UNITED NATIONS POLITICAL AND PEACEBUILDING AFFAIRS (UNDPPA) ADVANCING NEGOTIATIONS TO RESOLVE THE KOREAN CONFLICT AVI MOLINA - MUNDP
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RESEARCH REPORT
UNITED NATIONS POLITICAL AND
PEACEBUILDING AFFAIRS (UNDPPA)
ADVANCING NEGOTIATIONS TO RESOLVE THE
KOREAN CONFLICT
AVI MOLINA
MUNDP 2021 – Commitment to Development – Research ReportCommittee: United Nations Political and Peacebuilding Affairs
Agenda Item: Advancing negotiations to resolve the Korean conflict
Student Officer & Role: Avi Molina, Deputy Chair
Basic Overview of the Issue
The Korean Peninsula has been a hot zone for international politics. Korea suffered
throughout history to have a stable, unified government throughout history. The Japanese
occupied the region until the end of World War II, where the country was already effectively
divided into two from the 38th parallel between the Soviet Union and the United States of
America. Throughout the Cold War, Korean political figures gained power in the region. Their
political aims in ruling the peninsula as a whole resulted in The Korean War breaking out.
The brutal war did not alter the stalemate situation in the peninsula and both countries
struggled to implement a government, revive the economy, and gain the upper hand, thus,
failing to achieve a peace agreement and not replacing the armistice deal.
Tensions reached a new height when the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
(DPRK) commenced developing nuclear weapons, threatening the south and the
surrounding countries with absolute destruction. Efforts to denuclearize the country have
failed, agreements and resolutions have broken down. The 38 th parallel still remains as an
intimidating demilitarized zone, symbolizing the polarization of the two states. As peace
negotiations broke down throughout history, most recently with the mediation of the United
States under Donald J. Trump’s presidency in 2018, it is crucial to explore new ways to
reduce the hostile relationship between the two states.
Explanation of Important Terms
The Korean Peninsula
The Korean Peninsula is located in East Asia. It is
surrounded by the Sea of Japan, the Yellow Sea, and the
East China Sea; located in the west of Japan and the east
of China. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
(DPRK) shares northern land borders with The People’s
Republic of China and The Russian Federation. The divided
states on the peninsula concern the issue.
Figure 1: Map of the Korean Peninsula
Armistice
A formal agreement between two countries or groups at war to stop fighting for a particular
time, especially to talk about possible peace (Cambridge). The Panmunjom Agreement is the
MUNDP 2021 – Commitment to Development 1Committee: United Nations Political and Peacebuilding Affairs
Agenda Item: Advancing negotiations to resolve the Korean conflict
Student Officer & Role: Avi Molina, Deputy Chair
armistice deal signed by the two states. However, as the armistice never evolved into a
peace treaty, the conflict remains.
The 38th Parallel
It is the popular name given to latitude 38 degrees North which roughly demarcates North
Korea and South Korea (Britannica). This parallel refers to the division of the two states and
is now a demilitarized zone.
Non-Proliferation
The controlling of the spread and/or amount of something, especially nuclear or chemical
weapons (Cambridge). The issue of the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons of the DPRK is
a core aspect of the tension between the states.
Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT)
The NPT is a landmark international treaty whose objective is to prevent the spread of
nuclear weapons and weapons technology, to promote cooperation in the peaceful uses of
nuclear energy, and to further the goal of achieving nuclear disarmament and general,
complete disarmament. The Treaty represents the only binding commitment in a multilateral
treaty to the goal of disarmament by the nuclear-weapon States. Opened for signature in
1968, the Treaty entered into force in 1970. On 11 May 1995, the Treaty was extended
indefinitely. A total of 191 States have joined the Treaty, including the five nuclear-weapon
States. More countries have ratified the NPT than any other arms limitation and disarmament
agreement, a testament to the Treaty’s significance.
The Treaty is regarded as the cornerstone of the global nuclear non-proliferation
regime and an essential foundation for the pursuit of nuclear disarmament. It was designed
to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, to further the goals of nuclear disarmament and
general and complete disarmament, and to promote cooperation in the peaceful uses of
nuclear energy (The United Nations).
The DPRK is not a member state of the treaty, relating to the non-proliferation issue.
MUNDP 2021 – Commitment to Development 2Committee: United Nations Political and Peacebuilding Affairs
Agenda Item: Advancing negotiations to resolve the Korean conflict
Student Officer & Role: Avi Molina, Deputy Chair
Detailed Background of the Issue
The conflict in Korea has historical roots. The division of the peninsula between The
Soviet Union and The United States created a similar situation to that of Berlin after World
War II. However, as North Korea and South Korea gained their independence, the conflict
escalated with the Korean War. After the war was over, the two states still failed to unite, and
the polarized status-quo remained. Both countries had authoritarian regimes with the
objectives of uniting Korea under their own rule after the armed conflict. The armistice on
July 27th, 1953 (the Panmunjom Agreement) did not evolve into a peace deal, and tensions
rose when The Democratic Republic of Korea started its nuclear program. Attempts at
advancing diplomatic relations have been undertaken in recent years, but a concrete peace
deal has still not been reached after several efforts to sign bilateral and multilateral treaties.
The Implications of The Sino-Japanese War and the Russo-Japanese War
Until the late 19th century, The Korean Kingdom pursued a policy of isolation.
