RUSSIAN SOUTH-KOREAN SECURITY COOPERATION

Only in September 1994 did the Russian Federation and the Republic of Korea celebrated the fourth anniversary of the diplomatic normalizatio n signed between the Soviet Union and the ROK. Would it not, then, be premature to discuss Russian-ROK cooperation in the field of security? Would such cooperation meet the national interests and foreign-policy strategies of both countries? In the contemporary world the notion of ''national security'' extends to the global, regional and bilateral l evels. It is through this prism that the questions raised are dealt wi th in this article. The UN membership attained by the Republic of Kore a in September 1998 helped it come to a better understanding with Russ ia on major international issues. As is emphasized in the Basic Provis ions of the RF Military Doctrine, adopted on November 2, 1993, ''in pr eventing wars and armed conflicts, priority is being acquired by polit ical-diplomatic, international legal, economic, and other nonmilitary means and collective actions of the world community with regard to the threat to peace, violations of peace, and acts of aggression.'' Natio nal security depends on domestic and international factors. Domestic f actors include resolution of economic, political and social problems i n the course of the ongoing reforms in Russia. International factors i nclude the condition of Russia's relations with the rest of the world, especially with the neighboring countries and leading powers. For man y years ROK security policy has been aimed at prevention of threat on the part of North Korea and its allies. Russia has a positive assessme nt of efforts taken recently by South Korea with the aim to modernize its armed forces and make its national defense more independent. At th e same time, Russian diplomacy has a proper understanding of the ROK i ntention to consolidate security ties with its traditional allies and especially the United States. All this places certain limitations on R OK-Russian security cooperation. As the Asia-Pacific security agenda w ill from now on be in the focus of multilateral diplomacy, Russia and South Korea have acquired a new channel for cooperation. In this regar d, diversification of foreign-policy ties and multilateral cooperation , being important components of the new South Korean diplomacy, can pl ay a substantial role in development of a regional security system. Re gular and military diplomacy in the Asia-Pacific region is working to develop the elements of the new security system on the base of non-con frontational approaches. With such efforts, the need is felt to hold a n ARF-type multilateral meeting of defense officials of concerned coun tries, and it would be wise for Russia and Korea to set forth a coordi nated initiative to this effect. Such joint efforts, aiming at consoli dation of regional security, can render a new impulse for the progress of already outlined security cooperation between the RF and ROK. Duri ng the first Russian-ROK summit the presidents of the two countries si gned the Treaty on Fundamentals of Relations between the Russian Feder ation and the Republic of Korea (November 19, 1992). By this treaty, t he two states would develop their cooperation in the interests of bett er stability and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region. Russia and Rep ublic of Korea would refrain from the use of force or the threat of fo rce, and would solve all emerging bilateral disputes through peaceful means and in compliance with the UN Charter. Russia and the ROK would take cooperative efforts aiming against organized crime, international terrorism, illegal drug turnover, and illegal acts jeopardizing safe navigation and air traffic. Building up its security relations with bo th Korean partners is an important point in Russia's position with reg ard to her bilateral relations in the sphere of security. Cooperative security is the approach laid in the basis of Russia's Korea policy. R ussia can and must be a guarantor of security on the Korean peninsula.