The Korean Pivot: Seoul’s Strategic Choices and Rising Rivalries in Northeast Asia
Scott A. Snyder, Darcie Draudt, and Sungtae “Jacky” Park
As U.S.-China tensions intensify and as the North Korean threat grows, the importance of the Republic of Korea (ROK, or South Korea) as a pivot state in East Asia and as a valuable ally for the
United States has become clearer than ever. China is becoming a more assertive power in Asia. In
addition, the North Korean nuclear and missile threat continues to grow and has become a concrete
danger to Japan and South Korea, and possibly to the United States. Most U.S. and South Korean
officials and experts now believe that Pyongyang has the capability to mount its warheads on medium-range missiles to possibly strike neighboring countries in Northeast Asia, although questions
remain about the reliability of the regime’s reentry technology. North Korea also continues to pursue the capability to strike the continental United States with nuclear-tipped missiles. With these
developments, South Korea’s strategic choices will matter more than ever.
United States has become clearer than ever. China is becoming a more assertive power in Asia. In
addition, the North Korean nuclear and missile threat continues to grow and has become a concrete
danger to Japan and South Korea, and possibly to the United States. Most U.S. and South Korean
officials and experts now believe that Pyongyang has the capability to mount its warheads on medium-range missiles to possibly strike neighboring countries in Northeast Asia, although questions
remain about the reliability of the regime’s reentry technology. North Korea also continues to pursue the capability to strike the continental United States with nuclear-tipped missiles. With these
developments, South Korea’s strategic choices will matter more than ever.
Година:
2017
Издателство:
Council of Foreign Relations
Език:
english
Страници:
22
Файл:
PDF, 281 KB
IPFS:
,
english, 2017