However, Japan increasingly mounted pressure on the Korean government to influence their
decisions through threats due to their colonial aspirations. When they placed their troops on
the Korean Peninsula, China responded. Japan prevailed against China during the Sino-
Japanese War that lasted from 1894 to 1895. The Korean King of the time, Gojong, fled his
palace in 1896 to the Russian consulate in Seoul.
Russia also aimed to intensify its influence in East Asia, and the Tsar had King
Gojong make decisions in his country’s interests in return for the refuge they offered. This
power struggle between Russia and Japan caused The Russo-Japanese War of 1904 to
break out. The Treaty of Portsmouth, signed between the two states and brokered by then-
US president Theodore Roosevelt, confirmed Japanese authority by designating Korea as a
protectorate state of Japan. The Korean army was dissolved when Gojong attempted to unite
other countries against Japan by assigning a diplomat to secretly attend The Hague in 1907.
Japan formally annexed Korea in 1910.
Syngman Rhee During Japanese Rule
Born on March 26, 1875, in Pyongyang, Syngman Rhee was a nationalist and a Christian
who was opposed to the Japanese rule over Korea. Therefore, in 1896 when Gojong sought
refuge, Syngman Rhee led the Korean Independence Club, which was later dissolved by the
right-wing opposition. The Japanese government arrested and imprisoned him in 1904. After
MUNDP 2021 – Commitment to Development 3Committee: United Nations Political and Peacebuilding Affairs
Agenda Item: Advancing negotiations to resolve the Korean conflict
Student Officer & Role: Avi Molina, Deputy Chair
his release, he received a Ph.D. from Princeton University. His second time in Korea in 1910
did not last long, as the Japanese formally annexed the country. Rhee was elected as the
president of the Korean Provisional Government located in Shanghai in 1919.
Kim Il-Sung During Japanese Rule
Born on April 15, 1912, in Mangyondae, originally called Kim Song-Ju, Kim Il Sung relocated
to Manchuria as a child to escape the Japanese occupation in Korea. There, he was
imprisoned in 1929 and 1930 for his activities with the local communist youth organization.
Then, he returned to his homeland to fight alongside militants against the Japanese
government in Korea. The USSR opted to give him military and political education after
observing his success in pursuing the communist agenda. There, Kim Il Sung joined the
Communist Party.
The Effects of World War II
Japan was a member of “The Axis Powers”, they fought alongside Nazi Germany and
Italy. The Allies -consisting of the Soviet Union (USSR), The United States (US), Britain,
France, and China- defeated The Axis Powers on September the 2nd, 1945.
Concerning Korea, the US, China, and Britain issued the Cairo Declaration, stating
that Korea will be liberated from Japanese occupation. Later, The USSR was convinced to
join the war against Japan as a result of the Potsdam Conference in July 1945. Japan
surrendered when the Soviet army entered the north and the US Army landed on the south
of the 38th parallel. This virtually divided the two states even before they were formed, with
two opposing ideologies reigning each territory.
The Korean Peninsula During the Beginning of the Cold War
The Cold War was a standoff of two superpowers and their conflicting ideologies across the
globe. The world came close to nuclear war several times, such as the Cuban Missile Crisis
of 1962. The 38th parallel was one of those standoff points.
South Korea
In the southern portion of the 38th parallel, the United States implemented a military
government lead by John R. Hodge, which considered itself the only legitimate present
government, refusing the political parties and the regional government in Shanghai.
Demonstrations against the US increased when foreign ministers representing Britain, the
MUNDP 2021 – Commitment to Development 4Committee: United Nations Political and Peacebuilding Affairs
Agenda Item: Advancing negotiations to resolve the Korean conflict
Student Officer & Role: Avi Molina, Deputy Chair
US, and the USSR, declared a shared authority over the region. Consequently, the military
government allowed Syngman Rhee to be the chairman of a new “Representative Council” in
1946; an Interim Legislative Assembly consisting of half of the elected diplomats and half of
the US military was established later that year.
North Korea
In the northern portion of the 38th parallel, the USSR assigned Kim Il Sung, who led a Korean
branch in the USSR’s offensive towards Japan from the north of the Korean Peninsula, and
several other communist diplomats to political positions of power. The USSR established a
federal system, recognizing several provincial councils and assuring authority over the region
without implementing a military government. In 1947, the Supreme People’s Assembly was
established as Kim strengthened his political position.
Independence
The US and the USSR could not come to a consensus on Korea throughout their discussions
from 1945-1947. Therefore, the United Nations General Assembly assumed the question of
the unification of Korea as an issue. They passed resolution number 112 on the matter,
calling for the US and the USSR to refrain from restricting the political integrity of the Korean
people. The resolution concluded that elections were to be held in the peninsula with a
temporary commission made up of several experts from countries such as Australia,
Canada, China, El Salvador, France, India, Philippines, Syria, and Ukraine overseeing the
process. While the USSR did not allow the commission to enter their portion and the
Supreme People’s Assembly elected Kim Il Sung as premier, the south elected Syngman
Rhee. The UN recognized Syngman Rhee’s government as the only Republic of Korea, while
the USSR recognized Kim Il Sung’s regime as the only lawful country in the region. Both
countries officially joined the UN on September 17, 1991.
