Since WWII, the power architecture of Northeast Asia has been compressed on the Korean Peninsula, where both the North and the South aspire for reunification.

Under these circumstances, all the neighboring countries, which have political, military and economic interests on the peninsula, are deeply concerned about the reunification formula since it is directly connected with security and peace in Northeast Asia.

The two sides of Korea have gone along different paths of development maintaining different ideologies and political systems for almost 70 years since the division. Neither of them wants to abandon their own system.

Under this stark reality, if one side tries to force its ideology and system on the other side, it will bring about a war, severely threatening peace and stability in Northeast Asia. The geopolitical position of the Korean peninsula remains unchanged. The Korean Peninsula is surrounded by big powers and their interests are intertwined in it. Confrontation and conflict between the two sides of Korea will inevitably invite big powers into the conflict and reconciliation and cooperation between the North and the South will promote stability of the region including big powers and check outbreak of possible conflicts. 

A fratricidal war, caused by a confrontation of systems, may draw neighboring countries into that fight, but a peacefully reunified peninsula could serve as a buffer zone that ameliorates the strategic confrontation among neighboring countries.

The new US Asia-Pacific strategy is aimed at containment and control of other major powers and the Korean Peninsula is considered the main stage of strategy. 

To cope with the US moves, the neighboring countries have strengthened their strategic countermeasures and expand the areas of cooperation. This reality enhances the dependence of security of Northeast Asia upon the reunification formula of the Korean Peninsula. In 2012, the US came up with its new defense strategy and since then dispatches annually the aircraft carrier fleet to conduct the US.-Japan-South Korea joint naval exercises in waters around the peninsula, and accelerates preparation for the establishment of trilateral missile defense system.

Under these circumstances, the continuation of confrontation of systems will only bring war to the Korean Peninsula where any mechanism for preventing an armed conflict and war does not exist since the Armistice Agreement had been nullified. This war would not only go on until the winner is decided, but also fan the flames of strategic confrontation among the neighboring countries, so as causing the complete destruction of security balance in Northeast Asia and in the long run, the region will be in catastrophic armageddon. If a war broke out on the peninsula, it would be a clash of fire and nukes and the catastrophic aftermaths would be incomparable with the original Korean War or the recent Middle East turmoil or Ukraine case.

Reunification through confrontation of systems is an unrealistic attempt against the interests of the two sides of Korea, as well as the neighboring countries, and might mean Pandora's Box, destroying the long-term interests of the Korean nation and Northeast Asia.

The North and the South should refrain from pursuing a confrontation of systems absolutizing their own ideologies and systems, and instead realize national reunification peacefully and play a pivotal role in the efforts to shift an unstable peace into a durable one in Northeast Asia. 

As it is obvious that a confrontation of systems will only induce a war, the peaceful way of Korean reunification is, as a matter of course, a coexistence of systems of the North and the South.

Some hold the misunderstanding that the differences in systems of the two sides of Korea might be a reason for them unable to coexist. However, this can by no means be a reason for the two systems to be unable to coexist. 

The differences in systems are not an Achilles heel in the course of promoting reunification but an inevitable reason for coexistence of systems. Korea's aspiration for reunification has never weakened but is getting stronger and stronger even though different systems have been formed and consolidated on two sides of Korea.

Two different systems, diverse political activities and various forms of possession can coexist in a state. It has been proved in practice in other countries. The two sides of Korea recognize that each side has its own system. Therefore, when they respect each other, cooperation between the two sides will be easily realized and achievement of reunification won't be a question.

The North's position to reunify the country with the formula of maintaining two systems is not aimed at forcing its interests and system upon the South, bringing burden and sufferings to both the North and the South. The North does not force its socialist system on the South and has never done so. However, this does not mean that the former would tolerate the latter forcing its system on the former.

When reunification is promoted through the formula of system coexistence, the two sides have no need to dice with death for reunification and to sacrifice their interests. On the contrary, they can butter both sides of their bread.

The reunification formula through coexistence of two systems is not aimed at imitating the unification experiences of other countries but at achieving reunification in conformity with reality of the Koran Peninsula. 

