민주연구원

5. The goal of Moon Jae-in Administration's foreign and national security policy: 'Peace and Prosperity of the Korean Peninsula'

□ The Moon Administration will pursue 'Peace and Prosperity of Korean Peninsula' with strong national security as top priority.

○ In dealing with increasing threats from North Korea's nuclear and missile development, it is critical to construct strong security framework for responsible self-defence mechanism; Establishing ‘new norm’ of the South-North relations that aspires for peace and co-prosperity of the Korean Peninsula by achieving nuclear disarmament of the North and re-opening of South-North channel of cooperation and exchange.

- Prompt acquirement of the defense capability to deter North Korean threats and establishing of capable and strong military force to lead victory in times of possible physical conflicts in the future.

- Facing direct threats from North's nuclear capability, South Korea must assume leading role in the process of North's denuclearization, and pursue peaceful resolution of the nuclear problem and permanent peace of the peninsula in cooperation with the international society.

○ In order to break away from the geopolitical tension and contentious power balance in Northeast Asia, it is necessary to engage in active diplomatic efforts that seek cooperation not only from the surrounding states but also from those outside Northeast Asian region.

- In today's globalizing environment, not only the diplomats but also 'the people' must become involved in the decision-making process of foreign policies; it is an urgent task to establish channel of communication with the people and encourage participation in the designing of foreign and security policies.

□ ‘Strong Security and Responsible National Defense,' 'South-North Reconciliation and Denuclearization of the Peninsula,' 'Resolute Diplomacy to Lead International Cooperation' as three national agenda to implement 16 specific tasks

○'Strong Security and Responsible Defense': It proposes holistic strategic goal with five specific tasks, from swift establishment of deterrence mechanism against immediate North Korean threat to mid- to long-term structural reform of the entire national security system.

- Construction of "Korean-style three-axis system' and strengthening of defense against cyber attacks in imposing efficient containment strategy against asymmetric threats from North Korea's highly developed nuclear and missile capabilities.

- Radical reform of the National Defence System:

Reform of order-of-command system; Reduction of compulsory military service; Drastic reform of officers' serving environment; fighting corruption in arms production industry; nurturing of defense industry that corresponds to the 4th Industrial Revolution; and strengthening of civilian control.

- Early transfer of Wartime Operational Control based on strong US-Korea alliance.

○ 'South-North Reconciliation and Denuclearization of the Peninsula': Consisting of six tasks, it is a strategy for constructing economic basis for unification by implementing economic cooperation project--a framework for permanent peace of the peninsula after achieving denuclearization.

- ‘Framework for New Economic Roadmap of the Korean Peninsula': Promote economic cooperation with North Korea and create new growth dynamics for Korean economy.

- Resolve humanitarian issues such as separated families; Starting with sports exchanges, extend communication measures to wide variety of socio-cultural dimensions

- On North Korea's nuclear problem, it is necessary to present negotiation tactics that would induce nuclear-freeze and then complete abolishment of related programs; promote holistic approach that simultaneously carry out denuclearization and construction of peaceful governance.

- Regularize South-North summit, and press forward inter-Korean normalization treaty appropriate to the new South-North relations

- Strengthen nonpartisan cooperation and acquire people's support for North Korean issues, and mold out national consensus for unification

○ 'Resolute Diplomacy to Lead International Cooperation': Presents 5 tasks to achieve peace and prosperity of Northeast Asia as well as active diplomacy in order to deal strategically with outer regions

- Strengthen future-oriented bilateral ties based on trust and cooperation to maximize national interests through US-Korea alliance and Korea-China/Japan/Russian bilateral relations; Establish Northeast Asian Peace and Cooperation Platform as the pillar of peace; Construct “Northeast Asia Community of Collective Responsibility” as the axis for cooperation based on new policies toward southern and northern regions.

- Introduce 'System for People's Diplomacy' to induce communication and participation of the people in the designing of external policies and promote holistic and strategic public diplomacy

- Expanding economic diplomacy to increase national interests; Promoting holistic and integrative development cooperation projects.

- Strengthening the protection measures for the overseas Koreans; Vitalizing global network of the Hanin(Overseas Koreans) communities across the globe; Enhancing support programs for overseas Koreans.

□ The government must construct strong responsive mechanism against North Korean threats, based on which the Moon administration will employ comprehensive policy measures, including economic sanction as well as dialogue, in order to achieve denuclearization and permanent peace in the Korean Peninsula.

○ The government maintains policy toward North Korea within the framework of US-ROK alliance and international cooperation: Proposal of Berlin Doctrine and proactive support for UNSC Resolution No.2371

- Berlin Doctrine proposes a strategic framework in bringing about substantive change to North Korea through peaceful and fundamental resolution of the nuclear problem.

- Strengthening of US-ROK alliance as well as responsive security structure in dealing with repetitive threats made by North Korea

○ The government must construct 'Grand Strategy' in dealing with multi-layered and complex external environment: regarding the legitimacy and necessity of the Berlin Doctrine, it is critical to reach national consensus and attain support from the international community; Maximizing diplomatic capability in achieving national interests by assuming the leadership role.

- While strengthening cooperative measures with the international society in implementing UNSC Resolution No. 2371, it is also necessary to carry out corresponding measures to bring North Korea back to the table of negotiation for denuclearization.

- At the same time, in preparation for possible further provocation by North Korea in light of the UNSC Resolution and US-ROK joint military exercise (UFG) scheduled at the end of August, it is critical to strengthen cooperation with the U.S..

- Vitalizing strategic cooperation in East Asia through various channels of 'middle-power diplomacy'

- Promoting diplomatic strategy by utilizing minilateralism and formulating specific agendas for cooperative diplomacy.