The Korean War
Kim Il Sung and Syngman Rhee both implemented dictatorial regimes as they both
aimed to achieve complete rule over the peninsula. The DPRK’s military was stronger than
that of South Korea, with 135 thousand soldiers with extensive training and a tank brigade
provided by the USSR, and an additional 12 thousand men from China; compared to 98
thousand trained small-armed troops and 10.2 million dollars for military expansion provided
by the US. The US planned on granting an additional aid of 10.7 million dollars, however, the
MUNDP 2021 – Commitment to Development 5Committee: United Nations Political and Peacebuilding Affairs
Agenda Item: Advancing negotiations to resolve the Korean conflict
Student Officer & Role: Avi Molina, Deputy Chair
prepared North Korean People’s Army launched an offensive toward the South on 25 June
1950 before the aid had arrived. Thus, the Korean War began.
The UN Security Council (UNSC) passed resolutions number 82 and 83 which
commissioned the UN forces to intervene. The USSR could not veto the decision as they
were boycotting the Security Council; the UNSC did not recognize Mao Zedong’s newly
formed government after the Chinese Civil War but chose to recognize Taiwan. Seoul had
fallen on June 28. The UN Army, made up of mostly American soldiers, landed on the
peninsula but was pushed back to the city of Pusan. However, the UN forces led by
American General MacArthur managed to force the North Korean army to the 38 th parallel.
As MacArthur continued to march towards the north, China intervened with 1.2 million
troops. Douglas MacArthur was replaced with General Matthew B. Ridgeway by President
Truman as he wanted to extend the war. The Chinese forces created a stalemate at the 38 th
parallel. After at least 4 million casualties, the parties signed the aforementioned
“Panmunjom Agreement” and reached an armistice on 27 July 1953, designating the 38 th
parallel as a demilitarized zone that still stands to this day.
The war created a humanitarian crisis. Both sides possessed prisoners, and as the
stalemate of the war dragged on, North Korea and China decided to concede to the US’
demands of an exchange with the mediation of an unbiased organization. The India-led
Neutral Nations Repatriation Commission, established by the UN, facilitated this process as
“Operation Little Switch” took place in April 1953, with the DPRK giving up 684 troops in
exchange for 5 thousand North Koreans, 1 thousand Chinese soldiers, and 500 civilians who
were ill or injured. After the armistice, in August 1953, “Operation Big Switch” commenced,
and the UN Forces released 75 thousand troops and received 12 thousand troops in return.
Syngman Rhee was discontent with the trade, as he desired the reunification of Korea under
his own rule. Furthermore, most prisoners from the north were subjected to torture. Several
historians estimate that 80 thousand South Koreans were not returned but rather
brainwashed and integrated into North Korean society. South Korea estimated, in 2018, that
560 of the 80 thousand were still alive. The war left two divided states with separated
families, undeveloped industries, and economically struggling populations.
MUNDP 2021 – Commitment to Development 6Committee: United Nations Political and Peacebuilding Affairs
Agenda Item: Advancing negotiations to resolve the Korean conflict
Student Officer & Role: Avi Molina, Deputy Chair
North Korea and South Korea Post-War Relations
The ties between the countries remained hostile after the war, as the “Panmunjom Armistice”
was never replaced with an official peace agreement even though several attempts at easing
tensions were made.
The 1960s
Both economies were damaged by the war and both leaders further consolidated their
power. The war left civilians suffering from hunger, poverty, and South Korea received aid
from the General Assembly in this regard after the formation of the UN Korea Reconstruction
Agency (UNKRA) in addition to foreign aid in the form of raw materials and capital goods with
an import substitution policy. However, Syngman Rhee was overthrown by a military coup in
1961 after unrest due to his totalitarian outlook. The economy slowly transformed into an
export-oriented system through investments in industrialization. Kim Il-Sung implemented a
self-reliance policy in the north.
The 1970s
The South Korean government, led by Park Chung Hee, decided to hold talks with the DPRK
during this period about the peaceful reunification of Korea, immune to foreign influence and
based on national unity until the DPRK stopped negotiations in 1973. The DPRK attempted
many espionage missions during this period, including the attempted assassination of the
South Korean president at the time Park Chung Hee. Under Park, the freedom of assembly
was heavily restricted, South Korea was not suited for peace due to civil unrest in the
country.
The 1980s
Park was assassinated with Chun Doo Hwan organizing a coup d’état of his own after
widespread civil opposition, demonstrations, and brutal police response. South Korea’s
economy was in crisis due to the increase in the price of raw materials and oil. During this
domestic turmoil in the south, the north was dealing with international issues along with the
economic struggles of its citizens. Tensions grew with the US as the DPRK began its nuclear
program, contradicting their 1985 membership to the NPT. Also, the US placed the DPRK in
its list of state sponsors of terrorism after another assassination attempt on President Chun
and the destruction of a South Korean civil airplane.
MUNDP 2021 – Commitment to Development 7Committee: United Nations Political and Peacebuilding Affairs
Agenda Item: Advancing negotiations to resolve the Korean conflict
Student Officer & Role: Avi Molina, Deputy Chair
The early 1990s
Political negotiations advanced in the early 1990s when both countries signed the “South-
North Joint Declaration on the Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula” and the
“Agreement on Reconciliation, Nonaggression and Exchanges of Cooperation between
South and the North” as well as their memberships to the United Nations in 1991. However,
these agreements vowing to not interfere with the other country’s inner politics or integrity did
not last long, as the DPRK admitted to having continued the development of nuclear
warheads. After the Agreed Framework, The Korean Energy Development Organization
(KEDO) was formed to regulate the financial aid and to construct Light Water Reactors
(LWRs) capable of generating electrical energy in the DPRK as a compromise.
