Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Chae Ha Pak

Titel

A Grand Strategy for Korea`s Defense

Ist Teil von

• The Korean journal of defense analysis, 1989-12, Vol.1 (2), p.167

Ort / Verlag

한국국방연구원

Erscheinungsjahr

1989

Quelle

Elektronische Zeitschriftenbibliothek (Open access)

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• This paper first tries to outline Korea`s national security interests and set objectives stemming from them, then consider Korea`s military environment. The interests of four major powers (China, Japan, the Soviet Union and the United States) intersect on the Korean peninsula, as do major differences in ideology. As a result, confrontation continues between the two Koreas. Accordingly, there is always a high possibility of military conflict. The paper analyzes the respective power relationships between these four, as well as Korea`s primary threat North Korea. A discussion has also been made of secondary threats that could materialize in the near future. In order to respond to these threats, there must be a true balance of military power. Based upon the balance of power deterrent strategy, alternatives for Korean defense have been recommended. First, the Republic of Korea should adopt what might be called a “porcupine strategy” in order to protect its national security interests, which are: to ensure the survival of the Republic of Korea and its people, to preserve territorial integrity, to achieve economic well-being, and to promote Korean culture for a contribution to the peace of mankind. Second, on the basis of this porcupine strategy, from this time forward the ROK should focus more on the improvement of sea and air power than on ground power. Third, in order ultimately to achieve this porcupine strategy the ROK needs to continue to spend 5.5 to six percent of its gross national product for defense, and to develop more appropriate weapon systems. Fourth, more attention should be given to internal factors influencing the national security environment, which can be best effected only when there is a solid national consensus. Finally, the civil-military relationship should be improved. As the proportion of post-war generation population increases, existing national security policies including the anti-communist law have become less and less convincing to the younger generations.