West German-East German Border....Not the Koreas. Anyway, is this a long term ploy by North Korea to disarm and llure the South into a false sense of peace and tranquility...or is it for real?
South Korea is not going to disarm, or at least not for a very long time.
Removing troops along the border is both good and somewhat meaning less. The troops along the border were never going to be much more than speed bumps if the NK ever moved against the south.
What we are seeing at this stage is symbolism more than anything. Both countries have been on a war footing for close to 70 years, that is several generations that have grown up only knowing war was a real possibility. It will take time for the populations of both countries to get used to the idea that the war may in fact be over.
What does North Korea get out of all this? Well peace will bring a lot more prosperity then a war would bring.
I agree and share concerns with both of your posts. I have been concerned that a pull back from the DMZ will create a problem for SK like our Mexican border...uncontrolled refugee flow from NK...A way for NK operators to infiltrate SK...set up sleeper cells should Kim decide he wants to renege on peace and fight a war.
I’d leave the land mines, bunkers.
Moving troops back “might” get them out of artillery range. I’m deeply skeptical of the Nork’s.
Both sides are going to start with what’s obsolete. Symbolic, maybe, but its a start.
For South Korea, reunification means access to inexpensive labor who would do backflips to get the work. For the North Koreans, access to modern medical care, schools, a significant bump in their standard of living.
But all of this is about breaking China first. This hardware hack discovery and doxing is significant.