냉전 이후 일북 관계의 시대별 주요 특징: 동북아시아 정세, 국가목표, 국내정치세력

Abstract

This paper analyzed the main features of the relationship between Japan and North Korea in the background of the changes in the Northeast Asia situation, the national goal of Japan and North Korea and domestic political forces by age. The 1990s, Japan and North Korea have tried to normalize relations in the background of the changes in Northeast Asia affairs that symbolize the normalization of diplomatic relations between Korea and China. Japan determined that the normalization of relations with North Korea would contribute to the security of Japan as well as expansion of influence in East Asia. On the other hand, North Korea has promoted the normalization of relations with Japan in order to overcome the asymmetry of South Korea and to gain the external funding needed to overcome the economic crisis. But, the two countries' attempt has been frustrated due to the North Korean nuclear issue. The 2000s, in the background of strengthening of the US military threats against North Korea after 9/11, Japan and North Korea held the first summit and announced “Japan-DPRK Pyongyang Declaration”, confirming the need for a swift normalization of relations. Japan and North Korea shared the common opinion that U.S. should not take any military action against North Korea. Nevertheless,the normalization of relations was a failure by the Japanese abduction issue. The 2010s, the new Cold War in Northeast Asia has been formed. Japan and North Korea announced “5.28 Stockholm Agreement”. The main content of the agreement was to resolve the abduction issue and normalization of diplomatic relations. Japan has focused on the abduction issue while North Korea has focused on financial assistance from Japan. However the abduction issue has not been resolved and the conflict has been intensified by two countries.