This book explores the possible routes to transform the current hostile dynamic between North Korea and South Korea into a lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula.Through critical assessments of the current political and security conditions in the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia the book presents innovative ideas for peacebuilding, with a particular focus on denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula. Focusing on issues such as North Korea's nuclear proliferation, strategies for peaceful coexistence and a peace regime between the two Korean states, and the quest for peace and stability in Northeast Asia, the chapters examine the interests of the four surrounding powers concerning the Korean issue and their roles in establishing a peaceful regime in the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia. Providing expert scholarship from the United States, Korea, and Japan it provides novel information, diverse viewpoints, thoughtful analysis, and valuable insights on the issues surrounding the Korean Peninsula and security in Northeast Asia.Highlighting the plausible pathways to establish a peace regime in both Korea and Northeast Asia, whilst considering the roles of neighbouring powers in this process this will be a valuable resource to students and scholars of Korean Politics, Security Studies, Peace Studies.
Tae-Hwan Kwak is Professor Emeritus of Political Science at Eastern Kentucky University, USA.Seung-Ho Joo is a Professor of Political Science at the University of Minnesota-Morris, USA.
1. Introduction 2. North Korea’s Evolving Policy toward South Korea: “Two Hostile States” Theory 3. Nuclearization, Economic Development, and the Two Koreas: A Balance-of-Power Approach 4. Coping with a Nuclear-Armed North Korea: Strategic Options and Policy Dilemmas 5. A Creative Framework for a Denuclearized Peace Regime on the Korean Peninsula 6. The Future of the Korean Peninsula in the Era of Strategic Competition Between the US and China 7. The Solution of the Korean Peninsula Problem and China’s Constructive Roles: Possibilities and Obstacles 8. Russia’s Role in Resolving the Korean Question 9. Japan’s New Roles in Resolving Korean Peninsula Issues 10. The Peaceful Unification of the Korean Peninsula: Key Issues and Prospects