Baeguk

[beifengxiaoxiao]

Egelion, Baeguk hold First Summit Following South-West Reunification

5715.6.7. - GONGMANGDO -

Royal Councilors of the Kingdom of Egelion Mondragon and Cascabel, were both warmly received at Jesu Palace to-day, offering their reassurance of Egelion's full diplomatic recognition and support to the Gongmangdo government in its fight against the threat of northern Communism. 

As discussed at the summit, Egelion announced that it will continue to seek friendly and cooperative neighborly relations with the KGB. In regards to the ongoing reunification of the South and West governments under the rule of the southern Emperor in Gongmangdo, Egelion stated that it recognized the Baegukese Emperor's complete and legitimate claim to the governance of the entire Dan Peninsula - Egelion has consistently refused to recognize the Democratic People's Republic of Dranea, the socialist rival government situated in the north. Egelion will continue to operate its consulate in Seongtaek, albeit in a reduced capacity. The Seongtaek consulate was formerly a de facto embassy with a full staff dedicated to representing Egelian interests in former West Baeguk; it is believed that Egelion wants to de-emphasize the Seongtaek consulate now that West Baeguk conducts its' foreign relations exclusively through Gongmangdo.

The summit marks the highest-level diplomatic exchange between Altea and Gongmangdo in nearly a century, with Egelion largely snubbing and ignoring its increasingly isolationist weight of a neighbor. During the most dire post-war years Egelion furnished the southern government with considerable economic and military aid in an effort to dissuade the Communist north from conquering the south, yet relations were characterized by a marked chill as South Baeguk's western benefactors disapproved the authoritarianism in the KGB that had intensified in increasingly harsh measures. Frosty South Baegukese-Egelian relations were contrasted by the growth in strong trade and diplomatic relations between Egelion and the self-proclaimed Republic of Dankuk, the third power on the Dan Peninsula, centered in the west around the Seongtaek Metropolitan Area.

Though Egelion never formally recognized the Seongtaek Republic as a sovereign state as many chose to do, it forged a close working relationship with the fledgling democracy. A close business relationship was formed between Egelion and the Seongtaek elites, especially given the geographic proximity and shared commitments to liberal internationalism and democratic ideals. West Baeguk's reputation as the last bastion of Egelian-Baegukese diasporic culture helped to increase its' appeal to Altea as well.

Behind private doors, it is believed that Egelion largely favored the West due to its progressive liberal capitalist stances, seeing the South as archaic and needlessly reactionary in nature. Whilst nominally supportive of the southern Monarchy due to longstanding ties - and, perhaps, a desire to support fellow monarchs in an effort to quench any semblance of republicanism at home - Egelion regarded the debauchery, corruption, and class stratification of the southern rump regime with considerable ire as an unenviable model to avoid. The authoritarianism, reactionary politics, and court factionalism rife in Baeguk were seen as failures of a government that had experienced a marked fall from grace since the 5600s. Now that democratic norms have been largely restored under the new Emperor, himself educated in Egelion, analysts believe that Altea looks somewhat favorably upon the Gongmangdo government now, albeit with much work to be done. 

Whereas the South and West once jockeyed for the favor of Egelion, now united under one government Egelion can concentrate its diplomatic project not on two rival governments, but one unified regime.

At a press release the Hongje Emperor reiterated that the Baegukese, too, sought to renew the once-close relationship between the two nations.
 
"Egelion and Baeguk remain close regional partners with shared commitments to the peace and prosperity of both of our peoples. The government of the KGB remains committed to the pursuance of equitable and harmonious relations as neighbors between ourselves and Egelion. Regardless of past complications, the KGB is grateful to the Egelian Kingdom for their reassurances in support of the KGB's full sovereignty and territorial integrity over the whole Dan Peninsula. Baeguk and Egelion will work together to build strong and warm cross-strait relations, to combat the northern threat of communism, and to maintain a spirit of mutual respect and friendship."