Korean unification is highly likely to cause both domestic and international instability. Domestic instability may come from increased mobility of North Koreans, economic shock and social conflicts on the Korean Peninsula. On the other hand, internati...
Korean unification is highly likely to cause both domestic and international instability. Domestic instability may come from increased mobility of North Koreans, economic shock and social conflicts on the Korean Peninsula. On the other hand, international instability may arise from change in power distribution in Northeast Asia, increased possibility of nuclear proliferation, intensified nationalism and increased possibility of contingency in the North Korean region.
What foreign policies should Korea pursue concerning these destabilizing factors? The Korean government must develop logic on the unification and alliance to convince its neighboring states. Also, clear policies on nuclear weapons and the U.S. troops in the Korean territory after unification should be established. To achieve this, the government must establish customized persuasion strategies based on the neighboring states’ position.
During the unification process, the Korean government must secure the support of its neighboring states. In addition to this, the government must use such support in acquiring international legitimacy at the United Nations level. On the other hand, it must also clarify its position regarding various foreign relations, territorial issues, foreign rights. The issue of succession of North Korea’s responsibilities including the succession of Sino-North Korea Mutual Aid and Cooperation Friendship Treaty and North Korea’s former debt must also be clarified and resolved.
After the Korean unification, Korea must develop a trust-based diplomacy that is commensurate with its status as a central state in Northeast Asia. In order to do this, first, the government must raise issues with which the international community identifies, and must cooperate in creating opportunities for mutual cooperation and thereby undertake a leading role in the international community. The government must continue to develop agendas such as Green Growth and become a state that continuously provides constructive ideas to the international community. Secondly, the Korean government must promote mutual growth and peace in the Northeast Asian region by resolving conflicts between the states in the region and establishing trust through its endeavors to develop a multilateral security system. For this, the unified Korea must undertake the role of a catalyst of cooperation between U.S. and China, the superpowers in the region. Thirdly, the unified Korea must behave as a responsible member of the international community by embodying diplomacy of a middle power nation that contributes to world peace and human progress.