The “Sunshine Policy” and the 2000s
The election of President Kim Dae Jung was a turning point for South-North relations.
He implemented a policy he defined as “the sunshine policy”, which was aiming to ease
tensions through diplomacy and bilateral agreements. Surrounding this policy, he became
the first president to go to North Korea and South Korean businesses were opened on the
other side of the border. “The sunshine policy” prepared the base for further political
engagement during his successor Roh Moo Hyun’s rule in 2007, such as the promise for
train travel between countries.
However, tensions escalated once again, and the policy was abandoned after North
Korea’s first nuclear test. South Korea adopted a harsher policy under President Lee Myung
Bak, as the DPRK suspended all former agreements and diplomatic relations.
The 2010s
South Korea became even more polarized as their warship “Cheonan” was allegedly
destroyed by a DPRK torpedo and as Kim Jong Un accelerated nuclear testing. The election
of Moon Jae in South Korea meant that the south would adopt a new policy based on
cooperation. After South Korea made its intention clear, the DPRK halted its nuclear tests in
2018 and held three summits with South Korea in April, May, and September. The meeting in
April produced the “Panmunjom Declaration” and the inter-Korean summit in September
resulted in the “Pyongyang Joint Declaration”, in which both countries pledged to reduce
tensions through establishing a joint liaison office in the city of Gaesong, modernizing and
building railways across the 38th parallel, taking steps towards disarmament, engaging in
multilateral and bilateral negotiation, uniting separated families due to the Korean War. Then,
MUNDP 2021 – Commitment to Development 8Committee: United Nations Political and Peacebuilding Affairs
Agenda Item: Advancing negotiations to resolve the Korean conflict
Student Officer & Role: Avi Molina, Deputy Chair
the US held a summit on denuclearization and easing conflict in Singapore on the 12th of
June 2018, and in Hanoi on 28 February 2019. After the DPRK’s missile test in May 2019,
the US mediated an inter-Korean summit held in the demilitarized zone. The summit lasted a
day and could not produce any substantial changes to the status quo, but the tree-party talks
about denuclearization were unprecedented. However, the attempts at peace did not last
long after the DPRK returned to testing ballistic missiles. Additionally, the DPRK also
destroyed the liaison office committed to pursuing relations and abandoned peace talks with
the US in 2020.
North Korea’s Nuclear Program Under Kim Jong Il
The military expansion in the 1960s due to Kim Il Sung’s economic and military self-
reliance policy transformed into a different dimension when, according to the CIA Factbook
and Stanford University Center for International Security and Cooperation, North Korea
began developing nuclear warheads under Kim Sung Il’s son and successor Kim Jong Il’s
rule in the 1980s covertly.
The Agreed Framework
The Agreed Framework was signed between the DPRK and the US in October 1994
following North Korea’s declaration that they were aiming to withdraw from the Treaty on the
Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) by withdrawing from the International Atomic
Energy Agency’s (IAEA) inspections. Leading to the agreement, North Korea was operating
a nuclear reactor in Yongbyon and was thought to have a small plutonium inventory without
uranium enrichment capacity.
After the signing of the Agreed Framework, the US imposed several sanctions on the
DPRK along with Pakistan and Iran for attempts to breach the agreement and for their long-
range missile tests. The IAEA monitored the construction of potential facilities and the
present reactor which stayed shut until the end of 2002.
Withdrawal from the NPT
In 2002, President Bush was elected. He declared that the DPRK was still developing
nuclear weapons in violation of the Agreed Framework “while its citizens were starving”. He
included the DPRK in the list of “axis of evil” alongside Iran and Iraq. As tensions elevated,
DPRK withdrew from the NPT in January 2003, expelling IAEA officials and restarting its
MUNDP 2021 – Commitment to Development 9Committee: United Nations Political and Peacebuilding Affairs
Agenda Item: Advancing negotiations to resolve the Korean conflict
Student Officer & Role: Avi Molina, Deputy Chair
nuclear reactor. DPRK accelerated research and development and conducted its first nuclear
test in 2006.
February 13 Agreement
The UNSC passed three resolutions condemning North Korea’s nuclear advancements and
called for the country to engage in six-party talks with China, Japan, Russia, the US, and
South Korea. On February 13, 2007, they signed a six-party deal to supply North Korea with
heavy oil for North Korea to suspend nuclear activities in return. The US also vowed to
commence removing DPRK from its state sponsors of terrorism list and to unfreeze North
Korean assets. IAEA officials once again inspected facilities until April 2009 when they were
expelled once again when the DPRK carried out its second test. This caused the halt of the
six-party talks as well.
North Korea’s Nuclear Program Under Kim Jong Un
North Korea’s nuclear program accelerated as Kim Jong Un took his father Kim Jong
Il’s place in 2011 in addition to extending its conventional military. Kim Jong Un expanded
DPRK’s nuclear capacities and further developed the Yongbyon facility. Furthermore, the
DPRK is thought to explore designs of missiles such as ICBM’s that can carry and withstand
the effects of stronger nuclear weapons as well as hydrogen bomb designs as uranium
enrichment rate increased in Yongbyon and other possible secret locations.
