REGIONAL DYNAMICS This section outlines the interests of the four most important regional actors to the conflict: South Korea, China, Japan and Russia. While this report focuses on the negotiations between the United States and North Korea, each of the four countries has an important stake in their outcome. While the short-term scope of this report inhibits a full incorporation of regional priorities into the recommendations, being cognizant of these dimensions is critical for the United States in developing a long-term strategy for the region.
South Korea South Korea’s current government seeks to end enmity with North Korea. While it sees the nuclear threat as significant and favors denuclearization, South Korea’s geographic proximity also makes conventional, as well as biological and chemical weapons, important security concerns.16 South Korea also wants to reduce cross-border skirmishes, as demonstrated through its willingness to disarm the Joint Security Area in Panmunjom, while seeking the reduction of medium- and long-range missiles in the region.
RUSSIA
NORTH KOREA CHINA
SOUTH KOREA
JAPAN
China 16 Haltiwanger, J. (2018, January 10). North Korea’s Chemical Weapons Most Overlooked Threat from Rogue State, Experts Warn. Newsweek. Retrieved from https://www.newsweek.com/north-koreas-chemical-weapons-most-overlookedthreat-rogue-state-experts-warn-776207
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FORGING A PATH FORWARD WITH NORTH KOREA
