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Ranger -- you hit the nail on the head. The South Korean people have been so bamboozled by their govt (among other influences) they have no idea what is going on in N/S relations anymore. The "Sunshine Policy" is ultimately a policy to link tentacles into NK through unofficial channels, exposing NK to outside influence (SK) and making them dependent on those tentacles. Ideally (according to the plan) it would all work out in a slow, peaceful transition. If it didn't, it would at least: 1)give SK a bargaining chip -- the rug to pull out (or threaten to) if NK got too out of line; 2) expose NK to some degree to outside influences; and, 3) forestall an immediate collapse of NK(and ensuing financial crisis for the SK economy as well. The biggest problem with 'Sunshine' was that they never prepped the SOUTH KOREAN people to deal with it. The SK's think it is really a policy about caring and persuasion; it's not -- it's an SK defense policy which assures that the NK's will be up there starving for at least another ten years. Truth is, the SK politicians don't really give a damn about that - not at all.

RE #16

It is not even successful at creating bargaining chips for S. Korea. The only upside is that it could compeltely corrupt N. Korean regime at some point, which could trigger its dissolution. But that is not even guaranteed. N. Korea can turn around and bite S. Korea just like Palestinian Authority did after long appeasement from Israelis, before they crumble away.

There is not much quid pro quo going on here. It is more like a tribute. This is like Huns taking tributes from Byzantine Empire, or Xiongnu from Han Dynasty of China.