A Study On The Park Geun-hye Government’s Policy Towards The DPRK

This thesis studies the Park Geun-hye government’s policy towards the DPRK--“trust-building process on the Korean Peninsula”. After World War II, there isgreat disparity in the political, cultural and social regime between DPRK and ROK.The economy has also reversed in recent70years. The Korean peninsula has beenstill in the actual division and military confrontation. the safety situation of “foreignaid” and “self-sufficiency” has already taken shape. The foundation of peace andstability on the Peninsula is fragile. The level of trust between North and Southremains low, and the way to keep core interests presents contrary. Due to thesuccessful launch of the long-range rocket and a third nuclear test conducted byDPRK, he has achieved a strategic update from “nuclear weapons for peace” to“seeking peace with nuclear weapons” subjectively. The international relations onthe Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia have also entered a new “DPRK possessionof nuclear weapons” era. The nuclear issue will become one of the major topics thatthe18th president of ROK facing in the field of foreign affairs and security. Thepractice of international relations after the World War II show that inter-Koreanrelations are subtle and sensitive, and the process of normalization of bilateralrelations is tortuous and complex. In fact, the tensions on the Korean Peninsula isfundamentally the result that is led by the contradictions between U.S. and DPRKwith Cold War mentality. It is also caused by the competitive structure in the processof reunification. The turbulent situation on the Korean Peninsula weakens thestrategic dominance of ROK relatively. Traditional policy towards DPRK is facingmany challenges which are forcing Park Geun-hye to update traditional policy ofKorean government towards the DPRK. With the departure of “a new era of hopeand happiness”, Park Geun-hye government intends to adopt a “alignment policy”towards the DPRK which includes a package of “inhibition” and implementation ofhumanitarian assistance and other active initiatives in parallel. As a strategicleverage, it will promote the process of trust positively.This paper argues that the transformation of foreign policy reflects theconsiderations of practical activity or situation, safeguarding national interests andexpectations, and not infringing the core interests of other countries. Certainly, it willbe in line with the international norms and order. The article discusses the impact ofthe Park Geun-hye government’s “trust-building process on the Korean Peninsula”from four aspects. As the strategy proposed by the new central government of ROK,“trust-building process on the Korean Peninsula” has its notable features. Currently, expanding the suppression towards DPRK on the international level is forced withthe DPRK nuclear crisis and the military situation. To maintain homeland security,Park Geun-hye government takes emergency to expediency, and it will not deviatefrom the basic framework and policy tone of “trust-building process”. Needlessly tosay, the new policy towards DPRK will have a profound impact on the inter-Koreanbilateral relations and the situation in Northeast Asia and future policy towards theDPRK by the government of ROK. Due to various factors at home and abroad, andthe long-term goal of maintaining the Korean Peninsula security, peace, prosperityand unity, Park Geun-hye government’s policy towards the DPRK is a wise and“quite hopeful” option by taking their own policies and building trust with theDPRK under the help of the international community. However, we can notoverestimate the “trust-building process on the Korean Peninsula”. Park Geun-hye’spolicy towards the DPRK remains to be tested by the practice of internationalrelations between the South and North within the five-year term. Just as she said byherself,“To achieve true normalization relations inter-Korean, there is still a longway to go.”...