• Title/Summary/Keyword: Regional Gap

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Environmental and Socioeconomic Determinants of Grain Virtual Water Trade: An Empirical Analysis using Decomposition and Decoupling Model

  • Golden Odey;Bashir Adelodun;Seulgi Lee;Kyung Sook Choi
    • Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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    • 2023.05a
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    • pp.394-394
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    • 2023
  • The world's sustainable growth is being severely hampered by the inefficient use of water resources. Despite the widely acknowledged importance of trade in global and regional water and food security, societal reliance on local production as well as international trade remains inadequately assessed. Therefore, using South Korea as a case study, this study fills in this research gap by applying the virtual water concept, the logarithmic mean divisia index (LMDI) method, and the Tapio decoupling model. The virtual water concept was used to estimate South Korea's net virtual water trade for major grain crops from 1992 to 2017. Then, the LMDI method was utilized to assess the driving factors causing changes in net virtual water trade. Lastly, the Tapio decoupling model was used to investigate the decoupling relationships between economic growth and the driving factors of net virtual water trade. Results showed that South Korea remains a net importer of virtual water flows with respect to grain crops, with an average import of 16,559.24 million m3 over the study period. In addition, the change in net virtual water trade could be attributed to water intensity effect, product structure effect, economic effect, and population effect. However, water intensity and economic effects were the major decisive factors for decrease and increase in net virtual water trade respectively, while the population and product structure effects had minor positive influences on the net virtual water trade. Furthermore, water intensity and economic growth showed a strong decoupling in most periods, while the decoupling state between product structure and economic growth was observed as expansive negative decoupling. Likewise, population size and economic growth showed a weak decoupling in most periods. The results reveal South Korea's status as it concerns the virtual water trade of grain crops, thus providing valuable insights into the sustainability of trade activities for the management of local water resources.

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The Impact of Trade Facilitation on China's Cross-border E-Commerce Exports: A Focus on the Trade Facilitation Index in RCEP Member Countries

  • Li Cai;Jie Cheng;Wen-Xia Wang
    • Journal of Korea Trade
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    • v.26 no.7
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    • pp.109-126
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    • 2022
  • Purpose - Based on the relevant panel data for China and 13 of the RCEP countries from 2008-2019, this paper conducts an in-depth study on the impact of trade facilitation levels on China's cross-border e-commerce exports using the expanded trade gravity model. Design/methodology - This study constructs a trade facilitation index (TFI) system, and uses the principal component analysis method to measure the trade facilitation levels of RCEP countries in 2008-2019. This result is then introduced into the extended gravity model to explore the effect of trade facilitation in RCEP countries on China's cross-border e-commerce export. Findings - It is found that the overall trade facilitation level has a significant effect on China's cross-border e-commerce exports. Among the primary indicators, with the exception of infrastructure, the other four indicators demonstrate a significant impact. The findings show that China should strengthen its cooperation with RCEP countries in trade facilitation and cross-border e-commerce to better achieve complementary regional economic development. Originality/value - This paper has three contributions: first, this paper builds a TFI system that includes five primary indicators based on the characteristics of cross-border e-commerce. Second, we explore the impact of trade facilitation levels of RCEP countries on China's cross-border e-commerce exports, which helps to fill the gap in existing studies of the impact of cross-border e-commerce exports. Third, this paper further analyzes the impact of five primary indicators on cross-border e-commerce exports; this thus provides more targeted measures to improve trade facilitation levels.

Modeling water supply and demand under changing climate and socio-economic growth over Gilgit-Baltistan of Pakistan using WEAP

