The 2020 NPT Review Conference and the Role of the ROK

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to assess the strategic environment of the Republic of Korea (ROK) and to examine what strategies the ROK will develop ahead of the 2020 NPT Review Conference. Nuclear arms control policy-making is very complex for the ROK because of its specific security dilemma. And the role and strategy of the ROK in international regimes are increasingly important for the ROK’s security and status in the world. Thus, the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and its review process including the Review Conference and Preparatory Committee are particularly essential to the ROK. In 2020 when the 10th Review Conference will be held, the ROK should present an appropriate strategy. For this, this article first outlines the establishment and development of the NPT and its review process from 1995 to 2015, after the Cold War and the North Korean nuclear issue was raised. And it describes the ROK’s role played in the NPT on the basis of its three pillars and suggests what strategies Korea must retain: Nuclear disarmament and security assurances from Russia and China; Coercing the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) to rejoin the NPT; Continuing the momentum of the Nuclear Security Summit; and Setting and leading a new agenda. This study concludes with a forecast that the year 2020 will be a major turning point for Korea.