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New Direction of Korean-Russian Relations: Toward a Comprehensive Partnership
Jae-Nam Ko
1994.10
Introduction
President Kim Young-sam of the Republic of Korea visited Moscow on June 1-3, 1994
and had the summit talks with his Russian counterpart Boris Yeltsin. With this trip to
Russia, President Kim completed his 'quadrangular diplomacy', which has been pursued
since his inauguration in February last year. The summit diplomacy with the four major
powers surrounding the Korean Peninsula, i.e., the United States, Russia, China, and
Japan, was designed to bring peace and stability to the Korean Peninsula, and build a
foundation for the peaceful unification of Korea.
To achieve these goals, President Kim firstly met U.S. President Clinton in Seoul in July
last year and again in Washington last November. President Kim then visited both Japan
and China in March this year for summit meetings with his respective counterparts,
Japanese Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa and Chinese President Jiang Zhemin.
President Kim also held the summit talks with the newly elected Japanese Prime
Minister Tomiichi Murayama in Seoul in July this year.
The Moscow summit talks, however, were probably the most productive of his visits to
the four major powers. After holding two formal and one informal summit meetings, the
South Korean and Russian Presidents adopted the 13-point Joint Declaration that firstly
declares the relationship between the two countries "is now turning into a 'constructive
and mutually complementary partnership' based on the common values of freedom,
democracy, rule of law, respect for human rights and market economy."
In particular, the joint declaration charted the future course in the rapidly progressing
relations between the two countries, and documented Russian responsiveness to the
initiatives of President Kim for increased cooperation with Moscow in various areas and
issues as discussed in detail in the latter part of this article.
In retrospect, after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the Republic of Korea (hereafter
cited as South Korea) and Russia have already created a new dimension in their mutual
relationship in the political, economic, cultural and other areas, especially through
President Yeltsin's visit to Seoul in November 1992. Yet, unlike initial expectations,
relations between Moscow and Seoul had made only steady progress until the Moscow
summit meetings. It was obviously caused not only by Russia's difficult political and
economic conditions but also by Korea's government transition. In fact, after the
disintegration of the USSR, President Yeltsin's government was too preoccupied with
internal problems and relations with the former republics of the Soviet Union and the
West. President Kim's administration also needed time to establish new foreign policy
goals and fundamentals, and to adjust the foreign policies undertaken by the former
administration. Also, between the two countries there are many unresolved issues such
as repayment of loans, full investigation and compensation of the downed Korean Air
747, and so forth.
The purpose of this paper is to examine the new directions in South Korean-Russian
relations, especially considering the results of the Moscow summit talks. After a
somewhat extensive description of the evolution of bilateral ties between Moscow and
Seoul, this paper will analyze the results of the Moscow summit.
Evolution of Korean-Russian Relations
Friendly Relationship to Diplomatic Vacuum (1884-1945)
Ideological Confrontation to Diplomatic Normalization (1945-1991)
Temporary Estrangement to Constructive Partnership (1992-Present)
Outcome of Moscow Summit Talks
Laid Groundwork for a Comprehensive Partnership Between Korea and Russia
Strengthened Security and Diplomatic Cooperation
Reaffirmed necessity of substantial economic cooperation
Ensured legal position of Koreans in CIS and strengthened diplomatic policy for human rights
Conclusion and Prospects
President Kim's visit to Russia amidst the heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula
arising from North Korea's nuclear brinkmanship has produced some very tangible
results as well as strengthened friendly and cooperative relations between the two
countries. As noted, President Kim's visit to Russia concluded his 'quadrangular
diplomacy' which he has undertaken with his visits to the United States, Japan and
China by helping to further consolidate the foundation of national security and peaceful
reunification of Korea.
The Moscow summit also confirmed the end of the Cold-War era between the two
countries as they agreed to install a 'Hot Line' between the Blue House and the Kremlin
in order to closely cooperate on bilateral and international issues. President Kim's
boarding of the Russian submarine ship (Admiral Vinogranov) in Vladivostok also well
illustrated it. Nowadays, President Kim often directly consults President Clinton and the
Prime Minister of Japan through the 'Hot Line' about various national and international
issues.
As a result of the Moscow summit, South Korea and Russia are now turning to a
comprehensive partnership in various sectors. Especially, the Moscow summit will
reignite Seoul-Moscow economic exchanges and cooperations which have stagnated
because of Moscow's default on some US$1.5 billion in loans. In September of this year,
Russia agreed to repay debts with raw materials, helicopters for civilian use and
military hardware. Despite Russia's political uncertainty and faltering economic growth,
prospects for economic exchange and cooperation remain bright, because of the
existing complementarity between the two countries. Russia has rich resources and
advanced science and technology while Korea has industrial technology, capital and
development experience. If Russian political situation stabilizes and the economy
regains its growth potential as it appears to have done since last December, economic
cooperation between the two countries will rapidly grow.
South Korea and Russia share in common their pursuit of change and reform in not only
political and social sectors but in the economic sectors as well. In other words, both
states are becoming political and economic partners as Russia transforms its political
and economic system into liberal democracy as well as its free market economy.
Because of geopolitical significance as well as its global stature economically and
militarily, South Korea's good relations with Russia is very important for the security
and prosperity of Korea. And it also promotes the well-being of Koreans in the CIS.
Therefore, for South Korea, it is necessary to steadily cultivate ties with Russia in
political, security, economic, cultural and all other fields. Undoubtedly, however, the
future relations between Seoul and Moscow hinge to a great extent on mutually
beneficial economic cooperation.
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