MULTILATERAL CBMS ON THE KOREAN PENINSULA - MAKING A VIRTUE OUT OF NECESSITY

As its economy has become near to collapse, North Korea has tried to a void direct contacts with South Korea because of the 'absorption phobi a'. Instead, the North has made continuous efforts to improve its rela tions only with the United States, seeking a guarantee for its surviva l. Given this circumstance, this paper argues that useful multilateral approaches such as KEDO and Four-Party Talks will contribute to impro ving inter-Korean relations. Thus, it would be sensible to explore eve ry possible way (even through multilateral mechanisms) until both Kore as make a breakthrough for the deadlocked inter-Korean CBMs. But the m ultilateral CBMs constitute a transitional and complementary role as S outh and North Korea should be primarily responsible for addressing ma jor problems such as reunification. Among the multilateral approaches, the Four-Party Talks will be a most useful mechanism which will enabl e the two Koreas to resume dialogue for the peace and reunification on the Korean Peninsula. In this peace process; more positive roles of m ajor powers are also requested.