  • Mehboob, Muhammad Shafqat;Panda, Manas Ranjan;Kim, Yeonjoo
    • Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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    • 2020.06a
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    • pp.116-116
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    • 2020
  • Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) is a highly mountainous and remote region covering 45% of Upper Indus Basin (UIB) with around 1.8 million population is vulnerable to climate change and socio-economic growth makes water resources management and planning more complex. To understand the water scarcity in the region this study is carried out to project water supply and demand for agricultural and domestic sector under various climate-socio-economic scenarios in five sub catchments of GB i.e., Astore, Gilgit, Hunza, Shigar and Shyok for a period of 2015 to 2050 using Water Evaluation and Planning (WEAP) model. For climate change scenario ensembled mean of three global climate models (GCMs) was used under three different Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) scenarios (RCP2.6, RCP6.0 and RCP8.5). The Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs) and agricultural Land Development (LD) scenarios were combined with climate scenarios to develop climate-socio-economic scenario. Our results indicate that the climate change and socio-economic growth would create a gap between supply and demand of water in the region, with socio-economic growth (e.g. agricultural and population) as dominant external factor that would reduce food production and increase poverty level in the region. Among five catchments only Astore and Gilgit will face shortfall of water while Shyoke would face shortfall of water only under agricultural growth scenarios. We also observed that the shortfall of water in response to climate-socio-economic scenarios is totally different over two water deficient catchments due to its demography and geography. Finally, to help policy makers in developing regional water resources and management policies we classified five sub catchments of UIB according to its water deficiency level.

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Another 'Rural' Recreated in The Movie <Yin Ru Chen Yan> (영화 <먼지 속으로 사라지다> 에 재현된 또 하나의 '농촌')

  • Moon dae il
    • The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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    • v.9 no.3
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    • pp.377-383
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    • 2023
  • The movie <Yin Ru Chen Yan> is evaluated to reflect the rural reality of China's northwest region. Although the film also contained the farmer's unique sincerity and pure love, many problems were also raised. The specific issues raised are as follows. First, he accused young Chinese rural people who could not express their intention properly at the time of marriage.This can be said to be largely due to the lack of proper education, medical care, and welfare benefits for a long time. Second, he criticized the rural housing policy that deviated from reality. It warns that unilaterally providing apartments in the city without considering regional characteristics and farmers' situations could be counterproductive. In the movie, the main character abandoned livestock that he thought of and cared for with his family and did not move his residence to an apartment. Third, he criticized the materialism prevalent in rural areas. He criticized the phenomenon of not respecting a human being to solve everything with money and even to receive government housing compensation. In this sense, in order to solve the true Chinese Samnong problem, macro-promoted policies and micro-policies that can encompass some underdeveloped rural areas should also be implemented.

A retrospective analysis of toxic alcohol poisoning (급성 독성 알코올 중독에 대한 후향적 분석)

  • Jin Kim;Yu Jin Lee;Tae Kyu Ahn;Soo Kang
    • Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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    • v.21 no.2
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    • pp.143-150
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    • 2023
  • Purpose: This study aimed to compare the clinical features of methanol and ethylene glycol poisoning. Methods: This single-center retrospective observational study included patients with toxic alcohol poisoning who visited a regional emergency medical center. Patients with methanol and ethylene glycol poisoning from January 2004 to June 2023 were selected for the study using diagnostic codes. Results: Twenty-two patients with toxic alcohol poisoning visited during the study period, with 11 patients for each category. Compared to methanol poisoning, ethylene glycol poisoning patients were more likely to have consumed alcohol for suicidal purposes (n=4 [36.36%] vs. n=8 [72.73%]) and were more likely to be drowsy (n=0 vs. n=6 [54.55%], p=0.016). The anion gap (25.43±8.35 mmol/L vs. 13.22±6.23 mmol/L, p=0.001) and lactic acid levels (1.785 [1.3-2.785] mmol/L vs. 9.90 [4.20-11.81] mmol/L, p=0.007) were higher in ethylene glycol poisoning patients than in methanol poisoning patients. Among alcohol dehydrogenase blockers, oral ethanol was administered to 10 patients (45.45%) (n=4 [36.36%] vs. n=6 [54.55%]), and intravenous ethanol was administered to six patients (n=4 [36.36%] vs. n=2 [18.18%]). Fomepizole was administered to two patients (9.09%) each, and renal replacement therapy was non-significantly more common in patients with ethylene glycol poisoning (n=8 [72.73%] vs. n=3 [27.27%], p=0.128). Three patients had delays in diagnosis and treatment, and while there were no fatalities, one patient was left with permanent vision damage. Conclusion: Because these are uncommon types of poisoning and the clinical presentation is difficult to recognize early, healthcare providers should be familiar with toxic alcohol types and screen for them to ensure proper diagnosis and treatment.

