The influence of increasing Soviet military power in the far east on the security of the Korean Peninsula

Abstract

The increasing Soviet military presence at a close distance poses a more practical and serious threat to the security of Korea than any other country in the region. The Soviet transfer to North Korea of such sophisticated weapons as surface-to-surface missiles, the flight of Soviet aircraft over the airspace of North Korea, and Port calls by Soviet vessels are some manifestations of its intention to deploy forces in case of emergency. Particularly in the face of two important events in Korea in 1988-a peaceful transfer of government and the Seoul Olympic Games-the joint military maneuvers in the East Sea and the reiteration of the Soviet support of North Korea in case of emergency made recently clearly indicate it. This paper suggests that Korea's security policy be planned and implemented on the following premises: (1) strengthening of the self-defense posture; (2) further consolidation of ROK-US combined defense capabilities; (3) emphasis on the fixation of peace in the Northeast Asian region. This Paper also directs attention to the need for the establishment of crisis management system and the continued pursuit of the inter Korean dialogue as a deterrent of armed hostility from the North.