The North Korean Factor in East Asian Regional Security

Abstract

This paper first examines briefly the current security environment in East Asia and then identifies the North Korean factor in regional security. It later reviews the implications of this factor in a broader context, especially in relation to the overarching theme of the conference: “East Asian Regional Integration and the US Role”. It specifically attempts to highlight three major aspects of the topic of Session I: “Political and Security Co-operation in East Asia”. They are (1) the issues of status quo and national interest, (2) the relationship between regional integration and national unification, and (3) strengthening and expanding PRC–Japan–ROK nuclear and space co-operation to include other states in the region and other fields of co-operation. It finally reaches the conclusion that, while the role of the United States should remain formidable and even essential for East Asian regional security and integration, the North Korean factor requires closer co-ordination and concerted efforts by all the powers concerned, both global and regional, as well as both big and small, preferably including Pyongyang herself. In the final analysis, the regional security could be better promoted by seeking synergy effects of regional integration and reunification of divided nations. As regional integration progresses so does national unification and vice versa. Each and every problem has a solution if its stakeholders approach it in a broader context, with farther-sighted visions, and in such a way as to exchange their positions with one another. More judicious prioritization of issues is required for each stakeholder.