동맹체제를 강화해야 할 때다

Abstract

There are three different types of alliance or partnership: one strategically formed for common national interests such as economic benefits, another one cooperatively pursuing common values and ideologies, and still another one historically emerging from close contacts and senses of mutual affinity and respect. Strong and stable relations between countries are possible under a comprehensive combination of these types. The relationship between Korea and China represents a strategic partnership only confined to economic interests, far short of a comprehensive alliance. Conflicting ideologies and China’s military backing of the belligerent North Korean regime explain this partiality. By contrast, the relationship between Korea and the United States is genuinely comprehensive, embodying all three types of alliance. The two countries have maintained a military alliance as the mainstay of Korean security as well as the United States’ regional influence and deterrence of China; the United States have crucially assisted in Korea’s economic takeoff; and, more importantly, the two countries have cultivated a value-based alliance tightly knit by liberal democratic ideology. Furthermore, both Korean and American people have over time built favorable attitudes toward each other although in a somewhat asymmetrical manner. Japan is a very important ally of Korea economically, militarily, and ideologically. But historical bitter feelings still lingering, the Korean-Japan relationship is far from comprehensive and seems rather fragile. Overall, the Korea-U.S. alliance, a truly comprehensive one, deserves top priority. While not forgetting to improve relations with China and Japan, Korea must endeavor to bolster its comprehensive alliance with the United States above all. Additionally, multilateral cooperative systems including the Korea-Japan-U.S. or Korea-Japan-China tripartite partnership would be a big bonus and call for due attention. The need for comprehensive―thus stable―alliances looms larger than ever today on the threshold of the highly unpredictable year 2012.