of the North/South Korea reunification issue.
The economic situation after a reunification is also of great concern for South Koreans, Shim said, adding that South Korea understands very well the case of Germany, which is why South Koreans don't want to see a "quick reunification."
Regarding international relations, Shim said that isolating and pressuring North Korea is unhelpful and that South Korea's sunshine policy on government transparency should be kept.
"North Korea has no other option [but to keep developing its nuclear program] because the regime is threatened. We should provide North Korea with an exit," she said.