[Global NK Interview]
North Korea’s Provocations, the ROK-U.S. Summit, and China’s Policy for the Korean Peninsula
In this interview, Professor
Qingguo Jia (Peking University) discusses the Chinese perspective on North
Korean nuclear provocations, the newly elected Yoon administration’s diplomatic
strategies, and the way forward for U.S.-China relations. Dr. Jia interprets
recent North Korean provocations as a response to sustained international
sanctions. The Chinese government, he explains, is averse to these increased
tensions and would prefer that the international community quell North Korea’s
“insecurity,” perhaps by reevaluating the existing sanctions regime. Dr. Jia emphasizes
that though there is great potential for cooperation between the U.S. and
China, their present relationship is largely antagonistic and is likely to
remain so in the near future.
[Global NK Commentary] President Yoon’s Trip to Madrid: Rethinking Seoul`s Policies toward Moscow, Beijing, Tokyo, and Pyongyang
Principal Researcher Yang Gyu Kim (EAI) explains the objectives behind the U.S.’ invitation of its key allies in the Indo-Pacific to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Summit. He posits that the U.S. aims to establish a highly institutionalized cooperative mechanism that combines the capacities of existing alliances among like-minded countries in the Indo-Pacific. In this context, the author stresses the need for South Korea to address the implications of the Russia-Ukraine War, the emerging Chinese threat, and reestablish ROK-Japan relations. Lastly, Dr. Kim proposes that the administration carefully consider how it might restore international cooperation on the North Korea issue and resume the denuclearization process.
[Global NK Research Reviews] Issues Concerning the
Coexistence of Peace on the Korean Peninsula and Security of South Korea
Senior Research Fellow Ho-ryung Lee (Korea
Institute for Defense Analyses) states that South Korea faces complex and
diverse challenges in establishing “nuclear-free peace on the Korean
Peninsula.” In particular, the author notes that the two Koreas lack a
consensus on what constitutes a peace regime or treaty, as they use their own
respective definitions of peace and security. In order to tackle the ideological
dichotomy between the two Koreas, the author proposes that South Korea should
clearly define the relationship between peace and security, push Pyongyang to
realize that the maintenance of nuclear weapons will threaten its survival, and
build trust between the Koreas.
[Global NK Research Reviews] The Issue of Unification and
the South-South Conflict in South Korea
Assistant Professor Hak-Jae Kim (Institute for
Peace and Unification Studies of Seoul National University) discusses how
public dissent on unification and the North Korea issue has stirred political
conflict in South Korea. In particular, he notes that differences in perception
on unification and North Korea are not only based on factors such as the
generational gap or ideological affiliations, but also on the difficulties of
achieving a consensus under a majoritarian democracy. The author proposes that
it is key to draw lessons from the German and Irish precedents of unification,
devise solutions for multilateral security concerns such as denuclearization,
and evaluate how a norm-based international order in Asia would affect the
long-term process of unification. EAST ASIA INSTITUTE 1, Sajik-ro7gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03028, Republic of KoreaTel 82 2 2277 1683 | Fax 82 2 2277 1684 | Email EAICopyright 2021 © EAST ASIA INSTITUTE. All Rights Reserved. 수신거부 Unsubscribe |