The third nuclear test took place in 2013, then another one was carried out on 6
January 2014. DPRK claimed the test subject was a hydrogen bomb, however, most
scientists argue that the 7-14 kt. explosion yield is not consistent with that claim. On
September the 9th of the same year another test is carried out, with a larger explosion yield.
The most powerful bomb was tested on 6 September 2017 with an explosion yield of 200-
250 kt. which the government claimed as a hydrogen bomb. Scientists dispute that it may
have been a two-stage modern thermonuclear weapon, but it remains ambiguous due to the
DPRK’s lack of transparency.
Major Parties Involved
The Democratic People’s Republic of North Korea (DPRK)
The DPRK has a population of 25.8 million and possesses 120.5 thousand square kilometers
of land on the Korean Peninsula, and its capital city is Pyongyang. Kim Jong Un, a member
MUNDP 2021 – Commitment to Development 10Committee: United Nations Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Agenda Item: Advancing negotiations to resolve the Korean conflict Student Officer & Role: Avi Molina, Deputy Chair of the Korean Workers’ Party (KWP), currently rules the country, as he was re-elected without opposition in March 2019. The DPRK has adopted a centralized, self-reliant economy since its foundation. However, the poverty and hunger that resulted from the war continued with large-scale military spending and industrial and agricultural failures. The famine during the 1990s until the mid-200s forced the DPRK’s hand to somewhat open up its economy and start a partial private sector, but it’s still one of the most closed economies in the world. The DPRK’s missile tests, nuclear advancements, military intelligence operations, and the attributed sinking of the Cheonan resulted in economic sanctions from the US and the UN, which further damaged the economy. North Korea has refused international observation in several issues such as its nuclear capabilities and its population's condition. The DPRK terminated its membership to the IAEA and the NPT, after entering a loop of expelling IAEA officials from its territory before nuclear tests. Peace talks have frequently broken down to the lack of transparency of the government and its missile tests. However, the DPRK accepted to meet with the US and South Korea in 2018, after President Donald Trump pledged to withdraw US troops from the demilitarized zone. Peace efforts failed again after the DPRK tested missiles once more. The Republic of South Korea The Republic of South Korea has a population of 51.7 million and covers 99.7 thousand square kilometers with Seoul as its capital. South Korea remains on the southern portion of the 38th parallel, which separates it from North Korea. The current president of the country is Moon Jae, who was elected in 2017. South Korea is a member of G-20, IAEA, and a close ally of NATO. As this activity illustrates, South Korea has an open economy, unlike the North. The aforementioned policies regarding imports of raw materials and investment in technology have enabled South Korea to have a developed economy that is expected to grow further. However, South Korea also suffers from several internal issues such as the high youth unemployment rate and the %14.4 of the population that is beneath the poverty line. South Korea is concerned with the DPRK’s rapid nuclear growth and its military intelligence operations. President Moon Jae had pledged to engage in negotiation, but the progress made in the three summits in 2018 has been reset with either side not willing to concede and the DPRK continuing its tests. MUNDP 2021 – Commitment to Development 11
Committee: United Nations Political and Peacebuilding Affairs
Agenda Item: Advancing negotiations to resolve the Korean conflict
Student Officer & Role: Avi Molina, Deputy Chair
The Russian Federation
The USSR was a close ally of the DPRK, promoting the communist ideology during
the Korean War. After the fall of the Soviet Union, Russia has provided subsidies to North
Korean businesses. However, North Korea’s long-lasting “self-reliance” economic policy has
harmed trade and Russia’s potential energy projects in the region seem to be very costly.
Additionally, the DPRK’s close relationship with China and its nuclear tests have strained
diplomatic relations; Russian President Vladimir Putin had not met with DPRK’s leader Kim
Jong Un until after the Hanoi summit. Russia wants to increase its influence in the region and
favors the phased decrease of the DPRK’s nuclear capabilities. They have participated in the
six-party talks and supported some UNSC resolutions regarding sanctions to the DPRK.
They have not fully abided by the sanctions and have maintained trade in a small volume.
Russia established diplomatic relations with South Korea in 1990, under the name of
the USSR. As South Korea’s investments in technology and capital made the state an
intriguing trading partner, and Russia shifted its outlook on bilateral relations. Russian-South
Korean trade has expanded over the years, reaching 24.5 billion USD in 2018. South Korea
is currently Russia’s seventh-largest trading partner. Additionally, president Moon Jae visited
President Putin in 2018, becoming the first South Korean president to do so in 20 years. The
development of trade and negotiations can be mutually beneficial.
The People’s Republic of China
Since the Korean War, when China supplied troops to help North Korea’s defense
efforts, China and North Korea have mostly had a close alliance – signing the “Sino-North
Korean Treaty” in 1961, which obliges China to intervene in case of an unprovoked attack on
the country. However, China has been cautious regarding the DPRK’s military expansion, as
they supported UNSC Resolution number 1718 which sanctioned the state after its first
nuclear test in 2006, took part in six-party talks, and called upon Kim Jong Un to refrain from
testing missiles in 2017. Even though North Korean exports to China have declined by 88
percent in 2018 due to sanctions, China is one of North Korea’s most dominant trade
partners, exporting fuel, seafood, silkworms, and cell phones as well as significant
humanitarian aid. According to experts, China aims to renew the aforementioned treaty in
2021, altering the “obligation” of China and adding a clause stating that China would not
intervene if the DPRK were to commence the conflict. President Xi Jinping’s meetings with
MUNDP 2021 – Commitment to Development 12Committee: United Nations Political and Peacebuilding Affairs
Agenda Item: Advancing negotiations to resolve the Korean conflict
Student Officer & Role: Avi Molina, Deputy Chair
Kim Jong Un have increased when the DPRK pledged to commit to denuclearization,
indicating China’s main policy in the region, avoiding armed conflict but protecting the
communist regime.
