After Cheonan, South Korea Needs International Cooperation

The Cheonan sinking incident is coming to a close. Although investigations on the central piece of evidence, a fragment of a torpedo, are still ongoing, circumstantial evidence that has surfaced points to North Korea as the one responsible for the attack. The investigation will be concluded in 20 days. Defense Minister Kim Tae-young is in charge of presenting the final investigation report to the North, and President Lee Myung-bak will be making a public announcement.

A system of international cooperation is essential in times like this. It is basic to seek intimate cooperation with the other countries (U.S., China, Russia and Japan) in the six-party talks. Help is also needed from both the permanent and non-permanent members of the Security Council. The use of sanctions against North Korea will only be effective with international cooperation.

The positive attitude of the U.S. is also encouraging. The U.S. has been actively participating under the basic premise that “the six-party talks are a priority during the Cheonan incident” and has announced its resolution towards North Korea on May 14. The U.S. sees the Cheonan attack as “a military attack against our ally,” further emphasizing the alliance between South Korea and the U.S. This is in stark contrast to the distant relationship the previous South Korean government had with the U.S. The upcoming “two plus two meeting” of foreign and defense ministers from both countries in July is likely to further strengthen the South Korea–U.S. alliance.

Needless to say, China, which has an alliance with North Korea, plays an important role. In the meeting among the foreign ministers of South Korea, China and Japan, China maintained its prudent stance and called for “intimate communication and cooperation” between the countries. China’s “Two-Korea Policy” is clearly displayed here. It’s the government’s role to strengthen foreign relations with China using the evidence from the Cheonan attack and other circumstantial evidence.

The aggressive use of the Cheonan attack in foreign policies is quite a pressurizing tactic against North Korea in itself. North Korea will find it difficult to endure if South Korea resumes loudspeaker propaganda broadcasts along the borders and stops trade and commerce and if the U.S. adds North Korea to the terrorism list again.

Even under current situations, North Korea’s coastal defense ships invaded the Northern Limit Line on two occasions on May 15. In order to put a stop to North Korea’s endless provocations, South Korea’s cooperation with both the U.S. and China is absolutely needed. An elaborate foreign policy is being called for.