For over 5,000 years, South and North Korea have coexisted as a single people, sharing a common history, society, and culture until the division of the Korean Peninsula affecrted by influence of the Japanese colonial period. Despite the passage of nearly 78 years since the separation, and the tragic Korean War that followed, the two Koreas have developed significant differences in various areas.

These growing disparities between South and North Koreans could pose a major obstacle to reunification. As we strive to overcome not only territorial divisions but also the psychological divisions caused by social and cultural differences, various efforts are needed. However, despite over 70 years of separate political, economic, and cultural systems, there remains one issue on which both South and North Korea agree: Dokdo is our territory.

Both South and North Korea maintain a unified stance on Dokdo, asserting that it is an inherent part of their respective territories. This shared perspective on Dokdo represents a crucial link and stepping stone that could unite the two Koreas.

North Korea has frequently expressed its views on Dokdo through its state-run newspaper, Rodong Sinmun. In 2003, when South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun was visiting Japan, Japanese Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications Taro Aso made the outrageous claim that Koreans had willingly adopted Japanese names during the colonial period. In response to Japan's issuance of stamps featuring Dokdo in 2004, both South Korea and North Korea issued their own commemorative stamps.

Through various media outlets, North Korea has consistently emphasized that the Dokdo issue is not merely a territorial dispute but a historical one rooted in the unfinished business of Japanese colonialism. This perspective aligns with the views of many scholars in South Korea.

History has shown that while external aggression can lead to the downfall of a nation, internal division is often a more significant factor. As a people who have lived together for millennia but have been divided for over 70 years, South and North Koreans must find peaceful means to reunify. One such method could involve joint school trips to Dokdo for students from both Koreas, or ongoing academic exchanges focused on the island. Additionally, both South and North Korea could simultaneously issue stamps declaring Dokdo as part of the Korean Peninsula.

Source: [Column] Ahn Jae-young's 'North Korean Modern History Seen Through Stamps