韓半島의 統一과 日本 = Japan's Role for Korean Unification

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Since the collapse of the bipolar Cold War system in the 1990s, the political situation of Northeast Asia has been transformed, for the most part, in favor of Korea's peaceful unification. In this context, if there is one question that should be our concern, it would be what are the possible roles of Japan in relation to promoting favorable environment for the unification of the Korean Peninsular. Thus, the main purpose of this paper is to review and analyze possible role of Japan to the Korean unification.
For this purpose, we will (1) review the unification plans of South and North Korea and find out the differences and problems of the two plans; (2) examine the various factors of Japan's policy toward Korea and explore the possibility of Japan's support for the Korean unification; (3) suggest new insight of the future role of Japan to the Korean unification based on this research.
First, when we compare and review the unification policies, we could group (1) the model of confederation of South Korea and (2) the federal model of the North. The differences which create the problem in the South and North unification policy is that South Korea emphasizes the coexistence of different system in a gradually unfolding unification process, but North insists on integrated nation state, embracing the entire peninsular following the unification.
Another difference between South and North Korea is the approaches toward unification. The North persisted in basing its unification policy on the need for direct talks between United States and North Korea which is principally aimed at obtaining the withdrawal of United Nations troops from South Korea and amending the armistice agreement to shape it into a peace agreement. North Korea wants to bypass South and assign the highest priority to negotiating with United States.
However, the South Korean government sought to resolve Korean problems by means of an inter-Korean dialogue. To create a more favorable environment for inter-Korean dialogue and confidence building, the South Korean government tried the two Korea's simultaneous admission to the United Nations and 4 major-powers' cross recognition of the North and South Korea in 70s and 80s.
As a result, South Korea joined the United Nations with North Korea and established diplomatic relations with the former Soviet Union and the People's Republic of China in 1990s. South and North signed on the Inter-Korean Basic Agreement and the Joint Declaration of Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsular.
In this new situation, North Korean declared its intention to normalize diplomatic relations with Japan(1990) and she made a steadfast effort in its normalization talk with the Japan. However, little progress was made because of the nuclear issues.
Meanwhile, the North Korean government announced the decision to withdraw from NPT on March 12, 1993 and has been seeking the settling of the nuclear issue through bargaining for the improvement of relationship with the United States. With this regard, Japan has a very limited role in relation to Korean Unification.
Next, when we review the Japanese foreign policy toward Korean Peninsular in the context of relationship between Japan and United States, Japan and Korea, North and South Korea, we can identify three policy factors which outline the Japanese foreign policy.
First, Japan attaches a great importance of the United States policy toward Northeast Asia within the framework of United States-Japan security cooperation system.
Second, Japanese government holds its basic stance of the existence of two nations and two governments in Korean Peninsular.
Third, Japan places a high proirty on peace and prosperity of Korean Peninsular for its own national security interests and well-being.
Reflecting upon the U.S. policy toward this region, inter-Korean developments and relationship with South Korean government. Japan seeks the increasing role to the Korean Unification.
In accessing the Japanese premises toward Korean Unification, Japan does not want to disturb its peace and stability by the Korean Unification and wants to utilize the opportunity to the Korean Unification for improving its political influence in this area.
In this context, Japan's role as an economic power is to induce openess and reform in North Korea and promote the cause of peaceful Unification of South and North Korea.
Furthermore, economic cooperation between Japan and North Korea ensure peace and stability on the Korean Peninsular and it can alleviate the economic burden of Unification.
In sum, Japan has the ability to play a constructive economic role for the Korean Unification and the economic role of Japan can be a very effective one because of the current economic sitution of North Korea.

목차 (Table of Contents)

• Ⅰ. 序 論
• Ⅱ. 南北韓의 統一政策과 차이점
• Ⅲ. 日本의 對韓半島 政策과 考慮要因
• Ⅳ. 한반도 통일과 관련한 일본의 역할