북한문제와 한·미관계의 변화

Abstract

This article analyzes changes in the ROK-US relations since the early 1990s and the factors of conflict between the two countries with regard to North Korea. The Republic of Korea and the United States have maintained a security alliance for more than five decades. During the Cold War period, the alliance was rocksolid in the sense that it showed almost no friction vis-a-vis North Korea. The relationship has changed since the early 1990s, when North Korea's nuclear weapons program emerged. The US began to have direct talks with North Korea, which brought about a new trilateral relationship among South and North Korea and the United States. Although the US and North Korea have had contacts and negotiations towards the improvement of bilateral relations, the basic tenets of hostile relationship between them remain intact. In the meantime, however, South Korea and the US had to maintain coordination to narrow down differences The ROK-US relations has been undergoing a new change in the 2000s. While the two Koreas enjoy expansion of mutual exchanges and cooperation, the relations between Washington and Pyongyang is getting worse. And political and societal changes in South Korea have given renewed impetus to anti-Americanism. There is increasing friction between South Korea and the US with regard to North Korea. Some factors causing conflict between them can be delineated in four areas; differences in strategies, perceptions toward policy priorities. Since the ROK-US security alliance is rooted in North Korea's military threats against South Korea, it needs to be read-justed to the changing relationship between the two Koreas.