A U.S. expert on Korean affairs says South Korea may strengthen its rules of engagement with North Korea and more actively pursue international cooperation under the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) in the wake of the Cheonan incident.

Scott Snyder, director of the Center for U.S.-Korea Policy at the Asia Foundation, presented the analysis in his recent interview with World Politics Review, an online media outlet on international relations.

Snyder said that the Lee Myung-bak administration has consistently attempted to internationalize its response to the naval disaster by including American, Australian, and Swedish technical experts in the probe team on the Cheonan case.

He added the South Korean foreign minister mentioned the possibility of taking the issue to the U.N. Security Council. Snyder said Seoul may try to use its standing in the international community to its advantage by bringing international pressure on the North.

The expert said Seoul may also tighten restrictions on North Korean passage through waters under South Korean jurisdiction that have been relaxed several years ago.