China normalized ties with South Korea in 1992. South Korea’s export-oriented,
innovative outlook on the economy, China’s unique ideology which combines political
communism with free trade (communism with Chinese characteristics), as well as North
Korea’s nuclear warhead and missile tests have led the two countries to adopt a policy of
economic interdependence. However, as China desires the communist regime to exist, it has
openly expressed its opposition towards the US Terminal High Altitude Area Defense
(THAAD) missile defense system.
The United States of America (USA)
The United States of America have been close allies with The Republic of South
Korea since the Korean War era, establishing diplomatic relations in 1949 and providing aid
after the war. They had signed a treaty of mutual defense after the war and extended that
treaty in 1966 with the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), aiming to share the cost of US
troops in the southern side of the 38th parallel. According to South Korea’s Ministry of
Defense, 28.5 thousand American troops were serving there in 2019. The two states have
collaborated further on many socioeconomic matters, ranging from trade to space
exploration. The US was South Korea’s second-largest foreign investor in 2018, and the
amount of investment has continued to increase.
The USA has mostly pursued a strict policy regarding the DPRK. President Bush had
included the DPRK in his list of state sponsors of terrorism and “the axis of evil” in 2002. The
US’ main objective was to unite Korea under the Southern regime during the Korean War
period, however, that aim shifted to the complete denuclearization of the DPRK. Pursuant to
this objective, the Obama and Trump administrations imposed several sanctions. President
Trump aimed to reduce tensions by engaging in diplomacy during his term. He met with Kim
Jong Un in Singapore, Hanoi, and Panmunjom in 2017, 2018, and 2019 respectively. The US
facilitated the joint summit of 2018 between the two states and mediated the joint summit in
the demilitarized zone, but ties grew colder when the DPRK resorted to testing missiles.
MUNDP 2021 – Commitment to Development 13Committee: United Nations Political and Peacebuilding Affairs
Agenda Item: Advancing negotiations to resolve the Korean conflict
Student Officer & Role: Avi Molina, Deputy Chair
The Republic of India
India possessed an important role during the Korean War. Even though they opted to
remain neutral, India provided significant medical help as well as humanitarian aid. India’s
resolution in the UN ultimately ended the war. India’s general at the time served as the
chairman of the Neutral Nations Repatriation Commission that contributed to resolving the
humanitarian crisis after the war. South Korea and India have prosperous diplomatic and
economic ties. The bilateral Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement that entered
force in 2010 increased investments and trade. The bilateral trade accounted for 19.05 billion
USD.
Interestingly, India and North Korea also have an intimate relationship. At least 30
North Korean students have graduated from The Center for Space Science and Technology
Education in Asia and The Pacific located in India. Furthermore, India has provided abundant
humanitarian aid under the UN World Food Program. India is currently the DPRK’s second-
largest trading partner, and its foreign minister has recently met with his North Korean
counterpart in 2018 to discuss regional strategies and cooperation.
The United Nations (UN)
The United Nations have played an important role in the region since the Korean War,
commissioning the UN forces to intervene with the absence of the newly formed People’s
Republic. Both states were accepted as UN member states on September 7th, 1991 after
major countries such as the USSR and the US recognized both states. After the war, the UN
established a specific organization for the improvement of the South Korean industry and
humanitarian conditions. Additionally, The UN Food Program conducted an operation in
Korea until the late 2000s to address the widespread hunger in the DPRK. Since then, the
General Assembly (GA) has produced resolutions on promoting diplomacy between the two
Koreas, demanded the appointment of a special rapporteur of the OHCHR to inspect the
human rights conditions in the DPRK, and the UNSC has passed 25 resolutions regarding
the denuclearization of the DPRK. The DPRK has refused the appointment of the special
rapporteur, and the efforts at peace and denuclearization have failed as The Republic of
Korea refused to tolerate the DPRK’s missile tests.
MUNDP 2021 – Commitment to Development 14Committee: United Nations Political and Peacebuilding Affairs
Agenda Item: Advancing negotiations to resolve the Korean conflict
Student Officer & Role: Avi Molina, Deputy Chair
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is a collective defense organization of 30 members
across Europe and North America established in 1949. NATO and South Korea have been
close allies since 2005. South Korea has taken part in several NATO operations, training
programs, and education projects. Therefore, NATO’s stance on the issue is clear: the
complete denuclearization of the DPRK. NATO has stated that they regard the bilateral
discussions between the two states as well as the US’ summits to be steps to achieve this
goal.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
The IAEA, established in 1957, is an organization that works with UN member states to
promote secure usage of nuclear energy through reports and inspections. South Korea
signed the NPT in 1975, while the DPRK signed the treaty in 1985. However, the DPRK
announced it was planning on withdrawing from the agreement in 1993. Subsequently, six-
party talks began and the Agreed Framework between the US and the DPRK was signed
which assigned the IAEA to inspect North Korea’s nuclear facilities. The UNSC also
approved the IAEA’s role in monitoring the freeze of the DPRK’s nuclear program. The
DPRK expelled the organization from its borders before its first nuclear test and it withdrew
from its membership to the IAEA. This pattern followed in 2002 and 2009. In 2003, the DPRK
officially withdrew from the NPT. The UNSC has referred to IAEA officials’ reports on DPRK
in the following years.
