중국과 러시아의 북한 북동부 진출과 동해의 지정학적 의미

Abstract

This aims to interpret the conflict structure of the East Sea in a geopolitical standpoint. The Chinese-eastward and the Russian-southward advance policies are to set their benefit lines in the northeastern part of North Korea and the East Sea and to control and manage the East Sea through North Korean ports. Against the movement of continental powers, countermeasures of marine powers are strongly implemented. It has been pointed out that American and Japanese geopolitical strategies are implemented to react to North Korean political actions. However, they are, in fact, blockade policies of marine powers against the expansion of political actions of continental powers. American support for Japan to secure the right for self-defense collectively is acknowledged as a geopolitical strategy with which marine powers jointly react to the expansion of influence of continental powers. China and Russia are competing with the issue of controlling the northeastern part of North Korea and ports along the East Sea. China advances to the northeastern part of North Korea in order to secure the exit to the East Sea. China intends to use the East Sea of North Korea as their inland sea. As Russia is threatened by this, they actively started the railway connection to North Korea and repair work of the Najin port. Russia intends to use Najin port as their logistics base. The relationship between South Korea and Japan, which are marine powers, turn the East Sea into a stage of conflict. The conflict structure arising from the place name of the East Sea, the dominium of Dokdo, and the Japanese execution of collective self-defense right may change the geopolitical characteristics of the East Sea. The geopolitical characteristics of the East Sea have been changing. The geopolitical strategies of continental powers and marine powers are dividing the East Sea into two and the divided marine spaces may be divided again. In the upper part of the divided space, the competition between China and Russia on rights may make the geopolitical characteristics of the East Sea complex. Also, in the southern part of the East Sea, the conflict relationship between South Korea and Japan may change characteristics of the East Sea. Thus, it is required to build the East Sea rim security consultative group with the leading participation of South Korea.