In other words, it is the formula agreeable to and already agreed by the North and the South. If the North and the South, key parties of reunification, fail to respect the spirit and articles agreed by each other and try to copy others' experiences and apply them to the Korean peninsula, it would be a naive and innocent attempt equivalent to build a cloud-cuckoo-land.

The unification experiences and formulas of other countries may conform to the realities and conditions of the relevant countries, but will not definitely be suitable to the reality of the Korean Peninsula.

On the road to reunification the North and the south have already agreed on a charter and great program for reunification such as the 3 principles of national reunification, the historic June 15 Joint Declaration and the October 4 Declaration, thus demonstrating to the whole world the nation's determination and mettle to reunify the country.

When we refer to the three principles of national reunification, they are namely the principles of independent, peaceful reunification and great national unity. 

The three principles of national reunification serve the two sides of Korea as a foundation of all the previous agreements and declarations between the North and the south and a cornerstone of system coexistence reunification. When our nation propels the reunification issue in accordance with the three principles of national reunification, there is no need for our nation to pick others' brains in terms of the reunification formula and to beg for approval of outside forces concerned, but to choose the way of coexistence based on great national unity instead of a war to be resulted from confrontation. 

The current South Korean authorities should highly respect and value the three principles of national reunification, although the other inter-Korean agreements also deserve respect.

When we resolve all the issues in the inter-Korean relations on the basis of the reunification charter and the great program of the whole nation, the reunification issue can be addressed fairly and smoothly in conformity with the common interests of the nation.

The North and the South agreed on the ways of improved inter-Korean relations and reunification formula in the June 15 Joint Declaration and the October 4 Declaration. 

They are, in a nutshell, improving inter-Korean relations and achieving national reunification peacefully while leaving the two different systems intact. When the North and the South resolve the reunification issue according to this formula, it will promote regional peace and stability by turning the Korean Peninsula, the hot-spot zone in Northeast Asia, into a buffer zone.

There has been a rigid view that only when the armistice is terminated and a peace mechanism established on the Korean Peninsula, can the hostilities be ended and reunification be achieved. However, if reunification through coexistence of systems is promoted by the North and the South, armistice and hostility will naturally lose their reason to exist and peaceful environment will follow.

Reunification through coexistence of systems inevitably gives birth to a neutral state. The process of guaranteeing neutral position by neighboring countries will transform the confrontational security structure into one promising peace in Northeast Asia.

Economically, this format will create tremendous benefits not only for the Korean Peninsula, but also Northeast Asia as a whole.

Recently, many region-wide initiatives of bilateral and multilateral economic cooperation projects have been formed. They are aimed at moves to connect railways, roads, gas pipelines, electric power networks and development of energy, natural resources, sea ports, economic special zones and environment.

Of course these initiatives require stable development of the inter-Korean relations on the Korean peninsula. Therefore, promoting peaceful reunification through the coexistence of systems agreed by two sides of Korea will satisfy the demands for regional cooperation so that the peninsula and the region will achieve a flying start for the prosperity after all. It will further serve other region's member states, including Europe, to give an eye to the chances for economic cooperation around the Korean peninsula.

Consequently, smooth resolution of the reunification issue according to the formula agreed by the north and the south is a well-balanced resolution in favor of the peaceful environment on the Korean peninsula and in Northeast Asia, so as to push and enlarge regional economic cooperation.

These points prove the validity of the reunification ideas clarified by the respected First Chairman Kim Jong-un of the National Defense Commission of the DPRK in his 2015 new year address. He stated that the North and the South should refrain from seeking system confrontation while absolutizing their ideology and system and satisfactorily resolve the reunification issue in the common interests of the nation transcending the differences in ideology as they had already agreed.

Reunification through system coexistence is the only way to resolve the Korean issue peacefully and reasonably. When this is realized, the world will give its blessing and credit to the wisdom and dignity of the Korean nation.

The author is a researcher with the Institute for Disarmament and Peace, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of DPRK. opinion@globaltimes.com.cn