한중수교 교섭과정 연구

Abstract

Diplomatic documents on the negotiation process between Korea and China are still treated as secret one. However, the publication of autobiographies and interviews of diplomats who participated in the Korea-China diplomatic normalization have revealed important clues to the secretive process. But the key issue has been difficult to document, and in fact, there are difference in memory among diplomats. This study was intended to “thick description” the process of establishing diplomatic relations by cross-checking the oral testimony of working-level diplomats in the study of existing literature research. This has allowed us to identify several of the following: First, it was of it was of little importance to which countries were willing to establish diplomatic ties, as both Seoul and Beijing were active. Second, resolving the torpedo boat accident was an important watershed in 1985 to reach the diplomatic ties between two countries. Third, it was conducted in tight security and secrecy in consideration of the backlash from China and North Korea, and after China notified and persuaded the North first, Korea went through the process of persuading the China. Fourth, the role of the secret line in the diplomatic relations negotiation process was limited. Fifth, Korea internally reviewed the way of severance between Korea-China relations and responsibility for the Korean War, but did not make an issue of it and there was no secret agreement. Such a negotiation process between Seoul and Beijing served as an opportunity for the rapid development of the Korea-China relations, and since the negotiation process was relatively transparent, domestic political issues between the two countries did not arise, unlike the Korea-Soviet Union diplomatic negotiation.