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NARS is holding a series of six meetings to discuss “U.S., China, Japan, Russia, EU, and North Korea's Foreign Policy in 2020: Prospects and Our Responses.”
The purpose of the meetings is to examine how South Korea can better respond to the changes in these countries by analyzing the 2020 foreign policies of the U.S., China, Japan, Russia, EU, and North Korea.
On February 14, the first meeting was held under the topic “Prospects for Russia’s Foreign Policy in 2020.” The keynote speech was given by emeritus professor Kim Tai-yoo (Seoul National University), while professor Sung Won-yong (Incheon National University), professor Kim Seong-jin (Duksung Women’s University), and legislative researcher Shim Sung-eun (NARS) also took part in the meeting. Five major issues on ROK-Russia relations were discussed during the meeting: how to 1) further consolidate cooperation on Russian Far East Development Policy, 2) reinforce ROK-Russia economic cooperation in the quaternary sector of industry, 3) swiftly conclude the ROK-Russia FTA negotiations on the service sector, 4) encourage Russia to play an active role in improving inter-Korean relations, and 5) maintain momentum in celebrating the 30th anniversary of ROK-Russia diplomatic relations in 2020. In addition, measures to be taken at the national assembly level were also discussed: 1) reinforce the institutional foundation of a parliamentary network and agenda development, 2) strengthen the inter-parliamentary information sharing regarding issues such as special economic zones and public-private partnerships, and 3) build new cooperative network between the National Assembly and local councils.
On February 19, the second meeting was held under the topic “Prospects for North Korea’s Foreign Policy in 2020.” Cho Sung-ryul (a senior advisor of the Institute for National Security Strategy), participated as the keynote speaker while Kim Kap-sik (director of the unification policy research division at the Korea Institute for National Unification), Park Won-gon (professor at Handong Global University), and Lee Seung-ryeol (legislative researcher at NARS), took part in the discussion regarding North Korea’s foreign policy. During the meeting, the need for progress in inter-Korean relations in advance of resuming the DPRK-U.S. talks for North Korea’s denuclearization in 2020 and government’s countermeasures and the new role of the National Assembly as a partner for addressing state affairs were discussed. Other specific needs/recommendations discussed at the meeting include the following: 1) prior to gaining U.S. understanding, implement cooperative projects with North Korea based on inter-Korean cooperation; 2) minimize ROK-U.S. military exercises and seek the transfer of wartime Operational Control Authority (OPCON) to South Korea (from U.S. Forces Korea); and 3) temporarily suspend the development of advanced weapons to gain momentum for the inter-Korean and DPRK-U.S. dialogue. Most of the participants agreed on the need for improving inter-Korean relations through an active interpretation of humanitarian aid to North Korea and its corresponding international support.
NARS expects to hold four more meetings (covering U.S., China, Japan, and the EU's foreign policies in 2020) and publish a subsequent report on “Northeast Asia in 2020 and Tasks for South Korea.”
The purpose of the meetings is to examine how South Korea can better respond to the changes in these countries by analyzing the 2020 foreign policies of the U.S., China, Japan, Russia, EU, and North Korea.
On February 14, the first meeting was held under the topic “Prospects for Russia’s Foreign Policy in 2020.” The keynote speech was given by emeritus professor Kim Tai-yoo (Seoul National University), while professor Sung Won-yong (Incheon National University), professor Kim Seong-jin (Duksung Women’s University), and legislative researcher Shim Sung-eun (NARS) also took part in the meeting. Five major issues on ROK-Russia relations were discussed during the meeting: how to 1) further consolidate cooperation on Russian Far East Development Policy, 2) reinforce ROK-Russia economic cooperation in the quaternary sector of industry, 3) swiftly conclude the ROK-Russia FTA negotiations on the service sector, 4) encourage Russia to play an active role in improving inter-Korean relations, and 5) maintain momentum in celebrating the 30th anniversary of ROK-Russia diplomatic relations in 2020. In addition, measures to be taken at the national assembly level were also discussed: 1) reinforce the institutional foundation of a parliamentary network and agenda development, 2) strengthen the inter-parliamentary information sharing regarding issues such as special economic zones and public-private partnerships, and 3) build new cooperative network between the National Assembly and local councils.
On February 19, the second meeting was held under the topic “Prospects for North Korea’s Foreign Policy in 2020.” Cho Sung-ryul (a senior advisor of the Institute for National Security Strategy), participated as the keynote speaker while Kim Kap-sik (director of the unification policy research division at the Korea Institute for National Unification), Park Won-gon (professor at Handong Global University), and Lee Seung-ryeol (legislative researcher at NARS), took part in the discussion regarding North Korea’s foreign policy. During the meeting, the need for progress in inter-Korean relations in advance of resuming the DPRK-U.S. talks for North Korea’s denuclearization in 2020 and government’s countermeasures and the new role of the National Assembly as a partner for addressing state affairs were discussed. Other specific needs/recommendations discussed at the meeting include the following: 1) prior to gaining U.S. understanding, implement cooperative projects with North Korea based on inter-Korean cooperation; 2) minimize ROK-U.S. military exercises and seek the transfer of wartime Operational Control Authority (OPCON) to South Korea (from U.S. Forces Korea); and 3) temporarily suspend the development of advanced weapons to gain momentum for the inter-Korean and DPRK-U.S. dialogue. Most of the participants agreed on the need for improving inter-Korean relations through an active interpretation of humanitarian aid to North Korea and its corresponding international support.
NARS expects to hold four more meetings (covering U.S., China, Japan, and the EU's foreign policies in 2020) and publish a subsequent report on “Northeast Asia in 2020 and Tasks for South Korea.”
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