The core task in the third phase is to guarantee a nuclear-free Northeast Asia while institutionalizing regional cooperation for peace by reducing arms in Northeast Asia. In tandem, a Northeast Asian body for economic cooperation should be launched.
Denuclearization of Northeast Asia
Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula should be followed by a limited denuclearization at the Northeast Asian level. Even with a nuclear-
88-- Jong-Chul Park
free Korean Peninsula, nuclear proliferation in the region could lead to increase security tensions. South Korea should strongly urge a limited denuclearization of Northeast Asia through bilateral and multilateral talks with Northeast Asian countries. Firstly, South Korea should urge the denuclearization through bilateral negotiations with China and Japan.
South Korea should convince China to reduce its stockpile of nuclear weapons, in line with the US and Russian reductions. It should also ask Japan to enhance the transparency in operating facilities for reprocessing and enrichment.
The launch of a specialized organization to ensure a limited denuclearization of Northeast Asia should be considered. Northeast Asian countries could form a “Northeast Asian Atomic Cooperation Organization”to perform inspections and surveillance of nuclear facilities in the region in cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). At the same time, the Organization could provide a forum to discuss peaceful use of atomic energy such as sharing information and technology, disposal of nuclear waste, and nuclear fuels supply.
Arms Reduction in Northeast Asia
In the third phase, consensus on the following ways of arms reduction would be made possible within the friendly climate created in the first and second phases and thus-far built confidence in the military sector.
First of all, sharing experimental information on major weapons systems that pose significant threats should be pursued together with the reduction of existing weapons systems. The weapons systems subject to arms control in Northeast Asia should include combat vehicles, armored vehicles, artillery (including field artillery), attack helicopters of the land forces, fighter aircraft and attack helicopters of the air forces, and amphibious vessels, submarines, and warships such as cruisers, destroyers, and frigates of the navies.
It is a very delicate task to set the scope of arms reduction. Therefore, a point of compromise can also be reached following in-depth discussion and mutual understanding of the military tenets and policies of the regional countries.
Moreover, transparency should be enhanced in the military sector and the Open Skies Agreement aiming at reconnoitering military activities should be significantly expanded in its quality and scope to serve as a tool of verification of Northeast Asian countries’ arms reduction commitments.
Institutionalization of Security Cooperation in Northeast Asia
To institutionalize a Northeast Asian security cooperation organization, meetings must be regularized and a working group established. Member states should hold summit meetings, diplomatic and security ministers’ meetings and working-level meetings on a regular basis to discuss security issues in the region. A secretariat should be established to operate these meetings and implement any agreements that emerge from the contacts. In addition, to implement agreements in each sector, such bodies should be formed as a dispute prevention center, a dispute settlement court, an arms reduction committee, and a verification and inspection committee.
Pursuit of a Northeast Asian Organization for Economic Cooperation Concrete measures should be prepared to integrate Northeast Asian countries economically. As a formal organization for regional economic cooperation, countries in this region should launch a “Northeast Asian Economic Cooperation Organization”and regularize an economy-related ministers’meeting and working-group meeting. The Organization should discuss economic policy adjustment, establishing a customs union, and a common market. In particular, the Organization should advance the construction of a Eurasian highway, the establishment of an Asia development fund, and a single telecommunications network.
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Table 4-1. Tasks by phase of Security and Economic Cooperation in Northeast Asia THE NORTH
KOREAN NUCLEAR ISSUE
ARMS CONTROL AND SECURITY COOPERATION IN NORTHEAST
ASIA
ECONOMIC COOPERATION BETWEEN THE TWO KOREAS
AND IN NORTHEAST ASIA Phase I: Creating a
favorable environment for the resolution of the North Korean nuclear issue and cooperation in Northeast Asia
Creating a formula for resolving the North Korean nuclear issue
·Confidence-building in Northeast Asia over non- military matters: Utilizing science and technology for non-military purposes;
Sharing military intelligence; Opening airspace; Training for international practices;
Preventing marine accident
·Facilitating civilian-level multilateral security dialogue in Northeast Asia
Creating a basis for economic cooperation in Northeast Asia: Setting a project; Establishing distribution and network;
Establishing legal, institutional, and personnel system
Phase II: Expanding security and economic cooperation in Northeast Asia
Pursuing a formula for resolving the North Korean nuclear issue
·Confidence-building over military matters:
Standardizing military intelligence disclosure;
Limiting major military exercises; Military personnel exchanges;
Holding seminars on military tenets; Utilizing science and technology for military purposes;
Opening airspace over military matters; Securing communication channel;
Banning dangerous military activities;
Preventing accidental conflicts; Strengthening maritime security
·Creating a Northeast Asian entity for security cooperation
Expansion of Northeast Asian economic cooperation and networking: Creating a
‘Northeast Asian body for railroad’
Phase III: Creating a Northeast Asian entity for security and economic cooperation
Organizing a Northeast Asian entity for nonproliferation and nuclear power cooperation
·Arms reduction: Sharing experimental information on major weapons systems; Setting a subject and scope of arms reduction
·Institutionalization of security cooperation in Northeast Asia
Pursuit of a Northeast Asian organization for economic cooperation:
Establishing an Asia development fund;
Consulting a telecommunications network