Russian-South Korean Security Cooperation

Abstract

S 365 Russian-South Korean Security Cooperation Vladimir S. Miasnikov Only in September 1994 did the Russian Federation and the Republic of Korea celebrated the fourth anniversary of the diplomatic normalization signed between the Soviet Union and the ROK. Would it not, then, be premature to discuss Russian-ROK cooperation in the field of security? Would such cooperation meet the national interests and foreign-policy strategies of both countries? In the contemporary world the notion of “national security’’ extends to the global, regional and bilateral levels. It is through this prism that the questions raised are dealt with in this article. The UN membership attained by the Republic of Korea in September 1991 helped it come to a better understanding with Russia on major international issues. As is emphasized in the Basic Provisions of the RF Military Doctrine, adopted on November 2, 1993, “in preventing wars and armed conflicts, priority is being acquired by political-diplomatic, international legal, economic, and other nonmilitary means and collective actions of the world community with regard to the threat to peace, violations of peace, and acts of aggression.’’ National security depends on domestic and international factors. Domestic factors include resolution of economic, political and social problems in the course of the ongoing reforms in Russia. International factors include the condition of Russia’s relations with the rest of the world, espkcially with the neighboring countries and leading powers. For many years ROK security policy has been aimed at prevention of threat on the part of North Korea and its allies. Russia has a positive assessment of efforts taken recently by South Korea with the aim to modernize its armed forces and make its national defense more independent. At the same time, Russian diplomacy has a proper understanding of the ROK intention to consolidate security ties with its traditional 366 THE KOREAN JOURNAL OF DEFENSE ANALYSIS allies and especially the United States. All this places certain limitations on ROK-Russian security cooperation. As the Asia-Pacific security agenda will from now on be in the focus of multilateral diplomacy, Russia and South Korea have acquired a new channel for cooperation. In this regard, diversification of foreign-policy ties and multilateral cooperation, being important components of the new South Korean diplomacy, can play a substantial role in development of a regional security system. Regular and military diplomacy in the Asia-Pacific region is working to develop the elements of the new security system on the base of non-confrontational approaches. With such efforts, the need is felt to hold an ARF-type multilateral meeting of defense officials of concerned countries, and it would be wise for Russia and Korea to set forth a coordinated initiative to this effect. Such joint efforts, aiming at consolidation of regional security, can render a new impulse for the progress of already outlined security cooperation between the FW and ROK. During the first Russian-ROK summit the presidents of the two countries signed the Treaty on Fundamentals of Relations between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Korea (November 19, 1992). By this treaty, the two states would develop their cooperation in the interests of better stability and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region. Russia and Republic of Korea would refrain from the use of force or the threat of force, and would solve all emerging bilateral disputes through peaceful means and in compliance with the UN Charter. Russia and the ROK would take cooperative efforts aiming against organized crime, international terrorism, illegal drug turnover, and illegal acts jeopardizing safe navigation and air traffic. Building up its security relations with both Korean partners is an important point in Russia’s position with regard to her bilateral relations in the sphere of security. Cooperative security is the approach laid in the basis of Russia’s Korea policy. Russia can and must be a guarantor of security on the Korean peninsula.