Publication

This paper examines South Korea's engagement with North Korea in light of its alliance with the US. The author states that although South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun expanded the 'sunshine policy,' the government has had difficulty balancing Korean policy with its US alliance. The paper argues that this engagement policy is based on an assumption that inter-Korean cooperation could reduce tension in the Korean peninsula and induce change in the North. It concludes that while this is a reasonable long term policy, it is too simple to address complex issues such as the North Korea's nuclear ambitions.