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Korean peninsula trust-building process

Concept

「Trust-building Process on the Korean Peninsula」 is a policy to advance inter-Korean relations based on ensuring solid national security, establishing peace on the Korean Peninsula and laying the groundwork for eventual unification.
The policy aims to create peace by establishing a solid national security posture that does not permit North Korea’s armed provocations and encourages the North to follow the path of trust-building.
The policy first and foremost pushes for the establishment of trust between the two Koreas while looking for ways to create a virtuous cycle between trust-building, development of inter-Korean ties, and the establishment of a foundation for unification and peace on the Korean Peninsula.

※“The direction of the new administration’s North Korea policy is to establish trust between the two Koreas and to establish peace and a foundation for unification all based on firm security” (03.27.2013 Unification & Foreign Ministry Report)

Process and Significance of Trust-building

• Trust is built up gradually through dialogue and delivery on promises in addition to mutually beneficial cooperation and exchange.
  A price must be paid for any acts that disrupt peace, thereby encouraging both parties to adopt a path of cooperation This will allow the North to realize that building trust through exchange and cooperation is mutually beneficial.
• 「Trust-building on the Korean Peninsula Policy」 encompasses △Trust between the Two Koreas △Trust of the People △Trust of the International Community.
  Trust is the basic foundation for unification, the establishment of peace on the Korean Peninsula and the development of inter-Korean ties. At the same time, trust is also a type of social capital and infrastructure that allows the Korean government to pursue its North Korean and diplomatic policies under the support of the nation and international community.

Background

1. To Encourage North Korea to Become a Responsible Member of the International Community and to End the Decades-long Vicious Cycle

• Respond strongly to provocation and create practices that abide by all international standards and agreements for sustainable peace.

※“We cannot keep repeating the behavior of having dialogue, compromising and providing support whenever North Korea creates a crisis.” (04.11.2013, Saenuri Party’s Foreign Affairs/Unification/Defense Committee)

2. Fundamentally Resolving the Security Crisis on the Korean Peninsula Including North Korea’s Nuclear Weapons

• Despite the Korean Government’s efforts for the past 20 years, the North Korean nuclear issue has intensified and more emphasis is being placed to resolve the issue.
• A temporary solution without trust cannot resolve North Korea’s nuclear issue, so trust –building is necessary to get to the root of the problem.

3. Embracing the Strengths of Past North Korea Policies, Searching for a Comprehensive Approach

• The Engagement Policy towards North Korea centered on dialogue and exchange did not lead to meaningful change and we have reached a limit stopping North Korea’s nuclear development and provocation
• Now is the time to devise a new approach that can overcome the limitations to the current policy towards North Korea and this will contribute to resolving the conflict related to policies on North Korea.

At a time when distrust between the two Koreas is deeper than ever, a great opportunity has opened up for South Korea to take the lead in creating a new order based on trust. Based on this perception, the Park Geun-hye administration has set forth the Trust-building Process on the Korean Peninsula Policy which focuses on building trust.

Specific Goals