| North Korea's Brinkmanship |
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| 북한의 불안정한 변수가 우리의 국익을 해친다. |
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| 북한의 불안정한 변수가 우리의 국익을 해친다. |
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Usually, regionalism refers to the political theory of putting high value on the interests of a region. Norman D. Palmer in his book, ``The New Regionalism in Asia and the Pacific,'' clearly states that ``regionalism usually centers on enhancing a region's power and prestige.''
He continues, ``Regional interests can be promoted through political and economic cooperation, which are commonly referred to as `political regionalism' and `economic regionalism' respectively.''
He further argues that regionalism can be contrasted with nationalism and globalism.
On the other hand, gradual regional integration is a process in which nations enter into regional institutions in order to increase regional cooperation and diffuse regional tensions.
In this context, sometimes a certain type of regionalism could proceed without regional institutionalization.
When we apply this general theoretical elaboration of regionalism to the Northeast Asian region, some mismatches arise.
Recently, North Korea's nuclear brinkmanship and the latest case of detention of American journalists accused of ``illegally intruding into the country through its border with China,'' clearly provides a reasonable basis to explain the immature tension-ridden situation in Northeast Asia.
According to news reports from international journals and mass media, Laura Ling, a Chinese-American, and Euna Lee, a Korean-American, both working for Current TV, were on a reporting trip along the border at the moment they were detained by North Korean border guards.
This incident has complicated the United States' already-troubled, uncomfortable relations with North Korea. The recent announcement by Pyongyang of the launch of a satellite between April 4 and April 8 had already added more tension and worries to these feelings.
Furthermore, at this moment, the Japanese and South Korean governments are keenly and sensitively aware of North Korea's brinkmanship tactics after the North told international aviation authorities that it would close two international air routes over its airspace from April 4 to April 8 for the satellite launch.
These unreasonable tactics and brinkmanship strategies by Pyongyang are clearly against the sound development of Northeast Asian constructive regionalism.
International relations scholars came to the conclusion that key conditions for the success of regional integration are functional demand, leadership, common exigencies or the sharing of strategic interests, and last, a common identity.
Northeast Asia clearly fails to meet these conditions as of now, and in the foreseeable future the current situation is likely to continue.
Among the major obstacles to this sound regional cooperative development, distrust and strategic rivalry between Japan and China, and Japan's uncomfortable accommodation to integrate with less developed countries in this regions, come foremost.
In addition to this traditional analysis, the current North Korean brinkmanship could be an additional major hurdle to cooperative regional integration.
North Korea's recent nuclear brinkmanship and the latest case of detention of American journalists is strong proof that it will never be easy to have an EU-type regional cooperation body in Northeast Asia.
Nationalism still continues to take precedence in regional politics. The Chinese Communist Party's nationalism-oriented approach as well as the reckless nationalist approaches of North Korea's ruling Workers Party have clashed with the United States, Japan, and South Korea in the region.
Japanese nationalism still strains relations with its neighboring nations. South Korean and Japanese animosity matter very much over territorial issues and historical interpretations.
The lack of trust among the three major countries ― China, Japan and South Korea ― and, quite crucially, North Korea's reckless brinkmanship in Northeast Asia continue to create formidable barriers preventing them from forming a meaningful economic and political grouping.
In conclusion, North Korea must adopt normal behavior as a normal state for the ultimate peace and stability of Northeast Asia.
Dr. Park Tae-woo is president of the Blue Politics Institute and a visiting professor in the department of diplomacy at National Chengchi University in China. He also serves as the honorary consul of East Timor in Korea, and secretary-general of the Democratic Pacific Union Korea Chapter. He can be reached at t517@naver.com | |
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 등록일 : 2009-04-01 (11:27) |
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예수 그리스도의 성령충만함은 아가페 사랑으로 행하며 항상 범사에 넘치는 감사찬송으로 예수를 증거하는 입술의 열매를 낸다.
예수 그리스도의 아가페 통제를 벗어난 것이 분외의 언행이다. 존귀에 거짓말은 합당치 못한 것이다.
예수 그리스도의 사랑의 거푸집에 예수 사랑의 통제로 채워지고 길들여져 밀가루 세말로 드려져야 한다.
예수 그리스도의 각 지체로 부르심을 입은 자들은 생명의 말씀을 밝히는 조명력을 넘치는 감사찬송으로 구해 받아 누려야 한다.
예수 그리스도의 안목을 구해 받아 세상을 치료하도록 내려다 보아라.