In preventing and effectively responding to post-Cold War conflicts and related humanitarian crises, early warning studies and measures of preventive diplomacy were actively pursued by researchers and policy-makers. Several research projects are curre...
In preventing and effectively responding to post-Cold War conflicts and related humanitarian crises, early warning studies and measures of preventive diplomacy were actively pursued by researchers and policy-makers. Several research projects are currently underway with the objective of developing early warning concepts (i.e. "early warning of what") and models, which are generally derived from theories of causation, often with the anticipation of guiding future policies of preventive diplomacy. For example, the United Nations (UN) is now coordinating a global humanitarian early warning system with its mission of maintaining peace and security in the international arena, as well as conducting various activities for conflict prevention.
In this context, this paper is intended to examine the significance of preventive diplomacy and early warning in international relations, with special reference to the case of the Korean peninsula. First, the paper will discuss the concepts of preventive diplomacy and early warning systems and examine how these concepts have developed in the international community since its conception. Second, while the threat from the reactivation of North Korea's nuclear program requires serious and coordinated attention from South Korea and the international community, it is also important to ensure that the North does not undergo what is commonly referred to as a "hard landing," or a sudden collapse. Also, we must remember. that humanitarian concerns are also intricately related to security issues as evidenced by the tensions raised by the incidents of North Korean "famine refugees" seeking asylum in foreign embassies in China. Under this context, this paper will emphasize the importance of early warning in both traditional and non-traditional security issues relevant to the Korean peninsula. Finally, this paper will suggest ways to conduct timely and effective early warning measures in the case of security or humanitarian crisis situations around the world, and the peninsula in particular.