A Research On The South Korea Policy In Northest Asia

South Korea, as a country with relatively weak power in Northeast Asia, once had no independent in foreign affairs and defense in the Cold War period, and has been relied on the United States in terms of national security. South Korea has been survived in the hegemony of Soviet Union and the United States and East-West confrontation. After the end of the Cold War, the international status of Korea had been promoted by the successes of economic development and the host of 1988 Seoul Olympic Games. So far as Korea with economic prosperity and national pride was concerned, the basic goals of its foreign relations was not look for and obtain security and survive from the struggle of powerful nations. In 1988, Korean President Roh Tae-woo send "North Diplomacy" into action, which primary goal was to improve the normalization of relations with socialist states. From then on, Korea gained the initiative on foreign relations. In 1990, Korea henceforth the normalization of their bilateral relations with Soviet Union, and established diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China on August 24, 1992.The "North Diplomacy" became great success. Korea established diplomatic relations with all the Four Powerful Nations of Northeast Asia, the United States, Japan, China, and Russia, and the "Korea-US-Japan" union was no longer the only chance to relay on to Korean diplomatic relations. South Korea was gradually emerging from the shadow of the Cold War, and realized its foreign policy toward Northeast Asia.This study combs and analysis the Northeast Asia foreign policy of Korea according to the Cold War and post Cold war. The foreign policy of Korea focuses on the Northeast Asia, and its content is mainly about how to deal with the relationships with the US, Japan, China and Russia. As one of the center country of Northeast Asia, Korea has to develop and maintain the balance relation with Northeast Asia countries.ROK-U. S. alliance is the axis of Korean Northeast Asia policy. During the Cold War, "one-sidedness" towords United States is the main features of Korean Northeast Asia policy. After the Cold War South Korean adjusted policy to American, However, the adjustment and change on South Korea-US relations is limited. ROK-U. S. alliance will not disintegrate, ROK-U. S. alliance is still the axis of Korean Northeast Asia policy."Quasi-Alliance " is the nature of Korean-Japanese relations. Developing cooperative relations with Japan in the process of South Korea Northeast Asia policy implementation, On the one hand, can be further balanced strategic alliance with the United States and reduced dependence on the United States. on the other hand, it is also extremely beneficial for developing Korean economy and seeking Japan's support and assistance. Though the history and territory questions constitute a largest obstacle to the development of their relations, However, in the field of security South Korea Northeast Asia policy always has been maintain the Koreas, United States and Japan coordinate system.South Korean-Chinese relations is the important partnership. After established diplomatic relations, South Korean-Chinese relations gainned rapid development, which is hailed as a miracle in the history of bilateral relations. In November 1998, South Korea established a "21st century-oriented partnership" with China; In October 2000, South Korean-Chinese promoted "partnership" to the stage of comprehensive cooperation; In July 2003, South Korean-Chinese announced to establish a "comprehensive cooperative partnership";In November 2005, South Korean-Chinese announced once again "comprehensive and cooperative partnership" entered a new stage of development, again. However, the relations between South Korea and China is influenced by the United States strategy in Northeast Asia. At the same time, there are also some problems in the development of the relations between South Korea and China.The relations between South Korea and Russia is evolved With the changing of the Northeast Asian international political and economy. After the disintegration of the Soviet Union, Russia is the main successor of former Soviet Union, South Korea and Russia developed exchanges and cooperation actively in the political, economic, energy and other fields. However, the relationship between South Korea and Russia both in intensity and level are different from the South Korean-Chinese relations which is booming in political and economic fields. South Korea and Russia will have new space for development in the future.With Lee Myung-bak was elected as the new Korean President, Korea proposed the "pragmatism" of the Four Power diplomacy. Lee Myung-bak administration established a "Strategic Alliance Relationship" with the United States and then successfully raised bilateral relations with China, Japan and Russia, established Successively "mature partnership" with Japan, "strategic cooperative partnership" with China, "strategic partnership" with Russia, which embodies the great importance of Korean government to the Northeast Asian countries.South Korea is an important neighbor of China in Northeast Asia, which is one of the countries which have important impact on China's economic development and national security. The research of processes and dynamics of Korean Northeast Asia policy will help to determine and forecast the future direction of the relationship of Korea and Northeast Asia countries, and the impacts of China's foreign policy.