Japan
Japan had normalized ties in 1965 with South Korea after their occupation of the
peninsula was over after World War II. South Korea and Japan have since engaged in trade;
Japan had even included South Korea in its “whitelist” – a list of countries who receive
preferential treatment in a trade from Japan. However, a Korean Supreme Court ruling
concluded that Japanese firms should pay compensation to victims of oppression during the
Japanese colonization of the Korean Peninsula. This court ruling escalated into a trade war
and a standoff. Japan has since removed The Republic of South Korea from the whitelist,
threatened to terminate bilateral military intelligence cooperation, and reveal the details of a
MUNDP 2021 – Commitment to Development 15Committee: United Nations Political and Peacebuilding Affairs
Agenda Item: Advancing negotiations to resolve the Korean conflict
Student Officer & Role: Avi Molina, Deputy Chair
secret operation with the US. The Trump administration intervened and prevented the
unraveling of information. Japan’s new prime minister has stated recently that South Korea is
an important economic ally, especially amid the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Japan and North Korea’s relations have been distant due to the colonial era, as well
as Japan’s military alliance with the US. However, the DPRK’s military expansion and actions
targeted in Japan have drawn the two countries even further away from each other such as
the 1998 missile test that was conducted over Japan. Japan also accuses the DPRK of the
abduction of several Japanese citizens and spying missions. Japan has also participated in
the six-party talks to denuclearize Korea, as nuclearization is the primary source of tension
for the government, along with the abductions.
Turkey
Turkey has maintained a close relationship with South Korea after the Korean War,
where Turkish soldiers were a large part of the designated UN forces. Turkey has an
embassy in Seoul, which is also accredited to the DPRK. Turkey and South Korea take part
in joint military missions under NATO and have signed several bilateral treaties on
investments and trade.
Turkey established diplomatic relations with the DPRK in 2001, and North Korea’s
embassy in Sofia is accredited to Turkey. Turkey, as a close ally of the US, is also in favor of
the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons in the DPRK.
Chronology of Important Events
1910 Japan Annexes Korea
1945 Korea is effectively divided into two by the USSR and the
US
25 June 1950 – 27 June 1953 The Korean War
20 July 1948 Syngman Rhee is elected in the first election
1 July 1958 UNKRA is terminated
MUNDP 2021 – Commitment to Development 16Committee: United Nations Political and Peacebuilding Affairs
Agenda Item: Advancing negotiations to resolve the Korean conflict
Student Officer & Role: Avi Molina, Deputy Chair
May 1961 Park Chung Hee organizes a coup d’état
15 August 1974 Park Chung Hee assassination attempt
1 September 1980 Chun Doo Hwan seizes power after assassinating Park
Chung Hee
1980 Kim Jong Il gains power
12 December 1985 DPRK becomes a party of the NPT
1988 DPRK is on the US’ list of state sponsors of terrorism
January 20, 1992 South-North Joint Declaration on the Denuclearization of
the Korean Peninsula
March 25, 1992 Agreement on Reconciliation, Nonaggression and
Exchanges of Cooperation between South and the North
June 13, 1994 DPRK withdraws from IAEA membership
October 21, 1994 Agreed Framework
March 15, 1995 KEDO is formed
February 25, 1998 Kim Dae Jung is elected
2002 President George W. Bush declares DPRK an axis of evil
January 10, 2003 DPRK withdraws from the NPT
October 9, 2006 DPRK’s first nuclear test
February 13, 2007 February 13 Agreement
October 11, 2008 DPRK removed from the US’ state sponsors of terrorism
list
MUNDP 2021 – Commitment to Development 17Committee: United Nations Political and Peacebuilding Affairs
Agenda Item: Advancing negotiations to resolve the Korean conflict
Student Officer & Role: Avi Molina, Deputy Chair
April 2009 IAEA officials are expelled from the DPRK
May 25, 2009 DPRK’s second nuclear test
March 26, 2010 Cheonan warship sunk
2010 Kim Jong Un gains power
February 12, 2013 DPRK’s third nuclear test
March 31, 2014 Artillery fire exchange in the demilitarized zone
October 10, 2014 Artillery fire exchange in the demilitarized zone
August 25, 2015 Artillery fire exchange in the demilitarized zone
January 6, 2016 DPRK’s fourth nuclear test
September 9, 2016 DPRK’s fifth nuclear test
September 12, 2017 DPRK’s sixth nuclear test
November 20, 2017 President Trump re-lists DPRK as a state sponsor of
terrorism
2018 Three inter-Korea summits
2018-2019 US-DPRK summits
June 16, 2020 DPRK blows up the joint-liaison office
Relevant International Documents
- Adopted by the Security Council at its 473rd meeting, 25 June 1950 (S/RES/82)
- Adopted by the Security Council at its 474th meeting, 27 June 1950 (S/RES/83)
MUNDP 2021 – Commitment to Development 18Committee: United Nations Political and Peacebuilding Affairs
Agenda Item: Advancing negotiations to resolve the Korean conflict
Student Officer & Role: Avi Molina, Deputy Chair
- The Panmunjom Agreement (The Korean Armistice Agreement), 27 July 1953
- Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), 5 March 1970
- South-North Joint Declaration on the Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula,
January 20, 1992
- Agreement on Reconciliation, Nonaggression and Exchanges of Cooperation between
South and the North, March 25, 1992
- The Agreed Framework, October 21, 1994
- February 13 Agreement, February 13, 2007
- Adopted by the Security Council at its 8507th meeting, 10 April 2019 (S/RES/2464)
Past Attempts to Resolve the Issue
The first attempt at easing tensions after the formation of the two Korean states was The
Panmunjom Agreement signed after the Korean War. This treaty ended the fighting between
the allies of the DPRK (the USSR and China) and the allies of South Korea (The UN Forces).
