신북방시대 한국의 대러 외교전략과 과제

Abstract

This article examines the new foreign policies of Korean government in order to search for ways to promote cooperation between Korea and Russia. The Korea-Russian relations are laden with the least conflicts compared to other countries in Northeast Asia, and for this reason, they have good conditions to establish cooperative relations. However, their bilateral partnership remains at a lower level than its potential. In order to promote the cooperation between Korea and Russia, the Korean government has to review and strengthen the strategic partnership with Russia. Especially, by concluding an FTA with Russia, Korea will be able to upgrade the economic cooperation. For this purpose, the Korean government intends to launch its New Northern Policy. Compared to similar policies existed in the previous governments, the current government plans to expand the scope of its policy geographically by simultaneously pursuing the New Southern Policy so that the Korean peninsula becomes an economic hub of East Asia. In addition, the Northern Economic Cooperation Committee, which will promote the New Northern Policy, was established for inter-ministerial coordination.