From confrontation to cooperation: A new paradigm for inter-Korean relations

The last decade of the twentieth century was the beginning of changes in international relations from military confrontation to economic cooperation in the post-Cold War period, applying the theory of pluralism rather than that of realism. The study seeks a new paradigm of inter-Korean relations by analyzing globalization and regional convergence, North Korean survival strategies, South Korean engagement policy and the aftermath of Perry's report, and inter-Korean economic cooperation. Through those analyses, the study suggests four policy recommendations for the United States, China, North and South Korea. Washington should verify that North Korean absolutely abandons developing and proliferating nuclear weapons. If it does, Washington should normalize ties, lift sanctions and give economic assistance, and provide national security by guaranteeing a North-South peace treaty and arms reduction agreement. If North Korea does not give tip ifs intention to develop nuclear weapons, Beijing should stop supplying it with food and energy. North Korea should exchange nuclear development for diplomatic normalization, economic assistance, and national security guarantees from the US as soon as possible. The DPRK leadership should focus on economic and social development rather than building the military hardware and tightening control over domestic politics. In pursuing the engagement policy with the North, South Korea should closely coordinate with regional powers, particularly with Washington and Beijing, in order to maximize the policy efforts and minimize unnecessary misunderstanding.