Ongoing tensions in the Korean peninsula

Context- The ongoing tensions in the Korean peninsula have posed concerns about the deterioration of the international security environment.

About 

• The Korean peninsula was divided into two by the end of World War II, after imperial Japan who occupied the territory was defeated.
• The North went under the ambit of the Soviet Union and the South under the U.S., resulting in the creation of two ideologically different regimes which reflected both sides of the Cold War divide.

The Korean war (1950-53)

• The Korean war broke out because of the North’s attempt to take over the South — the first “warm struggle” of the Cold War.
• Today even after the cessation of power struggle and the end of the Cold War, the two international locations are nevertheless divided over ideology and political ideology.
• The North Korea being an authoritarian dynastic regime allied with China and Russia, and the South Korea being a liberal democracy allied with the U.S.
• India’s position within the Korean conflict: During the War , both the conflicting sides consistently raised a resolution subsidized by India, and the ceasefire was declared on 27 July 1953 with the Korean Armistice Agreement.

Recent tensions in Korean Peninsula

• Over the past couple of years, North Korea has established its nuclear weapons capability with the aid of testing numerous missiles.
• The key stakeholders of the Korean peninsula are the very same nuclear powers who are locked in a worldwide strategic competition — the U.S., China and Russia.
• Russia and China have boosted its engagement with North Korea. China has usually been continually supportive of North Korea, being the single largest trading partners of the country.
• On the alternative hand South Korea, has superior its army alliance with the U.S., net hosting not just U.S. Troops, but also superior missile protection structures.

Threat to International security

• North Korea has performed provocative movements ranging from navy drills to shelling South Korean islands or even threatening nuclear attacks.
• It supposedly has the potential to even goal the U.S. Mainland with its nuclear arsenal, and it has additionally turn out to be a major supply of cyber-assaults across the world.
• Currently the World is witnessing the activation of traditionally rooted conflicts inclusive of Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Palestine.
• Now the nuclear goals of North Korea are posing security demanding situations to the international community.
• Also Russia and China are gaining from North Korea by creating a distraction for the U.S. Through starting a “third front”.

Way ahead

• There is a developing concern among the worldwide powers that the tensions among North and South Korea may be heading closer to war.
• Hence to make sure the global security interest and peace within the region denuclearisation of North Korea is necessary alongside ending the United States opposed Policy towards it.

India-Republic of Korea Bilateral (ROK) Relations 

• Diplomatic relations: They established diplomatic relations in 1973.
  • Both countries formed a “Strategic Partnership”in 2010, which was improved to “Special Strategic Partnership” in 2015.
• Economic Relations: Trade and economic relations collected momentum following the implementation of CEPA in 2010.
  • India and ROK launched an initiative ‘Korea Plus’ to promote and facilitate Korean investments in India.
  • Bilateral trade in 2022 reached a reported stage of US$ 27.8 billion. India’s import volume stands at US$ 18.8 billion, whilst the export extent is US$ 9 billion.
• Defense Relations:  The Defence Ministers of ROK and India have been interacting often since 2015.
  • Defense level talks across the three branches of the military are held annually
  • A Roadmap for Defence Industries Cooperation was signed among the 2 nations in 2019.
• Indian Community: The common Indian nationals community in ROK is estimated to be around 15,000.
  • During the past few years, many specialists especially within the areas of IT, shipping have come to ROK.

Source: The Hindu

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