Korean arms control: Arms control policies of the two Koreas

Miscellaneous · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1991

OSTI ID:5731129

Park, T H

This study examines the arms control proposals suggested by South and North Korea since the end of the Korean War and suggests some arms control measures that would be applied to the Korean Peninsula. Pyongyang has persistently proposed arms reduction measures since 1953, but Seoul has refused to discuss the issue because it suspected the North's true motive. The study points out that the objective reality of the two Koreas does not show any strong possibility of a war on the Peninsula. The most destabilizing factor in the South-North military relations is the possibility of misperception and miscalculation about the military capabilities and intentions of the other side. The study recommends that Seoul government not entirely adhere to the European CSBM model centered on the transparency of military activities. There are many other policy options for Seoul. The area between Seoul and Pyongyang can be made into a [open quotes]limited forces area[close quotes] as experienced by Egypt and Israel on the Sinai Peninsula. The study notes the utility of applying Charles Osgood's GRIT strategy to the Korean situation, a unilateral arms control approach. Among the structural arms control issues, the withdrawal of the US forces and its nuclear weapons are the most important ones which have to be dealt with before seriously negotiating arms reductions between the two Koreas. Considering the increasing capability of the South Korean armed forces and the availability of the US air and naval forces in and around South Korea, the US ground forces and the nuclear weapons would best be withdrawn from the South. Although these withdrawals cannot be used as bargaining chips by the South in the arms control negotiations with the North, these can be effectively utilized as GRIT measures. The South needs to persuade the North to reduce its redundant offensive weapons including chemical weapons and SCUD missiles as priority targets for arms reduction.

• Research Organization: Kansas State Univ., Manhattan, KS (United States)
• OSTI ID: 5731129
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Thesis (Ph.D.)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION
NORTH KOREA
ARMS CONTROL
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
REPUBLIC OF KOREA
BILATERAL AGREEMENTS
MILITARY STRATEGY
NEGOTIATION
NUCLEAR WEAPONS
RECOMMENDATIONS
AGREEMENTS
ASIA
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS
WEAPONS
350100* - Arms Control- Policy
Negotiations
& Legislation- (1987-)