The Social and Economic Impact of the Urban Regeneration Project in Jeonju Hanok Village Area (전주 한옥마을의 도시재생사업이 지역변화에 미친 영향)

  • Kim, Ju-Young;Heo, Sun-Young;Moon, Tae-Heon
    • Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
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    • v.23 no.1
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    • pp.106-117
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    • 2017
  • Recently, urban regeneration is being actively promoted in Korea and among those Jeonju Hanok Village is the major project which is the most consistently promoted. For this, visitors of Jeonju Hanok Village are skyrocketing. However, due to this condition, various problems are occurring, especially about commercialization. In this regard, this study is to suggest management of the Jeonju Hanok Village and new orientation in the policy, by analyzing physical, economic, and social status due to urban regeneration for Jeonju Hanok Village which has lost its identity and been commercialized. For this, the study analyzed changes in land usage and real transaction price, SNS data. Firstly, in the physical analysis, the study realized that there is commercialization going around the main streets of Jeonju Hanok Village. Due to the rapid commercialization, living spaces for locals are replaced to commercial spaces for tourists, and the emigration of locals is caused by economic/environmental damages with the degradation of housing environments. Secondly, in the economic analysis, there was no gap in real transactions among streets in 2010 but has shown a valid gap in 2016. The traffic of tourists is heavy and the real transaction prices of streets that are adjacent to major tourist sights rose the most. Rising real transaction prices are a positive phenomenon in the aspect of the city regeneration but it is concerned that they can be perceived as investment subjects. Thirdly, in the social analysis, tourists are using commercial aspects more than historical or cultural sites, and have lots of interest on those. However, because there are also lots of opinions about the commercialization of Hanok Village, we think the plans which can establish the identity of Hanok Village should be prepared. The study has its meaning on analyzing reality based on the land usage, real transaction, SNS data and suggesting political implications.

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The Secondary School Education of Geography and the System of Teacher Training in Belgium - Focused on the Case of Francophone Community - (벨지움의 중등학교 지리교육 내용과 교사양성제도 - 프랑코폰 공동체를 사례로 -)

  • Kwak, Chul-Hong
    • Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
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    • v.6 no.3
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    • pp.101-115
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    • 2000
  • This study aims to make a research on the secondary school education of geography and the system of teacher training in Belgium, focused on the case of Francophone Community. What has been made clear by this research can be summed up as follows. The first two years of the secondary school offer two hours of 'environment education', per week, which can be categorized into the learning of living geography, in that at this stage students learn how to observe the geographic phenomena in their daily life and pigeonhole them. The two years of the second stage of the secondary school offer one hour of 'world geography' which actually is focused on the district of Europe and Russia. The two years of the third stage of the secondary school offer an advanced course of geography which aims to teach systematically the physical geography and the human geography. A remarkable change in geographic education in Belgium is that in the wake of the Revision Act of the secondary school education, textbooks were replaced by other teaching manuals adapted to the regional condition by the teachers. This may result in a wide gap of achievements in geography according to the conditions of educational establishments. Another notable change is that the stress of geographic education tends to be placed on the ability of acquiring practical geographic knowledge rather than the geographic information itself. And it is also another marked tendency that most learning activities in geography class are conducted on the basis of student-centered and the method of investigation. Teachers of the lower secondary schools in Belgium are trained in the School of Education as multi-major teachers, such as a teacher for biology-chemistry-geography or a teacher for history-sociology-geography. Teachers of the higher secondary school education are trained in the Department of Teacher Education in universities as solo-major teachers in that they are required to know more deeply to teach an advanced course of geography in the higher secondary schools. To improve the teacher education many folds of policies are adopted. One is that many in-service teachers are officially put into services of guiding and teaching teacher training. Another is that faculty members in charge of teacher training course are trying to level up the qualifications of teachers by rigorous disciplining.

