Editing Korean reunification (section)

===Sunshine Policy===
{{Main|Sunshine Policy}}
[[File:Seoul-National.Assembly-02.jpg|thumb|South Korea's [[National Assembly of South Korea|National Assembly]]. The woman holding a dove symbolizes [[democracy]], [[peace]] and [[Freedom (philosophy)|freedom]].{{citation needed|date=April 2013}}]]

Introduced by the [[Millennium Democratic Party]] of South Korea under President [[Kim Dae-jung]], as part of a campaign pledge to "actively pursue reconciliation and cooperation" with North Korea, the Sunshine Policy was intended to create conditions of economic assistance and cooperation for reunification, rather than [[Sanctions against North Korea|sanctions]] and [[military threat]]s. The plan was divided into three parts: increased cooperation through inter-Korean organizations (while maintaining separate systems in the North and South), national unification with two autonomous regional governments, and finally the creation of a central national government. In 1998, Kim approved large shipments of food aid to the North Korean government, lifted limits on business deals between North Korean and South Korean firms, and even called for a stop to the American economic [[embargo]] against the North. In June 2000, the leaders of North and South Korea met in Pyongyang and shook hands for the first time since the division of Korea.

Despite the continuation of the Sunshine Policy under the Roh administration, it was eventually declared a failure by the South Korean [[Ministry of Unification]] in November 2010 over issues of North Korea's nuclear weapons program, stymied further negotiations, and again strained relations between the two Koreas.

====Opponents====
Opponents of the Sunshine Policy argue that dialogue and trade with North Korea did nothing to improve prospects for peaceful reunification, despite the transfer of large funds to the North Korean government by President [[Kim Dae-jung]], but allowed the North Korean government to retain its hold on power. Others believe that South Korea should remain prepared for the event of a North Korean attack. Hardliners also argue that the continued and maximized isolation of the North will lead to the country's collapse after which the territory could be absorbed by force into South Korea.

In November 2000, outgoing US President [[Bill Clinton]] wanted to visit Pyongyang. However, the intended visit never happened because of the controversy surrounding the results of the [[2000 United States presidential election|2000 US presidential election]]. Around April or May 2001, Kim Dae-jung was expecting to welcome Kim Jong Il to Seoul. Returning from his meeting in Washington D.C., with newly elected President Bush, Kim Dae-jung described his meeting as embarrassing while privately cursing President Bush and his hardliner approach. This meeting negated any chance of a North Korean visit to South Korea. After the Bush administration labeled North Korea as part of the "[[axis of evil]]", North Korea renounced the [[Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons|nonproliferation treaty]], kicked out [[International Atomic Energy Agency|UN inspectors]], and restarted its nuclear program.<ref name=Cumings>{{cite book|last=Cumings|first=Bruce|title=Korea's Place in the Sun: a Modern History|publisher=Norton|year=2005|isbn=9780393327021|pages=502–04}}.</ref> In early 2005, the North Korean government confirmed that the country had successfully become a [[nuclear armed states|nuclear armed state]].<ref name=Cumings/>{{rp|504–505}}