Russian Policy on Korean Unification in the Post-Cold War Era

Abstract

T HE COLD WAR CONTINUES on the Korean peninsula, and the Korean knot has yet to be untangled. Korean unification remains a central issue in Northeast Asia. The major powers surrounding Korea, including the U.S, Russia, China, and Japan, continue to have high stakes in the future of Korea because of its geo-strategic importance and growing economic strength. In the wake of the collapse of the Soviet Union in December 1991, the Russian Federation became its legal successor in Northeast Asia due to geographic proximity and historical ties. Despite its formidable military capability, Russia no longer enjoys the global superpower status and is now relegated to being a regional power. Still, Russia, as a neighboring power of Korea, has shown keen interest in Korean affairs. Moscow has made various efforts to maintain peace and stability in Korea and might hold the key to the peaceful unification of Korea in the future. This paper (1) explores Russia's policy toward North and South Korea in view of Russia's new foreign policy direction and (2) analyzes Russia's perception of and attitudes toward Korean unification and its role in resolving the Korean question.