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A Study on Appropriate Military Strength of Unified Korea (Focused on relative balance strategy and conflict scenario) (통일 한국의 적정 군사력에 관한 연구 - 분쟁 시나리오와 상대적 균형전략을 중심으로 -)

  • Hong, Bong-Gi
    • Journal of National Security and Military Science
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    • s.13
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    • pp.687-738
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    • 2016
  • To prepare for the complicated international relationship regarding Korean Peninsula after reunification, this thesis started off with the awareness that Unified Korea should build its international posture and national security at an early stage by determining its appropriate military strength for independent defense and military strategies that Unified Korea should aim. The main theme of this thesis is 'The research on appropriate military strength of the Unified Korean military'. To derive appropriate military strength of Unified Korea, this research focuses on conflict scenario and relative balance strategy based on potential threats posed by neighboring countries, and this is the part that differentiates this research from other researches. First of all, the main objective of the research is to decide appropriate military strength for Unified Korea to secure defense sufficiency. For this, this research will decide efficient military strategy that Unified Korea should aim. Than by presuming the most possible military conflict scenario, this research will judge the most appropriate military strength for Unified Korea to overcome the dispute. Second, after deciding appropriate military strength, this research will suggest how to operate presumed military strength in each armed force. The result of this thesis is as in the following. First, Unified Korea should aim 'relative balance strategy'. 'Relative balance strategy' is a military strategy which Unified Korea can independently secure defense sufficiency by maintaining relative balance when conflicts occur between neighboring countries. This strategy deters conflicts in advance by relative balance of power in certain time and place. Even if conflict occurs inevitably, this strategy secures initiative. Second, when analyzing neighboring countries interest and strategic environment after unification, the possibility of all-out war will be low in the Korean Peninsula because no other nation wants the Korean Peninsula to be subordinated to one single country. Therefore appropriate military strength of the Unified Korean military would be enough when Unified Korea can achieve relative balance in regional war or limited war. Third, Northeast Asia is a region where economic power and military strength is concentrated. Despite increasing mutual cooperation in the region, conflicts and competition to expand each countries influence is inherent. Japan is constantly enhancing their military strength as they aim for normal statehood. China is modernizing their military strength as they aspire to become global central nation. Russia is also enhancing their military strength in order to hold on to their past glory of Soviet Union as a world power. As a result, both in quality and quantity, the gap between military strength of Unified Korea and each neighboring countries is enlarged at an alarming rate. Especially in the field of air-sea power, arms race is occurring between each nation. Therefore Unified Korea should be equipped with appropriate military strength in order to achieve relative balance with each threats posed by neighboring countries. Fourth, the most possible conflicts between Unified Korea and neighboring countries could be summarized into four, which are Dokdo territorial dispute with Japan, Leodo jurisdictional dispute with China, territorial dispute concerning northern part of the Korea Peninsula with China and disputes regarding marine resources and sea routes with Russia. Based on those conflict scenarios, appropriate military strength for Unified Korea is as in the following. When conflict occurs with Japan regarding Dokdo, Japan is expected to put JMSDF Escort Flotilla 3, one out of four of its Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Escort Fleet, which is based in Maizuru and JMSDF Maizuru District. To counterbalance this military strength, Unified Korea needs one task fleet, comprised with three task flotilla. In case of jurisdictional conflict with China concerning Leodo, China is expected to dispatch its North Sea fleet, one out of three of its naval fleet, which is in charge of the Yellow Sea. To response to this military action, Unified Korea needs one task fleet, comprised with three task flotilla. In case of territorial dispute concerning northern part of the Korean Peninsula with China, it is estimated that out of seven Military Region troops, China will dispatch two Military Region troops, including three Army Groups from Shenyang Military Region, where it faces boarder with the Korean Peninsula. To handle with this military strength, Unified Korea needs six corps size ground force strength, including three corps of ground forces, two operational reserve corps(maneuver corps), and one strategic reserve corps(maneuver corps). When conflict occurs with Russia regarding marine resources and sea routes, Russia is expected to send a warfare group of a size that includes two destroyers, which is part of the Pacific Fleet. In order to balance this strength, Unified Korea naval power requires one warfare group including two destroyers. Fifth, management direction for the Unified Korean military is as in the following. Regarding the ground force management, it would be most efficient to deploy troops in the border area with china for regional and counter-amphibious defense. For the defense except the border line with china, the most efficient form of force management would be maintaining strategic reserve corps. The naval force should achieve relative balance with neighboring countries when there is maritime dispute and build 'task fleet' which can independently handle long-range maritime mission. Of the three 'task fleet', one task fleet should be deployed at Jeju base to prepare for Dokdo territorial dispute and Leodo jurisdictional dispute. Also in case of regional conflict with china, one task fleet should be positioned at Yellow Sea and for regional conflict with Japan and Russia, one task fleet should be deployed at East Sea. Realistically, Unified Korea cannot possess an air force equal to neither Japan nor China in quantity. Therefore, although Unified Korea's air force might be inferior in quantity, they should possess the systematic level which Japan or China has. For this Unified Korea should build air base in island areas like Jeju Island or Ullenong Island to increase combat radius. Also to block off infiltration of enemy attack plane, air force needs to build and manage air bases near coastal areas. For landing operation forces, Marine Corps should be managed in the size of two divisions. For island defense force, which is in charge of Jeju Island, Ulleung Island, Dokdo Island and five northwestern boarder island defenses, it should be in the size of one brigade. Also for standing international peace keeping operation, it requires one brigade. Therefore Marine Corps should be organized into three divisions. The result of the research yields a few policy implications when building appropriate military strength for Unified Korea. First, Unified Korea requires lower number of ground troops compared to that of current ROK(Republic of Korea) force. Second, air-sea forces should be drastically reinforced. Third, appropriate military strength of the Unified Korean military should be based on current ROK military system. Forth, building appropriate military strength for Unified Korea should start from today, not after reunification. Because of this, South Korea should build a military power that can simultaneously prepare for current North Korea's provocations and future threats from neighboring countries after reunification. The core of this research is to decide appropriate military strength for Unified Korea to realize relative balance that will ensure defense sufficiency from neighboring countries threats. In other words, this research should precisely be aware of threats posed by neighboring countries and decide minimum level of military strength that could realize relative balance in conflict situation. Moreover this research will show the path for building appropriate military strength in each armed force.

