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Korea's Security Policy
Sang-Hoon Park
1996.06/08
Director, Security Policy Division, Office of Policy Planning, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Introduction
The strategic thinking of any nation regarding its security is shaped and conditioned by
its history and reality. Historically, Korea has been ceaselessly exposed to the threats
from the powers surrounding it and has been frequently victimized by their power
games. Even after its liberation from Japan as a result of the end of World War II, Korea
was not allowed to remain a united nation.
During the Cold-War period, the continued division of national territory and the
subsequent confrontation between the two Koreas have conditioned Korea's strategic
thinking. For the South Koreans, North Korea and the communist camp behind it were
the only visible enemies and deterring North Korean aggression was the single most
important strategy.
The end of the Cold War has changed the overall security situation in Northeast Asia.
The bloc-to-bloc ideological confrontation of the past has ended. Nevertheless, the
Korean Peninsula is often described as "the last bastion of the Cold War" due to the
existing acute confrontation between the two Koreas. Moreover, considerable
uncertainties lie ahead as the states in the region are constantly redefining their
existing relations and seeking new strategies. Under these circumstances, South Korea
is faced with a more complex and sensitive security policy agenda than in the Cold War
era.
This paper deals with Korea's important security issues, focusing on the diplomatic
dimension of Korea's security policy.
Security Environment
Vital National Interests to be Pursued
Consolidation of Korea-US Alliance
Peace Regime-Building on the Korean Peninsula
From Peace Regime to Unification
North Korean Nuclear Issue
Non-Proliferation Policy
CBMs on the Korean Peninsula
Multilateral Security Cooperation
Conclusion
Given the rapidly changing security environment on the global as well as the
regional level, Korea needs to reassess the basic assumptions and priorities of its
foreign and security policies. External circumstances and internal developments will
require Korea to exercise greater flexibility in foreign relations and emphasize the
need for a more farsighted and multilateral approach to security policy in the years
to come.
Korea should develop a genuine partnership with the US. The stabilizing role of the
US is likely to become increasingly important. Korea should also strengthen
bilateral relations with the other three major powers in Northeast Asia, namely
China, Japan and Russia. Korea will continue to be faced with the difficult task of
persuading the four powers, which appear to be less vigorous in creating a
favorable atmosphere for Korean unification, of the positive effects the Korean
unification may bring about by removing the most serious potential Casus Belli in
Northeast Asia.
On the other hand, Korea, as a middle power in the Asia-Pacific region, needs to
discourage the emergence of strategic confrontation and build a cooperative
security mechanism in the region. While Korea's bilateral strategic arrangements
are fundamental to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, more fresh and
creative approaches to a more complex in the post Cold-War era are necessary.
Source Materials
Peace and Cooperation on the Korean Peninsula (Re.*)
Statement by H.E. Mr. Gong Ro-Myung, Minister of Foreign Affairs, at the ROK-ASEAN 7+1 Session
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