The final goal in the resolution of the North Korean nuclear problem is the realization of a ‘denuclearized, WMD-free Korean peninsula.’ This includes comprehensive arms control: conventional and biochemical weapons as well as nuclear dismantlement. The principles of the settlement of the North Korean nuclear weapons problem are as follows: 1) Both North Korea’s possession of nuclear weapons and war on the peninsula must be prevented; 2) North Korea’s nuclear weapons issue is not only limited to its relations with the U.S., but also to those with South Korea; 3) While based on cooperation among South Korea, Japan and the U.S., efforts should also include help from other related countries; 4) Both carrot and stick tactics should be used; 5) There should be preparations for the worst-case scenario in which North Korea turns down the dialogue and chooses nuclear armament.

During the June 16 summit meeting, both leaders also signed a vision statement entitled ‘the Joint Vision for the Alliance of the United States of America and the Republic of Korea.’ The most impressive and conspicuous sentence in the statement is that ‘Through our alliance we aim to build a better future for all people on the Korean Peninsula, establishing a durable peace on the Peninsula and leading to peaceful reunification on the principles of free democracy and a market economy.’ This signifies two things: 1) The ROK-U.S. alliance is an alliance of shared values; and 2) The ROK-U.S. alliance is an alliance for peace-building and Korean reunification.

An ‘alliance of shared values’ means that the two countries, as partners who share the values of democracy and a market economy, cooperate in dealing with human security threats, such as human rights violations, terrorism, drugs, and environmental/natural disasters. In particular, South Korea and the U.S. may strengthen human security cooperation with democracies such as Japan, Australia, New Zealand and India, while stamping out global human rights violations, including those in North Korea. The two leaders also emphasized in the vision statement that they would work together to promote respect for the fundamental human rights of the North Korean people. It is particularly notable that the two made it clear that the alliance would contribute to peaceful reunification on the principles of free democracy and a market economy, which means the Korean reunification will have to take place on South Korean terms with the help of the United States.

In addition, the summit meeting on June 16 between Presidents Lee Myung-bak and Barack Obama marked the turning point where those two allies will be working on ‘real peace,’ not ‘declaratory peace’ on the Korean Peninsula. The Lee administration will focus on building ‘real peace,’ in which denuclearization would eliminate the threat of war and conventional weapons would be reduced. Israeli-Palestinian conflicts, where a number of declarations did not guarantee peace, suggest the importance of real peace.

Kim Sung-han is Professor of International Relations at the Graduate School of International Studies, Korea University, in Seoul. This article was originally published by the Jeju Peace Institute.