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Regional Differences in Voltage-tension Relationship of Gastric Smooth Muscles in Guinea-pig (위 평활근의 부위별 전압-장력 관계에 관한 연구)

  • Kim, Ki-Whan;Lee, Sang-Jin;Suh, Suk-Hyo
    • The Korean Journal of Physiology
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    • v.23 no.2
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    • pp.263-275
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    • 1989
  • Mechanical contractions and electrical activities of the fundic longitudinal and antral circular muscle fibers were investigated in order to elucidate topical differences of gastric motility. K-induced contracture was produced by exposure of muscle strips to high K Tyrode solution. Membrane potential and mechanical contraction were simultaneously recorded by conventional glass microelectrode method and single sucrose-gap technique. All experiments were performed in tris-buffered Tyrode solution which was aerated with $100%\;O_2\;and\;kept\;35^{\circ}C$. The results obtained were as follows: 1) The resting membrane potential of circular muscle cells in the antral region was about 10 mV more negative than that in the fundic region. 2) The membrane potentials decreased almost linearly as the extracellular KCI concentration was increased both in antral circular muscle cells and in fundic longitudinal muscle cells. 3) The thresholdal K concentration of K-contracture was 15 mM (membrane potential, -48 mV) for the antral circular muscle strip and 20 mM for the fundic longitudinal muscle cells. 4) The ratio of membrane permeability coefficient for $Na^+\;and\;K^+,\;P_{Na}/P_K\;({\alpha})$ was 0.065 for antral circular muscle cells and was 0.108 for fundic longitudinal muscle cells. 5) K-contracture of antral and fundic smooth muscle strips showed the contracture composed of phasic and tonic components. The amplitude of the phasic component increased sigmoidally in a dose-dependent manner, whereas that of the tonic component was maximal at a concentration of 40 mM KCI and at the concentrations above or below 40 mM KCI the amplitude was reduced. 6) The inverse relationship between the amplitude of tonic component and extracellular KCI concentration in the range of 40 to 150 mM KCI was more prominent in the antral circular muscle strip than in the fundic longitudinal muscle strip, where the amplitude of the tonic component decreased less steeply and was maintained higher at the same high K concentrations. 7) The tonic component was totally dependent on the external $Ca^{2+}$ and completely abolished by verapamil, while tile phasic component was far less dependent on the external $Ca^{2+}$ and partially suppressed by verapamil. From the above results, the following conclusions could be made. 1) The phasic component of K-contracture is produced both by intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ mobilization and by $Ca^{2+}$-influx from outside, while the tonic component is generated and maintained by the $Ca^{2+}-influx$ through the potential-dependent $Ca^{2+}$ channel. 2) The mechanism of reducing the free $Ca^{2+}$ concentration in the myoplasm seems to be more developed in the antral circular muscle than in the fundic longitudinal muscle. 3) The lower resting membrane potential of the fundic longitudinal muscle cell reflects a relatively high $P_{Na}/P_K$ ratio of about 0.108.

