The thesis describes Korean Peninsula political development from 1998 to 2008, in the frame of historical context from 1948 when two independent states were oficially founded. Discussed decade was characterized by the policy of engagement or the sunshine policy of the Republic of Korea, respectively. This represented a concept of friendly relationship towards the DPRK, aiming at final unification. Detailed description of the political development year by year and its evaluation is the subject of this thesis.

南韓金大中總統在1998年2月上台時，提出一套與北韓達成和平、和解與合作為基礎的對北韓新政策－陽光政策。陽光政策係以善意、真誠化解北韓的敵意與戒心，使北韓願意與南韓對話與交流，協助北韓走出經濟困境與國際孤立，降低朝鮮半島緊張情勢，進而開放門戶，進行經改。 因此，金大中政府的對日政策，作為陽光政策的一環，不但呼籲南韓與日本走出歷史仇恨，大力推動與日本合作援助北韓糧食物資，還積極幫助日本與北韓關係正常化。讓原本存於日本與北韓交涉障礙中的「南韓因素」轉為正面的推力。此外，金大中政府的對日政策，亦積極主動地改善南韓與日本兩國關係。為因應1997年的金融危機，金大中拋出與北韓和解的陽光政策，在朝鮮半島上製造和平穩定的投資環境，俾利南韓經濟復甦，並力圖引進日本的資金與經援，助南韓早日走出經濟困境。 雖然日本極為擔憂南北韓有可能隨著南韓政府北韓交往政策的持續推動下，在歷史問題、領土紛爭，以及日本軍事能力發展上，達成共同反日陣線。但是，在日本的朝鮮半島政策之中，被民族主義所蒙蔽的小泉政府無法看清局勢，未能好好把握南韓金大中政府，這個前所未見的親日政權，加深與南韓緊密合作的關係，消除或淡化兩國間的歷史議題。同時，在陽光政策下推行經改急需建設資金的北韓，小泉政府也未能把握金正日國防委員長在政治及安全議題上讓步的機會，解決兩國間的懸案，一舉達成兩國建交，再利用經濟合作的機會，降低北韓的反日情緒。小泉政府卻不斷的做出讓周邊國家反感的舉動，像是每年參拜象徵日本軍國主義的靖國神社，大力提升日本自衛隊軍事能力，試圖打破和平憲法的框架等，反而加深與鄰國之間的隔閡。

The purpose of this thesis is to explain how sports events, in which North and South Korea have in some way worked or competed together, have affected the relationship between the two nations. This is carried out through the investigation of specific events; the 1988 Seoul Summer Olympics, the competing of the joint table tennis- and football teams in 1991, the cooperation happening during the “sunshine policy”, from 1998 until 2008, as well as the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. The studied material consists mostly of news reports and scientific works.   The result shows that while cooperation in sports is possible between the two Koreas, they have occurred only under favourable political circumstances. It is also concluded that the sports events have in return affected the inter-Korean relationship, and this cooperation has also generated further discussions between the two Koreas, a so called “spillover effect”. / Syftet med den här uppsatsen är att förklara hur sportevenemang, i vilka Nord- och Sydkorea har på något sätt samarbetat eller tävlat gemensamt, har påverkat relationen mellan de två länderna. Det här genomförs genom en undersökning av specifika evenemang; 1988 års sommar-OS i Seoul, tävlingarna 1991 där de förenade pingis- och fotbollslagen deltog, samarbetet under ”Solskenspolitiken”, från 1998 till 2008, såväl som 2018 års vinter-OS i Pyeongchang. Underlaget består mestadels utav nyhetsreportage och vetenskapliga rapporter.    Resultatet visar att även om samarbete i sport är möjligt mellan de två länderna på den koreanska halvön, har dessa bara inträffat under gynnsamma politiska omständigheter. Det kommer även fram att sportevenemang i sin tur har påverkat den interkoreanska relationen och även genererat fortsatta diskussioner mellan Nord- och Sydkorea, en så kallad ”spridningseffekt".

This paper examines the different attitudes of the Republic of Korea (South Korea) and the United States of America with regards to the Kaesong Industrial Complex, a joint inter-Korean economic project located in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea). The paper uses the theoretical framework of Social Constructivism to analyze the different ideas available in the political discourse of both actors with regards to North Korean policy in general and policy towards Kaesong specifically. The paper relates these ideas to the positions both actors have taken with regards to the inclusion of Kaesong products in the S. Korean-U.S. FTA.

This paper examines different foreign policies of the Republic of Korea (South Korea) towards the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) with regards to a peaceful reunification of the Korean Peninsula. The paper uses the theoretical framework of Social Constructivism to analyze what impact the different foreign policies of South Korea towards North Korea have had on their relations, thus providing an understanding of what impact those foreign policies have had on the peaceful reunification process of the Korean Peninsula. The paper will also look at the First Korean Nuclear Crisis, the Second Korean Nuclear Crisis, the ROKS Cheonan sinking and the shelling of Yeonpyeong, and with the help from the theoretical framework of Social Constructivism, analyze what impact those incidents have had on South Korea’s foreign policy and relations with North Korea, thus providing an understanding what impact those incidents have had on the peaceful reunification process of the Korean Peninsula.