Later, the prisoner exchanges, as well as the formation of UNKRA, contributed to rectification
after the war. However, the hunger and poverty in the north continued due to the DPRK’s
self-reliant policies that prioritized militarization. Therefore, the UN Food Program initiated an
effort to reduce hunger in the region, and several states such as the US, Russia, and China
have also offered humanitarian aid throughout history. The UN requested additional aid from
member states in 2019. After the DPRK’s first nuclear test in 1998 and its withdrawal from
both the NPT and the IAEA, the aforementioned six-party talks began, and several
agreements such as the Agreed Framework and the February 13 Agreement were signed.
The UN and the US have decided on imposing several economic sanctions due to the
DPRK’s non-compliance to the aforementioned treaties and their continuous missile tests.
The “sunshine policy” paved the path for future bilateral talks in 2007. Three subsequent
inter-Korean summits were also held in 2018. The US also held bilateral talks with North
Korea throughout 2018 and 2019, as well as a trilateral meeting in the demilitarized zone
with both Korean leaders.
Solution Alternatives
The conflict in Korea has many aspects that need to be addressed: the armistice,
economic needs, and the militarization of the peninsula. First of all, The Panmunjom
MUNDP 2021 – Commitment to Development 19Committee: United Nations Political and Peacebuilding Affairs
Agenda Item: Advancing negotiations to resolve the Korean conflict
Student Officer & Role: Avi Molina, Deputy Chair
Armistice needs to evolve into a peace deal between the two countries to officially end the
Korean War. A peace deal should include basic principles such as the trade of the remaining
prisoners of the war, economic partnership, a propaganda-free border, and the establishment
of embassies. The advancement of railways, energy projects, or engaging in trade could be
examples of economic cooperation. This first step could facilitate the demilitarization
processes and economic engagement can benefit both states, especially the DPRK, which
the UN estimates to have %40 of its population suffering from severe food shortages.
The UN has requested additional aid in 2019, but several states such as the US have
refused to take part in the latest project, as they stated that they do not trust the North
Korean government and that they would only participate with international observation
involved. The DPRK, on the other hand, refuses the involvement of international
organizations regarding their nuclear energy, humanitarian conditions, or aid distribution. The
establishment of a new organization focused on the topic could be logical, with the DPRK
taking part. With the DPRK’s opposition to international engagement in mind, the DPRK
could make some sacrifices from its militarization efforts to ease the present economic
sanctions and gain the capital needed to invest in human development through trade as well.
The previous inter-Korean summits have all failed because of the non-proliferation
issue. A recurring theme in the US-North Korea negotiations is the lack of multilateral
discussion and the demand for one-sided concession. The US and South Korea demand the
complete denuclearization of the DPRK, while Russia and China propose a gradual process.
Above all, a multilateral conference should be organized with the aforementioned parties as
well as countries such as India who have good relations with both Korean states and Japan
who is heavily affected by the issue due to its geographical location and its tense relationship
with both states. Furthermore, the US could partly or completely withdraw its forces from the
demilitarized zone in exchange for some compromises made by the DPRK not just regarding
their nuclear weapons but also about more transparency or the reduction of regular military
expenditure. Moreover, South Korea or other states could request the DPRK to return to the
NPT and the IAEA through similar deals or a new treaty focused on the peninsula could be
written.
MUNDP 2021 – Commitment to Development 20Committee: United Nations Political and Peacebuilding Affairs
Agenda Item: Advancing negotiations to resolve the Korean conflict
Student Officer & Role: Avi Molina, Deputy Chair
Useful Links
- CIA World Factbook – North Korea
- CIA World Factbook – South Korea
- BBC News: North Korea-South Korea Relations
- The Korean War
- IAEA and DPRK: Chronology of Key Events
- UN Documents for DPRK (North Korea)
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MUNDP 2021 – Commitment to Development 21Committee: United Nations Political and Peacebuilding Affairs
Agenda Item: Advancing negotiations to resolve the Korean conflict
Student Officer & Role: Avi Molina, Deputy Chair
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MUNDP 2021 – Commitment to Development 22Committee: United Nations Political and Peacebuilding Affairs
Agenda Item: Advancing negotiations to resolve the Korean conflict
Student Officer & Role: Avi Molina, Deputy Chair
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