• Korean Security Journal
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• no.36
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• pp.201-225
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• 2013

The link between transnational environmental harm and national security has attracted new attention due to the environmental crisis such as climate change, nuclear accidents and, pollution. However, both domestic and international environmental regimes are still tied to the unsuccessful and unclear notion-sustainable development. The present author argues that environment should be considered as a security matter for the effective environmental protection. If, for example, a nation committed a serious environmental harm and the effects spans borderlines, and the source nation refuses to cooperate or compensate, would sustainable development still be an appropriate measure? Then, what would be the victim state's tool to protect its own security? The present author first looks into the possibility utilizing UN Security Council. But due to its limited legality and effectiveness in this environmental matter the present author would like to propose a non-traditional but a not-brand new method. This new method reflects two new trends both from international law and security areas. First, this approach clearly moves from the military focused security concept to broader security concept. Second, this is also a shift from traditional international law to transnational law. With these two new approaches, we will find a more suitable answer both for securing national environmental security and for protecting environment.