자원전쟁'시대 한국의 에너지안보 전략: 동시베리아, 극동 지역을 향하여

Abstract

The demand for energy consumption continues to increase while the amount of energy resources and its supplies are limited. The trend warns us of the crisis of scarce energy resources that we must confront someday. Korea almost entirely depends on overseas for the fossil energy. Increasing the ability to secure energy resources is not just a national task, furthermore, it can be defined as a core issue of national strategy that Korea must solve. What international strategy do we need and how do we have to cope with the energy crisis as a nation which is weak in energy security in this era of “Resource Wars” when the competition for securing energy resources is so intense. Korea should promote the “Double Track Strategy” by collaborating with Russia and strength ening the multi-party collaboration between North East Asian countries at the same time. First of all, Seoul should sufficiently take own geostrategic and geoeconomic advantages in Korea-Russia relations. Korea and Russia are committed to carry out the energy collaboration project without stressing the “relative gains” of each party, and both parties are sharing the common strategic foundation to form a non-competitive and reciprocal cooperation relationship. Second of all, Seoul should pursue the “Cooperative and Joint Energy Security Strategy” for cooperation and common prosperity of North East Asian countries from the dimension of multi-party strategy. The fundamental strategy of Korea should not cause the energy crisis in North East Asia to develop into the “Resource Wars,” instead it should induce international and domestic efforts to form an energy cooperation regime or energy governance such as the “North East Asian Energy Cooperation Organization.” Korea is in a position to be prepared in mid-to-long term so that the virtual energy crisis in North East Asia can turn out to be a new opportunity for cooperation and mutual benefit instead of the “Resource Wars.” These efforts that look ahead into the future will not only increase the energy security in Korea, but also contribute in making Korea prosper harmoniously as the hub country of North East Asia.