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An assessment of sanctions on North Korea and the prospect (대북 제재 조치 평가 및 전망)

  • Cheon, Seong- Whu
    • Strategy21
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    • s.31
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    • pp.5-26
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    • 2013
  • The South Korean society has experienced many changes since the sinking of ROKS Cheonan. The government reviewed its defense posture and adopted the 5·24 Measure in its relations with North Korea. As a result, the people of South Korea became more conscious of security situations on the Korean peninsula while North Korea's economy suffered badly. Meanwhile, the South Korean government has taken a flexible stance toward North Korea in terms of exchange and cooperation since September 2011. The flexible stance was to manage inter-Korea relations in a stable manner and relieve the hardships of the North Korean people while preserving the spirits and purposes of the 5·24 Measure. The UN Security Council adopted twenty-six resolutions and statements on North Korea since June 25, 1950. They include thirteen U.N. Security Council resolutions including those concerning nuclear weapons or missile programs, nine Presidential statements, and four press statements. Resolution 82, the first U.N. resolution on North Korea, came when the Korean War broke out. Resolution 825, the first one related to nuclear or missile programs, was adopted in response to North Korea's withdrawal from the NPT. Apart from these U.N. resolutions, the United States has imposed separate sanctions against North Korea. North Korea's nuclear weapons program can be considered in comparison with that of Iran in terms of the consequences they create for the regional security. The Security Council has adopted six resolutions on Iran so far. One should note that the resolutions on Iran have had much stronger sanctions compared to those imposed on North Korea. That is, while the North Korea case may be viewed as a more serious threat to international security from the perspective of nuclear weapons development or proliferation, tougher sanctions have been placed on Iran. There are two approaches that South Korea should take in addressing the related issues. First, we should aim to reduce the gap between sanctions imposed on Iran and North Korea. It is difficult to understand that a country with more serious problems is rewarded with lighter sanctions. We should take measures through the Security Council Sanctions Committee to make individuals and groups in North Korea that play a central role in developing nuclear weapons and missiles subject to additional sanctions. Second, we have to change. Other countries in the international community have become tired of North Korea's nuclear issue and now they look to South Korea for initiative. We should correctly understand this current situation and play a leading role within our capacity. Knowingly and unknowingly, the notion that the North Korean nuclear issue may be left to South Korea has been spread around the international community. Although the situation is grave, we should try to open a new horizon in ushering in the unification era by taking the initiative with confidence that there is a looming hope ahead of us. For these tasks, we should stop thinking in the old way that has been ossified for the last two decades. We should not be pushed around by neighboring great powers in dealing with North Korea related issues anymore; we should take the initiative with resolution that we will play our role at the center of four great powers and with confidence that we can do it. Based on the confidence that the Republic of Korea has become a country with enough capacity to take the initiative, we should establish a 'National Grand Strategy' representing South Korea's strategic vision that the unification is the ultimate solution to the problems related to North Korea's nuclear weapons program.

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