"The Moon Administration Must Reflect EAI’s Four-step Complex Approach in its North Korea Policy"

In this paper, EAI research associate Jinkyung Baek and Handong
University Professor Won Gon Park use the results of a public opinion
survey conducted by EAI and the content of a policy debate as a basis to
assess the mid-term performance of Moon Jae-in’s administration. In the
opinion survey, respondents had the lowest opinion of Moon’s policy
towards North Korea (4.5 out of 10) as compared to his overall
diplomatic policy (ranging from 4.5 to 5.0). A significant number of
respondents (49.8%) also indicated that unstable inter-Korean relations
were a major threat South Koreans are currently facing. The authors
suggest there is a need to re-examine the idea that reconciliation
between the two Koreas and denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula
form a virtuous cycle, and emphasize that to achieve such a cycle
Moon’s administration must embrace a balanced approach to EAI’s complex four-point strategy of engagement, internal transformation,
sanctions, and deterrence.   [Read Commentary]